Written By: Robert Spaight
On Date: 10/9/2007
We are now just 8 weeks away from the 2007 British Fly Fair International Weekend of 3rd and 4th November 2007 at Trentham Gardens Exhibition Centre near Stoke-on-Trent ,Staffordshire (2 miles from M6 Junction Number 15) Website – www.bffi.co.ukOpening Times Saturday & Sunday 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Admission is £9-00 (one day) - £8-00 in advance or £16 (two days) - £14-00 in advance
Juniors under 16 accompanied by an adult are admitted FREE
To take advantage of pre-Show Booking Discounts :-
Ticket Hotlines 01782 – 388382 and 07932 – 653492 or E-Mail info@bffi.co.uk
and through the Fly Dressers Guild Website Shop at www.the-fdg.org
For the 5th Fly Fair held in Britain, the proven popular quality format has been retained,
with some 60 Fly Tyers from 16 Countries appearing alongside 50 specialist Exhibitors
in 80 Stands.
Many old ‘favourites’ will be there,including :-
From the British Isles :- Oliver Edwards,Charles Jardine,Malcolm Greenhalgh,Paul Proctor,Chris Watson, Ian Mckenzie,Gwilym Hughes,Michael Hayes,Peter Dunne,Paul Little,Paul Whillock,Phil White,Stuart Bowdin,Stuart Crofts,Terry Griffiths,Alan Bithell,Eddie Kublin,Roy Christie,Wendy Gibson.
From Abroad :- Hans Weilenmann (Holland),Jens Pilgaard (Denmark),David Gourong (France), Frederico Renzi (Italy),Johan Klingberg (Sweden),Marc Petitjean (Switzerland),Mauro Raspini (Italy),Marvin Nolte (Wyoming,USA),Tom Travis (Montana,USA),Roman Moser (Austria),Sacha Puetz (Germany), Skuli Kristinsson (Iceland),Stack Scoville (Tennessee,USA),Stoyan Filipov (Bulgaria),Ted Patlen (New Jersey,USA), Hermann Broers (Holland)
Among the Exhibitors :- Partridge of Redditch,Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Magazine,Chevron Hackles,Barry Grantham Cane Rods,Coch y Bonddhu Books,Cookshill Fly Tying,Lakeland Fly Tying,Rutland Fishing,Snowbee UK,Sshoot,Wharfedale Angling Classics,FlyTek,Glasgow Angling Centre,Orvis,Waterlog & Medlar Press,Hardy / Grey’s.
Among the Angling Organisations :- Fly Dressers Guild,Salmon and Trout Association,Wild Trout Trust,GAIA.
New for 2007 are :-
Fly Tyers :- Brian Burnet (Scotland),Doug Farthing (USA – has previously been to Chatsworth Angling Fair tying bass and warmwater flies for the South-Eastern US),Jim Slattery (USA – trout flies),Johan Put (Holland),Lawrence Finney (Northern Ireland – Irish Lough patterns),Roger Salomonssen (Sweden),Scotty Howell (from Washington State in the North-West USA – Steelhead patterns),Steve Carew (England – from Fulling Mill Flies),Stevie Munn (Norther Ireland – specialist in Dollaguan Trout flies … landlocked sea trout).
Exhibitors and Organisations :- Buglife (The Invertebrate Trust),Confederation of English Fly Flishers (CEFF),Eumer, Fly Odyssey,English Ladies Fly Fishing Association,Norway Salmon Fishing,Phoenix Classics (silk lines).
At the heart of the Show are the 40+ Demonstration Fly tyers from 15 Countries but many other top
tyers will be working on the retail booths. A number of the tyers are book authors,magazine writers, and have videos or dvd’s of their techniques. Short biographies of many tyers and examples of their flies are on the Website. Flies for trout,salmon,steelhead,bass,grayling,pike,barbel,sal****er species – in fact flies for just about anything you want to fish a fly for are featured … as well as Realistic Flies,Art Flies and Collectibles which will never enter the water.
All Trade Exhibitors are listed on the Website,together with a floorplan of the Hall.
In the Theatres
The “Fly Tying in Focus Theatre” programme (with the giant Plasma Screen showing close-ups sponsored by Veniards) includes :- Oliver Edwards,Tom Travis (Pike Flies),Marc Petitjean (CDC),Stack Scoville (Salmon Flies),Hans Weilenmann.
The “Fly Fair Forum Theatre” planned presentations include X-Factor Flies “Live” (the popular Fly Fishing & Fly Tying Magazine column with Mark Bowler,Magnus Agnus,and Fulling Mill),as well as items by the Conderation of English Flyfishers (competition flyfishing),Simon Kidd of Snowbee (fast-sinking flies),Stuart Crofts (entomology),and Malcolm Greenhalgh.
Just Starting ?
Anyone who wants to tie their first fly can do so at the Fly Dressers’ Guild stand where their
experienced tyers guarantee they can get folk tying one within quarter of an hour.
Got tying questions,problems,difficulties ?
See the “Fly Tying Clinic” experts
As media facilitator for the event I will be pleased to help you in any way I can,e.g. :-
Pre-Show :- providing any supplementary information you may require
At the Show, I will be based at The British Fly Fair Administration Stand where I can provide:-
- help with queries
- introductions to tyers or other participants for personal interviews,in connection with any follow-up personal ‘portraits’ or articles.
- light refreshment
- a Media Pass (if not pre-provided)
- any other information you require.
A Media Pass Application Form
is attached below,for completion and return to me as this would be helpful to gauge numbers : however all members of the media are welcome on the day on production of identifying accreditation. If you should be charged an entrance fee by an over-enthusiastic Steward,please come and see me with your accreditation and I will arrange a refund !
Travel directions and accomodation suggestions can be found on the Fly Fair website
www.bffi.co.uk
Do please
- avail yourself of the Fair’s informative WEBSITE for news updates
- come and see me at the Show
- let me know pre-show if I can help in any way,especially if there is any further information you need over the weeks leading up to the event.
Yours,sincerely,
ROBERT SPAIGHT
Media Facilitator for the British Fly Fair International 8th September 2007
Stop Press
With the cancellation of this year’s CLA Game Fair,the Wild Trout Trust has chosen to present the highly coveted “Bernard Venables Award” for an ‘individual’s voluntary contribution to Wild Trout Conservation’ for 2007 on the Saturday afternoon of the British Fly Fair International – the name of the recipient being a closely guarded secret until the day.
British Fly Fair International 2007