Paul Whitehouse at The Game Fair!
Star of hit TV series Gone Fishing, Paul Whitehouse is set to swap river for restaurant this summer as he hosts Sunday lunch at The Game Fair, which is being held 28-30 July at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire. He follows popular TV chef James Martin who will once again look after diners on the Friday and Saturday.
Paul will spend the entire day mingling with diners and meeting visitors, from breakfast through to supper. “I have been attending The Game Fair for many years, so I am delighted to now work alongside the organisers to help promote the joys of fishing in any way I can. I’m keen to talk to fellow fishermen at The Game Fair and indulge in fishing-related conversations with like-minded visitors all day long,” explains Paul, adding: “The event will also be an opportunity to promote fishing to a wider audience and ultimately increase diversity within the pastime.”
Jim Murray at The Game Fair!
TV actor, angler and environmentalist Jim Murray has launched Activist Anglers, a new initiative designed to empower and educate anglers on how they can make a difference and protect waterways. He will be appearing at The Game Fair on Sunday 30 July in the Carter Jonas Theatre to speak about the campaign and raise awareness of how anglers can get involved. Jim, who play Prince Andrew in Netflix series The Crown, comments: “It was a no-brainer for me to attend this event. Not only does it attract politicians and decision makers, but tens of thousands of anglers so it is a great platform to spread the word and inspire people.
The idea is of Activist Anglers is that fishermen do what they can, when they can. I don’t want it to be overwhelming or onerous for people. I just want people to think more about what they can do – which could be anything from a litter pick to enrolling with your local Water Quality Monitoring Network or even protecting our waters from poaching by becoming a voluntary bailiff.
Get into Fishing at The Game Fair
With more and more people showing an interest in fishing, The Game Fair is working alongside the Angling Trades Association (ATA), the official voice of the UK tackle trade, launch Get Into Fishing (GIF) at The Game Fair.
This brand-new initiative will see top angling brands join forces with key organisations and celebrities to give people the chance to catch their first fish, find out what swims in our waters, learn to cast, see – and buy – all the latest tackle.
Set beside Ragley’s beautiful estate lake and covering all disciplines – game, coarse and carp, predator and sea fishing – GIF will include a range of features from fun kids’ activities to demonstrations from experts and competitions, introducing the joys of angling, to all age levels and abilities with meet and greets, Q&As with celebrity anglers and much more…
Coaches from the Canal and River Trust and experienced instructors will help you catch your first fish or cast your first fly on the lake. Visitors will be able to get up close to some of our native fish species in the Environment Agency fish tank, listen to talks in the Landing Stage theatre, watch angling demonstrations beside the lake and look over some amazing fishing boats boasting all the latest electronics.
Alongside some of the biggest brands in angling, we‘ll be welcoming Game Fair favourites including Marina Gibson, Scott Mackenzie, Hywel Morgan plus other well-known fisherfolk and celebrities.
You’ll also be able to see how angling and conservation go hand in hand and learn about a host of environmental schemes supported by angling, that help to clean up our waterways.
Marina Gibson
A fanatical angler who spent much of her early life chasing salmon, trout and sea trout in the Scottish Highlands but now travels all over the world in pursuit of iconic species.
When back home in North Yorkshire, Marina uses her qualifications in angling coaching and her personable approach to teach people how to fish at her Northern Fishing School on the Swinton Estate. She is also an ambassador for the Atlantic Salmon Trust.
Each day Marina will be talking about her fishing exploits, her charity work with the Pisces and Cancer Trust as well as introducing us to some of her friends in fishing as she champions women anglers in all disciplines.
Expect amusing anecdotes, plenty of cool tips and some surprise guests.
Fishing Films
Fishing and filmmaking go together so well and our Landing Stage theatre will gather some of the best examples covering different disciplines throughout the weekend, showing on our big-screen TV.
The line-up is still being finalised but you can expect a wide variety of fishy films covering everything from top advice to environmental issues alongside previews of upcoming series.
Antique Tackle
Be sure to catch one of our most popular and longstanding exhibitors, Victor Bonutto, with his remarkable antique fishing tackle display.
As well as chatting about old rods, reels and angling paraphernalia, he will be setting up a unique ‘spider web’ fishing rod – as featured on TV’s Antiques Roadshow – that was used by John Henry Hirst to catch fish on the frontline during the First World War. It’s a fascinating setup and has been seen only rarely in the last 50 years, so this is an incredible chance to see a part of angling history that has remained hidden for many years.
Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme
Learn about how your used fishing line can be recycled into useful objects, why it is so important and how the ANLRS has been transforming river and lake banks, seafronts and more. You can find out all about the process from Steve Tapp and see examples of the products made from recycled line.
Bring along your own used fishing line and the team will take it off your hands to turn it into something as practical as sunglasses or rod stands!
Book Signing
If you love reading about fishing as much as doing it, then keep an eye out, as The Landing Stage will also be welcoming authors throughout the weekend who will be chatting about their latest books and signing them for you.
Landing Stage Timetable
Coarse Fishing
Run by the Canal & River Trust under its Let’s Fish programme, here’s a chance to catch some of the carp, bream and roach that inhabit the lake. The CRT hosts hundreds of learn-to-fish events during the year so The Game Fair is delighted the coaching team has found time to join us.
The sessions are suitable for anyone over the age of six and it really doesn’t matter if you have never fished before or are getting back into the sport after a break. You don’t even need to bring your own kit, as the coaches will have everything you need, from tackle and bait to rod licences, not to mention their knowledge and experience in catching fish. These sessions are always really popular so visit the Booking-in Tent by the lake to secure your slot. canalrivertrust.org.uk
Fly Fishing
If you prefer the idea of learning to fly cast or improving your Spey cast or double haul, the skilled team from AAPGAI will also be on hand. The instructors are highly experienced game anglers and all have undergone rigorous preparation and examination by the association to be certified as qualified, current and competent in health and safety, casting and fishing (or fly dressing), and teaching skills. They are all insured, and trained in first aid, risk assessment and child protection procedures.
aapgai.co.uk
DAILY AMATEUR COMPETITIONS
Single-handed Trout Distance Three Categories: Junior (17 and under), Male and Female
FRI 10.00 – 12.00 SAT 13.00 – 15.00 SUN 10.00 – 12.00
Trout Accuracy Three Categories: Junior (17 and under), Male and Female
FRI 10.00 – 12.00 SAT 13.00 – 15.00 SUN 10.00 – 12.00
Daily Winner Announced FRI & SAT 15.15 SUN 12.00
£5 entry charge. Casting outfits will be provided.
CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING FOR FINAL ON SUNDAY
*Single-handed Trout Distance Three Categories: Junior (17 and under), Male and Female
FRI 9.00 – 4.00 SAT 9.00 – 12.00 SUN 1.00
*Double-handed Overhead Salmon (S55g) Distance Three categories: Junior (17 and under), Male and Female
FRI 9.00 – 4.00 SAT 9.00 – 12.00 SUN 13.30
Single-handed 27g Shooting Head Distance
FRI 9.00 – 4.00 SAT 9.00 – 12.00 SUN 14.15
*Trout Accuracy Three categories: Junior (17 and under), Male and Female
FRI 9.00 – 4.00 SAT 9.00 – 12.00 SUN 15.00
£5 entry charge. Casting outfits will be provided.
All three disciplines* are required to qualify for the Overall Championship with the opportunity to attend the Welsh Game Fair Finals on 11 September 2022. Entry for the Overall Championship is £10 per entry (i.e. for all three disciplines).
Meet the organisations
Environment Agency
If you want to see some of the fish that swim in our rivers and lakes then you won’t want to miss the Environment Agency fish tank, which will have a number of species for you to see and find out more about.
The Environment Agency is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by DEFRA, which works to create better places for people and wildlife and support sustainable development.
Its fisheries division oversees rod licences in England and Wales, as well as being responsible for water quality
and resources and fisheries throughout its regions.
environment-agency.gov.uk
Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme
Recycling is part of all our daily lives and the benefits of preventing line ending up in landfill or being incinerated
are obvious. As anglers, we treasure the environments that we fish in and the wildlife found around them, so line
recycling showcases how the community can take unwanted line and waste and turn it into great items, like sunglasses and rod stands.
The ANLRS has hundreds of tackle shops signed up to its work with over 50 fisheries, angling clubs and charter boats, and some manufacturers are also pledging their ongoing support.
Canal & River Trust
charity that looks after and brings to life 2,000 miles of waterways, in the belief that life is better by water. Its research shows that spending time by water, whether it be your lunchbreak, daily commute or just a weekend stroll, really can make us feel happier and healthier.
With ever-increasing rates of obesity, stress and declining mental health in the UK, the trust is uniquely placed to make a significant contribution to improving the well-being of millions of people.
The CRT will be running fishing tuition with licensed coaches down by Ragley Hall lake.
canalrivertrust.org.uk
AAPGAI
The Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors was formed back in 2003 to enhance the practice and enjoyment of fly fishing and fly dressing by anglers of all ages and ability levels.
If offers high-quality tuition in singlehanded, double-handed and fly-tying techniques, not to mention the mentoring and
assessment of potential new instructors.
AAPGAI is now an international organisation of over 100 full members (male and female), the majority of whom are located
in the United Kingdom, but representatives can be found all over the world.
This weekend you will find them offering fly-casting tuition down by the lake – either on grass or on the designated pontoons.
Angling Trades Association
The national trade body for fishing, representing manufacturers, distributors, retailers and fisheries, working
for the benefit of the whole sport.
It owns the annual angling celebration known as National Fishing Month, which is run in partnership with the Angling Trust, Canal & River Trust and Environment Agency throughout August.
Come and find out how the ATA safeguards the industry and how to get involved in one of hundreds of National Fishing Month events.
anglingtradesassociation.com
Fishing for Heroes
A nationwide charity based in the Midlands and founded in 2009, Fishing For Heroes aims to help armed forces personnel suffering from emotional issues after the horrors of active service by providing fly-fishing instruction.
It currently delivers more than 300 days of instruction per year, and there are more on the horizon.
fishingforheroes.com
