Anglers anxiously awaiting the snow melt, ice out and the opening of fishing season, can learn the latest fishing techniques and visit with guides, sporting camps and a variety of angling exhibitors at the first Western Maine Fly Fishing Expo to be held Saturday, March 24 at the Bethel Inn Conference Center in Bethel, Maine. The Expo runs from 9:30 am to 4 pm and is sponsored by The Mollyockett Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance. Admission is $5 for adults and free for youth 15 and under.
Exhibitors include Maine and New Hampshire outfitters and guide services, sporting camps, wildlife artists and authors, The Maine Dept of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the University of Maine 4H Camp, and boat and gear manufacturers. Attendees can learn the art of fly tying, rod building and wildlife photography. There will be educational seminars on ecology and entomology as well as instruction in strategies and techniques in fishing for trout, salmon and bass. HMH Vises is sponsoring a fly tying contest. Sponsors and exhibiting vendors are giving away dozens of door prizes every hour. Proceeds from an auction of items including guided trips, sporting camp vacations and fly fishing gear will go toward fishing habitat restoration projects and river access in the Western Maine region.
Says Scott Stone, President of the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance and TU member, “We’re really blessed to be able to fish in this area of Western Maine which provides the perfect environment for catching trout. We hope that anglers of all ages and abilities will attend and leave with a greater understanding of the sport and lots of fishing goodies too.”
Information on the event is available on line at www.westernmaineflyfishingexpo.com or by phoning the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance at 207-824-3694 or email questions to fish@upperandro.com.
