The British Fly Fair International

Do please check the Fair’s Website for final news updates

The first Article by Tom Travis from Montana in Fly-Fishing & Fly-Tying Magazine will appear in the December 2006 issue (out on 17th November). Tom is also visiting clubs around England – South Cumbria Flydressers (9th November / Lindsey Piscatorials (13th November) and Lincolnshire Featherbenders (14th November).

Mikko Stenberg from Finland won the 2005 / 2006 Masterclass Fly-Tying League run by Fly-Fishing & Fly-Tying Magazine and will be showing his skills on the magazine’s stand.

FBI (Flies of the British Isles) will be launched at 2.00 p.m. on Saturday 4th November on the Fly-Fishing & Fly-Tying Stand – with British and American tyers in attendance. A ‘must cover’ unique occasion.

Free Draw for Charles Jardine Masterpiece: Charles will be painting the Fly Fair ‘scene’ and entry forms for the free draw to win this fine work of art will be available on the Fly-Fishing & Fly-Tying stand.

New Books: 2006 publications on the book stalls (especially Paul Morgan’s Coch-y-Bonddu Books) include:

• the Merlin Unwin published – “Featherwing and Hackle Flies for Salmon” by Chris Mann : the third and concluding volume in his “Flies for Salmon” Trilogy.
• From Jon Ward-Allen’s Medlar Press (with a stand at the Fly Fair): “Orange Otter” by Christopher Knowles : an in depth study of Shropshire’ Rev. Edward Powell (1888- 1972) and his fishing and flies (based on access to his diaries).
• “The Hardy Book of the Salmon Fly” by Keith Harwood – 50 of the best across the years in colour and with accompanying historical notes.

Radio Interviews:The Fly Fair will be discussed at 7.15 a.m. on Saturday 28th October and Saturday 4th November (live from the Fair) with Talksport’s Keith Arthur’s on “Fisherman’s Blues” (MW 1053 1089kHz Freeview Digital 723)

On the Trade Stands, New Products include:From Orvis seen by ‘the Trade’ at the Tackle & Guns Show, but the first opportunity at BFFI for the general public to see :

• Relaunch of the BFR reels brand in conjunction with LEEDA :- the Damselfly Large Arbor / Dragonfly Large Arbor Cartridge (reservoir) / Mayfly Mid Arbor / Torus (especially for salmon)
• “Shooting Star” four-piece salmon rods : for both Spey and Shooting Head lines. Four rods in the series :- 13′ seven-weight / 13’6″ eight-weight / 14′ nine-weight / 15′ ten-weight.
• Additions to “Zero Gravity” rod series : eleven new rods in the series,mostly for reservoirs and saltwater.
• Additions to “Western2 Series” of 3-piece rods : a 10′ six-weight for light line reservoir fishing + 10′ four-weight for upstream spider and nymph fishing. Also two fast-and-stiff action reservoir competition 10′ seven-weight and 10′ eight-weight.
• Orvis Battenkill Large Arbor reel.

From Partridge :

• several ranges of new rods,including:
  – 4 piece for trout
  – multi section for travelling
  – Spey (developed with Ian Gordon – who will be demonstration these at the Fly Fair)
• new range of fluorocarbon tippet and leader material (0X down to 7X)
• new fly fishing waistcoat (with 12 pockets and two chest mounted fly boxes)