Went to the show at Stafford yesterday, I don't know how anyone else feels about it but I wish all the top manufacturers would come and bring all their latest products for you to touch and see instead of just seeing pictures of them! It was great for fly tyers but people who have an interest in rods and reels I feel it could have been better used as a show case for these products.
I will still support these shows but hope they evolve into something bigger and better. Any comments?

I have visited the BFFI for the last two years, and on my first visit, I was somewhat surprised at the size of the venue, I was expecting a much bigger affair.
I did enjoy seeing all the top fly tyers there, and some excellent quality products for the keen fly tyer, but I agree, more tackle manufacturers and rods and reels to play with is of interest to me, as well.
It's a Fly tying fair, more than a fly fishing fair, and apart from the Alternative tackle company last year, who stocks rods and reels that are unavailable in your local tackle dealers, it was all a bit samish, if that's a word.
I wish it well of course, anything is better than nothing, but for me it has no great attraction anymore, and I don't think it will draw me back again, which is a shame, as I like to catch up with a few forumites and have a chat etc.
I also think that moving the date from November to June is not a wise move, most people want to be fishing in June, and November when the season is closed, gives one something to look forward to.
S.

__________________
"A glint of sun has warmed the air,The flies will soon hatch out, To lure and tempt from their deep lair, The bonnie speckled trout." SKB tackle supporter. I love Furled Leaders.

I may put a thread up myself as was also there all day yesterday, always like anything to do with our sport, but maybe it's just me but I felt very much was it badly run!

1: Why did it not open until 9.30? We drove 160 miles and still got there for 8-45 when there was already a huge queue in the cold rainy weather outside.

2: A lot of "niche" product suppliers there, no one mainstream much

3: Card readers didn't work hardly, so major purchases were a no no, unless the retailer had a manual machine (poor Lakeland FT were tearing their hair out-lost a lot of sales)

4: Why when we have so many choices for a venue (Marquees would work well here!) with open still, or running water, do we have it somewhere where there is nowhere to cast on open water, the casting pools were pretty awful!

5: The main staging for the pro tyers in the central hall, was way too high up, Juniors and disabled visitors, could not see the tying or the finished flies. There were also quite a few visitors in wheelchairs I witnessed not happy about this, my better half is five foot 3 and she could not see the tying and flies properly, I'm 5 seven and I struggled a bit too!

6: No one there that I saw, was selling Tying chests or cabinets or anything a bit different, a lot of the stands present were just all a bit "samey"

7: Not a criticism of the show itself, but why were all the International trade exhibitors so much more colourful happy and enthusiastic to visitors and the Brit lads so dour and badly dressed? Particularly the Irish (aren't they always so welcoming!) and European folks were all great fun and full of enthusiam and also (although I'm getting on myself now) very few youngsters behind the stands?
What's the general feeling then? I'd go again definitely but just felt somewhat disappointed.

8 PLAIN STUPIDITY to hold it in June! March or October would the best time, right before the start of the new season/end of the season, start of they Tying season? reasonable weather still, money burning holes in our pockets, just the thing to get you all fired up for the new fishing or tying season?

I went yesterday at 09.40hrs with the knowledge that the doors did not open until 09.30hrs and walked straight in, no queue's, everything very efficient.

I thought the venue was excellent, much improved on Trentham Gardens where I found the stalls very restricted in terms of space.

I only watched three tyer's for any length of time - all British and I was impressed with the patience, friendliness and knowledge they shared with their respective audiences.

My view is that once the fair has a permanent site, then the larger companies may well be attracted to the event - it certainly seemed to be drawing the crowds yesterday.

Finally, as an aside, I was hoping to purchase capes/saddles but was suprised to find a meagre selection - apparently down to the fashion industry. So I was able to return home with my 'wad' intact.

__________________
"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers"
Henry VI, William Shakespeare

Agree with all comments so far, particularly on the dates / timing in the year - except got there at 10 and walked straight in, so no problem there in my case.

I did manage to buy on a credit card from Lakeland and Fly Only but only by going outside the building (and then some distance to get a signal on their payment machines) - I was shopping for young NickS (who was kind enough to give me a circa 15 item list) and myself of course; I got the core items that benefit from insitu inspection but gave up on other more internet friendly items due to not wanting to face the hassle of not being able to use my credit card without drawing people away from stands and taking ages; I was carrying cash of course but not wads as that's impractical for more expensive items; so would perhaps have spent a £100 more if I could have done it more easily.

The venue was in principle a step up and parking access etc was great but it was also a little tatty, the light wasn't as good as in the tents I visited last year and if anything it was too spacious, lacking atmosphere.

The casting area was not at all good, a half filled water pool on a slope and rows of cattle barriers (?) separating the casting from the side exit door, casting being done at a distance away from the main show area accessed out of an unispiring side exit with 'a bouncer' checking you in and out past smokers corner (no offence to smokers but it did feel like the back of the bike sheds out there) - last year's arrangement was much better with food / refreshments and seating nearby.

Still a nice show, good to chat to folks and meet people, view the tyers row - perhaps just needs a little bit more polish, better space planning and more actual fishing kit to play with a said previously.

__________________

Help fund the WTT study of the Softmouth

Didn't go myself,but didn't it state on there site that they decided to change the dates because of the weather?

Neil

Didn't make any difference because it p1$$ed down !

__________________

Help fund the WTT study of the Softmouth

That's our weather for you ,just thought id state the obvious that's all

Neil

Having given it a bit more thought, I was also a bit ticked off that there were very few "show special offers" to take advantage off, I tried to haggle with a few sellers for reasonable amounts of product, but non were open to negotiation (unlike my local shops) and must agree on the lack of choice of good quality capes/necks to buy, a few vendors had some Metz and Whiting, Lakeland having the best choice, but colour choice was limited.
The choice of tying vices was pretty limited too, with many not being priced and pretty much the same vices for sale on different stalls.

Someone on Saturday at the fair told me that pitches cost more than £1000 - he did name a figure but I can't recall what it was.
That may explain why there were no 'show specials' to be had. At 4pm on Sunday there may have been ...

I went simply to watch the AAPGAI casting demos; was not disappointed. My favourite two were Martyn Armstrong – "Chalkstream Techniques", and Lee Cummings – "Distance with a Single Hander". Unfortunately Tony Riley seemd to have been cancelled on Saturday; don't know why. I've been to a couple of events where Tony was billed but I've never seen him perform. Sadly I missed Massimo Magliocco – "Specific Casting Techniques for fast waters and bushy streams" because I was gassing ...