GAC Spring Open Weekend 2016 - Fly Tyers Row!

The fly tying demonstrations are always one of the most popular parts of our Open Weekends and the next one coming up on the 4th, 5th and 6th of March 2016 will be no different! Our successful instore format will be bringing you more of the countries top fly tyers, sponsored by Veniard and supported by Partridge, making this the premier fly tying event in Scotland! All of these tyers are at the very top of their game and will go out of their way to show you how to perform the latest techniques and how to tie any style of fly you can think of. They will even take the time to guide you round our massive fly tying department during their scheduled 'floor time', helping you to choose the right equipment and best materials from our extensive range, so don't miss out and come to Scotland's biggest FREE angling event!

Jo Stephenson

Jo Stephenson
Jo lives in the Suffolk country side and first discovered fishing aged 17, starting with lure fishing for Pike, Perch and Bass before moving on to fly fishing and fly tying. She mainly ties flies for Pike, Perch, Chub and Bass, and can be found drifting down the sleepy rivers of East Anglia in her kayak, 10 weight in hand looking for that monster Esox and dreaming of fishing around the world! Jo also recently took part in a BBC television program called Earths Wildest Waters: The Big Fish where she fought her way to the semi final fishing in 5 different countries and had the opportunity to fish for amazing species such as Bone Fish, Tarpon, Rooster Fish and Sail Fish, and hopes to inspire more women to take up a rod and give our sport a go! She is also a member of the Partridge Pro Team. Check out her website here - www.jostephensonfishing.com

George Barron

George Barron
George has fished for over fifty years. Born in Scotland, he began his fly fishing life on the River Tay before moving to Wales in the late 1970s. About thirty years ago he became involved in competition fly fishing with the highly successful Llanilar Angling Association. During the last three decades he has represented Wales in numerous International Loch Style matches, winning a team silver medal in the World Championships in Ireland and captaining the Welsh team in 2003 at the last International match ever fished on Loch Leven. He has also coached to the Welsh Senior team and was nominated as Performance Coach of the year in 2007 at the Welsh Sports Awards. If he no longer went fishing, George say’s he would be just as happy tying flies and prefers to tie in the traditional style using fur and feather in the time honoured way. He writes regular monthly articles for FF&FT magazine and Field Sport’s Quarterly. He also ties at the many fishing fairs around the UK and in Ireland in particular, where there is still a huge interest in traditional fly tying methods.

Barry Ord Clarke

Barry Ord Clarke
Born in England, Barry Ord Clarke is an internationally acclaimed and much published photographer and writer. His work as a fly fishing photographer has taken him to over 40 different countries and 4 continents. He is a regular contributor to numerous fishing magazines world wide.  He has written, Co written and contributed to more than 35 books about fly tying. He has won medals in some of the worlds most prestigious fly tying competitions, and his own flies can be seen in the 'Fly fishers club' collection in London and soon in the ‘Catskill master fly collection’ in the United States. For the past twenty years he has lived in Norway where he works as a professional photographer and a fly tying consultant for The Mustad Hook Company. Barry’s fly tying blog www.thefeatherbender.com has nearly 6000 followers and over 2000 visitors per day!

Paul Little

Paul Little
Paul's passion is for dressing Salmon flies, especially the classics. He enjoys dressing the Grub patterns, Spey flies and those flies that most people have forgotten - but he still ties a mean Blae and Black and enjoys tying saltwater patterns too. In recent years he has given both Salmon and Trout fly workshops in the US and the UK and enjoys the experience very much. The important thing to Paul is mastering the basic techniques and having done so, to disseminate those skills for the benefit of other Fly dressers. http://paullittleflydresser.wordpress.com/

Allan Liddle

Allan Liddle
Based in Morayshire Scotland, GAIA qualified Trout instructor Allan Liddle has been a regular contributor to Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Magazine since 2001. Allan specialises in wild Trout from wild places throughout the scottish mainland and the outer isles in both running and still water and is equally as happy on the largest rivers and lochs, through to the smallest streams and lochans. Although he enjoys all forms of fly fishing, Allan has a special passion for fishing dries, claiming 'The anticipation and visual thrill of the take is by far the most exciting and satisfying aspect of the sport.'

Ian Mckenzie

Ian McKenzie

Ian Mckenzie retired from the position of Technical Manager at Fulling Mill after 17 years at the end of 2010.  His position involved developing new patterns, turning people’s ideas into commercial propositions, sourcing all necessary materials & hooks, tying samples, and maintaining quality standards. Since his retirement he has continued tying flies for personal customers and has even found time to tie some for himself. An enthusiastic fisherman since the age of 10, living close to and fishing the Thames but graduating to fly fishing for Trout at Weirwood Reservoir in Sussex at 18, and subsequently fishing around the UK for trout, salmon, and Grayling, Ian has been tying his own flies for the last 40 years. Recently he has also taken to fishing for Carp on the fly – great fun! Ian looks forward to meeting many tyers at the show and will be happy to spend time with anybody who has specific problems and needs a hand.

Darryl Mooney

Darryl Mooney
Darryl is the UK and Ireland Sales Director for Partridge of Redditch and has been tying for over 36 years. He grew up fishing for wild brownies on his local River Lagan in Northern Ireland and this remains his passion to this day. A committed advocate of catch and release, he has a particular interest in all aspects of Euro Nymphing and will be demonstrating tying Woven Czech Nymphs on Friday and as well as being on hand to offer advice on the range of Partridge Hooks on all three days.  http://www.partridge-of-redditch.co.uk/

Check out our fly tying schedule, so you can plan your visit and catch the tyers you want to see over the three days - plan ahead and don't miss your favourites!

Click to enlarge!

There really is something for everyone at these events, that's why they are the biggest in Scotland - and this one promises to be the biggest ever! With FREE parking and FREE entry, there will be loads of things to see and do on the Open Weekend dates as well as some amazing bargains on all types of fishing tackle. Keep an eye out on Facebook, Twitter and instore for more info on what's going on at this event! Plus don't forget to register for your FREE GIFT on the day! Click HERE for details!