WITH the Guyra Trout Festival just around the corner, it’s not just the adults who have caught the “fishing fever”.
The festival, which is set to run over the first weekend in October, will see a range of stalls boasting the very best in local produce.
Smoked trout and trout paté will be available to try after working-up an appetite during the day.
Activities will include lessons from expert fly-casting instructors to encourage those who are new to the sport to try their hand at fishing. Photographers are also invited to get creative for the Trout Festival photography competition.
Children can also get in on the excitement with train rides leaving from the Rotary Park all day on Saturday.
Guyra’s very own fishing fanatics, Ben and Ryan Jones are busy practicing their casting skills in preparation for the Trout Festival fishing competition, which will coincide with the event over the weekend of October 1 and 2.
Inverell Fishing and Hunting owner, Mike Shelton is a sponsor of the festival and said the best way to engage kids in the fishing action is with lures.
“Lure casting is a fantastic way to go for kids who want to get in on the fishing action.
“There is no technique involved with this type of casting and because of the weight of the lures they are easy for kids to use.
“Chatter baits and spinner baits are great for the children because they are also very easy to cast.
“What we find is a lot of kids start with bait and move onto lures because with lure casting they aren't just sitting on the bank getting bored, they’re busy doing something,” he said.
Lure fishing is also the best method for catching trout in the region, according to Mr Shelton.
“For our area lure fishing is preferred. There is a few different techniques to fish for trout. Spinners are definitely a good way to catch them.
“Dark coloured lures work very good throughout the New England area as well,” he said.
But the best advice is always to just have fun.
“My advice to kids is have fun, enjoy yourself and then the rest will follow from that,” Mr Shelton said. Junior fishermen can enter into a variety of categories including dam and stream fly-fishing, dam and stream lure fishing and first time fly-fishing. Categories cover fishing for Trout, Catfish, Yellowbelly and Bass.
Expert fly-casting instructors will also be running workshops to help children and adults perfect their technique.
Entries to the fishing competition must be measured, photographed and presented at the Guyra Hotel between 4.30pm and 5pm on Sunday, October 2.
