The Deveron Fishing Festival 2012 in association with William Lawson's
A CHANCE TO ENJOY SALMON AND TROUT FISHING AT THE SECOND DEVERON FESTIVAL
The Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust will be holding the second Deveron Fishing Festival in April/May with anglers invited to visit and fish on Deveronside, along side some of their favourite trade manufacturers, who will be hosting a selection of the festival beats. Central to the festival is the generous donation of the district's famous beats and a new trade fair, hosted by Turriff Tackle and Trophies & Turriff AA. The trade fair will be held on Sunday 29th at Turriff Angling Association,Turriff. Free festival fishing on donated beats will commence at 0900 on Monday 30th April 2012 and cease on 2nd May 2012, with the opportunity to fish for the entire week extended to successfully balloted anglers at competative rates (please tick the required box on application).
At the festival fair will be the latest angling equipment, wildlife charities, traditional crafts, the Banffshire marine fishing industry, local goods producers and suppliers. At the banks of the river Deveron; leading tackle manufacturers, such as Hardy’s & Greys, G-Loomis (Andy Murray) and Mackenzie (Scott Mackenzie) will be demonstrating their latest angling equipment allowing visitors the opportunity to try rods and reels in live fishing scenarios.
In addition to the excellent salmon and brown trout fishing, other highlights include the opportunity to try state-of-the-art tackle, meet some of the sport's best known names and watch expert fly-dressing demonstrations. During the festival the Trust will be entertaining participants in the evenings including the annual Trust BBQ!
We are pleased to announce the fishing ballot is now open, please apply below or call for an application!
Alastair Fenn, Fisheries Development Officer
The DFF 2011 summary
Festival Picture Of The Week
The Deveron Fishing Festival 2011 was an attempt by the DBIRCT to shake off the river Deveron’s modesty as “Scotland Hidden Gem”. Anglers from all corners of the UK and parts of Europe descended on the district to enjoy a week’s free fishing on a river. The program of the 2011 event lasted from 16th May until 22nd May. In total the district welcomed 220 anglers during the first 3 days, who fished a different beat each day with some hosting hospitality from trade manufactures such as Hardy & Greys based at Avochie Fishing’s. All anglers were greeted at the festival opening at Turriff Angling Association (TAA) lodge on Monday 16th. A short speech was given to welcome all participants, with the notable theme for the week being generosity. Anglers were escorted to their allocated beats by volunteers, trade staff and a willing army of local people. At the festival opening all visitors received a goody bag of locally produced goods, information from tourism Scotland and most importantly their festival programme. Keeping one eye on biosecurity during the week it was mandatory that all anglers disinfected all angling equipment before commencing fishing. This was done at TAA and all trade beats. With anglers coming from all over Europe and the UK it was necessary to prevent any nasty unwanted visitors to the district that would most probably not have returned home after the event, such as invasive non native species, like the Gs parasite or the Killer Shrimp. All of which pose a serious threat to local wildlife and biodiversity.
On Thursday and Trade exhibitors invited their own guests associated with the game angling industry and allowed them to be introduced to “Scotland’s not so Hidden Gem”. These were people that would sell Deveronside above and beyond expectations right across the UK and again Europe with G.Loomis having their Italian Pro Guides in attendance on these dates. There was a buzz of excitement that was felt by all during the week from visitors, participants, ghillies, local businessmen/woman, members of the trade and many more that is unconceivable to believe. Not a morning went by were stories from the day before where relayed with the kindness and generosity of the people of Deveronside at the forefront of it all. Tales of bakers bringing goodies, local anglers exchanging flies with visitors and the tribulations of who caught what and what on being hot topics all week. It is believed that during their stay, all involved were made aware of just what’s on offer here on Deveronside; excellent fishing, a variety of affordable accommodation and plenty of attractions of historical and national interest. The participants have now departed with a message to help promote Deveronside as a place that can be enjoyed by all, with many having an intention to return in the future.
The Trust also supplied a series of evening entertainment, for all participants and locals alike to help bolster the Trust funding that can go back into habitat improvements throughout the district. The opening night of entertainment was hosted by Buckley’s of Turriff with an evening of talks focusing on the theme “We are Deveronside” giving a formal insight to the river that is pattered with its hidden shackles. Tuesday 17th saw anglers, local and members of the trade meet at the junction pool at Avochie where the trust put on a BBQ that was enjoyed by around 80 people in the most splendid of settings on the most quaint of evenings. William Lawson’s did not falter with rewarding anybody the chance to have a whisky tasting with the legendary Charles Maclean and supplying a bounty of whisky to give all a flavor of the river itself. Nightly entertainment climaxed on Friday 20th May at the Trust 10th Anniversary Gala dinner auction. This night was attended by 120 with Sir Michael Wigan as guest speaker. Andrew Dingwall-Fordyce led a charity auction of lots built up from the kind donation of Trust supporters. All in all generosity was kind throughout the week with a staggering amount raised to help continue the Trusts efforts towards another decade in conserving the districts natural heritage.
