Fly fishing at the forefront of this year’s Scottish Game Fair at Scone

Fly fishing and fly tying will be well represented at this July’s Scottish Game Fair.

Fly Fishing and fly tying  is set to be at the forefront of the Scottish Game Fair this year.

The three-day show, which runs over July 1,2 and 3 at Scone, near Perth, has a wealth of fly fishing, fly-tying, competitions, demonstrations and casting clinics assembled in Fisherman’s Row, the Fly Fishing Mall, Fly Tyers Row, the stands, by the river, and in the Main Arena.

Demonstrations

Demonstrators include an array of world champion casters and instructors, including Scott Mackenzie, Glenda Powell and Andrew Toft, and pike fly fisher, Stuart Sutherland, will also be demonstrating techniques.

In addition, qualified casting instructors will be on hand to sort out any casting problems at the Casting Clinic.

Competitions

Competitions are open to all, and include distance and accuracy for trout, and a salmon distance casting competition. Run by the British Fly Casting Club, the winners of each competition at Scone will win a trophy and prizes, and also qualify for the Grand Final, held on Sunday, September 11 at the GWCT Welsh Game Fair in Gwynedd, where they will then compete in the Champion of Champions, alongside the winners of the competitions from The Game Fairs in Warwickshire and Wales.

Fly tying

Fly tying is represented in a big way this year with tyers in FF&FT’s Fly Fishing Mall, where they will appear alongside a host of fly-fishing related businesses and associations, including fly-fishing holidays, fly-tying materials and equipment, rods and gear, books and fishings. There’s also a specially appointed Fly Tyer’s Row, where another eight fly tyers will exhibit their skills.

At every vice, fly tyers will demonstrate latest patterns from a wide range of disciplines, and visitors will be able to learn of the latest materials, and be shown the tips and techniques to construct all manner of flies, from the basics, to trout and salmon flies, and to pike and carp patterns, and more.

Casting and fishing demonstrations in the arenas and at the riverside are tabled to cover techniques, improving casting, double-handed Spey techniques, distance tips, pike fishing, and energy efficient casts.

Youngsters

For youngsters, FF&FT is co-sponsoring the Junior Macnab Challenge, in which under-18s can replicate the traditional Macnab (from the John Buchan novel) by replacing the ‘stag’ with a rabbit target shot with an air rifle; the ‘brace of grouse’ with clay pigeons; and the ‘salmon’ with fly casting.

Run by SYCET (Scottish Youth & the Countryside Education Trust), each participant is issued with a Game Card and shoots clays with a BASC shotgun coach, uses the airgun range, and goes “fishing” with the local angling club instructors. All equipment, including safety gear, is provided. Early registration is recommended as numbers are limited each day, at the end of which all of those who had successfully completed their Game Card entered a draw to win a number of prizes donated by sponsors.

And finally…

Finally, there’s the Ghillie’s Bar, where all of the demonstrations, purchases, experiences and information can be digested at leisure, along with a favourite libation.
Cheers! See you there.

‘Early bird’ discount online tickets (available until midnight, June 30, 2022): https://www.scottishfair.com/tickets/

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