Last updated at 15:06, Friday, 13 May 2011

THE week-long Cumbria Fishing Festival kicks off tomorrow at various locations around the county. JO DAVIES finds out more.

GO FISH: Fly fishing author, instructor and fishing guide Hardy Greys, Academy member and England fly fishing team member Jeremy Lucas, with a group of visiting anglers on the banks of the Eden at Appleby

WITH 88 tarns, lakes and reservoirs in the Lake District alone, not to mention vast stretches of coastline and rivers, there’s no shortage of water in Cumbria, making the county a haven for anglers.

The county’s fishermen are justifiably proud of their prime sites, many of which have been a beacon for anglers for centuries.

“If you’re a fisherman it’s like one big playground,” David Stocker, festival organiser, says of Cumbria.

Cumbria Fishing Festival was conceived to showcase the county’s fishable waters and the sport’s masters.

This week-long festival is packed with events for both experienced anglers and those who have never fished before at a variety of locations across the county.

The festival has also been timed to coincide with the trout and salmon fishing season, “the jewel in Cumbria’s fishing crown”, adds David.

Playing to the festival’s strengths, organisers are catering to fishermen who want to improve their technique as well as hosting events for people who have never fished before, with game fishing among the highlights.

In addition to the waterside masterclasses and workshops designed to improve anglers’ knowledge and skills, that have proved popular over the previous two years, the 2011 programme will feature sessions on kayak fishing, fly fishing for carp, bass and mullet, a sea trout fishing event, introductory sessions for trout anglers making the transition to salmon fishing and specialist fly casting sessions for river fly fishers who want to master drag-free drift. Integrated into the 2011 festival will be Lancaster tackle dealer Stephen J Fawcetts’ Open Day to be held on the Lune at Underley in Cumbria, this Sunday.

The festival will also kick-start the formation of an angling club for female fly fishers in the region.

Neil Birkinshaw, festival organiser and manager of Cumbria’s largest fishing club, Windermere, Ambleside and District Angling Association says: “Because there is no template for an event of this kind, we’re experimenting with the format that has been developed over the previous two years.

“We’ve added new events for 2011 and abandoned those that weren’t as successful as we’d hoped the previous year. We’ve recognised that in spring time it is our game fishing and pike fishing that offer our greatest appeal. Our first festival week was well attended by predominantly local anglers, but last year we noticed that many participants had travelled long distances and were participating in a number of events, having clearly decided to spend several days in the county.

“Lakeland is stunning in spring time and a visit during festival week should appeal to non-fishing partners too. With such a well-developed tourist infrastructure, there’s loads for them to see and do.”

As in previous years, this year’s festival comprises of angling events aimed at fishers and non-fishers alike.

Fishing ‘taster sessions’ aimed at people who’ve never fished before, will take place at venues near Penrith/Keswick (Cocklakes) and Newbiggin-on-Lune (Bessy Beck).

Tutors hosting waterside events include Jeremy Lucas, Glyn Freeman, Eric Hope, Stuart Broadhurst, Patrick Arnold, Clive Mitchelhill, Lee Cummings, Bob and Vera Carlson, Nige Williams and David Stocker.

Cumbria Fishing Festival begins tomorrow and concludes on Sunday May 22.

Visit the festival website www.cumbriafishingfestival.co.uk for the full programme of events and the online pre-booking and pre-payment system.

First published at 13:01, Friday, 13 May 2011
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk