The Tweed Angling fair Kelso

The main suppliers and manfacturers area at the Tweed Angling Fair I've been to quite a few game fairs and the like and find, or rather find it hard to find the fishing among the burger vans and market stalls that often make the event more like a car boot sale than a sports fair. The Tweed Angling Fair is different, it's all about fishing from the moment you enter the grounds. Not as big as I expected, not as big as it deserves given the numbers of anglers in the country the angling fair is an all together more relaxed event where you don't feel sales pressure everywhere, vendors clutching for the contents of your wallet.

I spent a chilled out afternoon strolling around chatting with people from Hardys, Diawa, Sharpes, Guideline. It was good to say hello again to the very talented young Blair Banks from Dulnain Bridge, a future Spey Casting World champ in the making, who is now a ghillie on the Spey, Brae Beat and a member of the Loop team.

Stewart Higson (winne, front)) and Callum Manson in the boat race Then again to my surprise I bumped into Callum (Boo) Manson who like myself has moved to the Borders from Dulnain Bridge. He was a finalist in the Tweed Boatman boat race but unfortunately was pipped at the post by Stewart Higson who romped home a nose (bow) ahead. What a sight, two guys rowing boats that must weight a ton, oars like tree trunks and there was a bow wave as they rowed upstream! Next year give them a modern boat and race them against a boat with an outboard, they might beat it!

Casting demos at the Tweed Angling fair Scotty Mackenzie was there demonstrating how to Spey cast, hmm, he has some skill in that department, just a wee bit. Since Scotty came on to the scene Spey Casting has moved on a lot, 20 yards or there aboot! He must have been working out and eating porridge with every meal.

The guys from the various manufacturers were relaxed and welcoming, no sense of hard sell, have a chat, talk fishing, have a try with some of the rods and reels if you were looking to buy. There needs to be more of this, I've bought tackle on the basis of what I've heard or read and found that the item doesn't suit me. Nice to have a trial first before you buy.

I just wish the event was better supported by the angling world, both suppliers and manufacturers and anglers. It would also be good if the staff from the manufacturers spent more time out on the pools with kit for people to try out on a simple walk up basis. I wasn't looking for a new rod or reel but I would have said yes please to having go in an instant. Anglers buy flies on an impulse whether they need them or not, getting a shot on a new bit of kit often get you wondering about buying a new rod whether you really need it or not, it becomes an ache, then it becomes an objective in life. I'm a sucker for kit I've tried and enjoyed.

Well done to Eoin Fairgrieve and co for setting this event up, I look forward to popping in next year.

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