So the CLA Game Fair has come and gone for another year but what were the highlights for you if you went on any or all of the 3 days to Blenheim Palace?

For me it was the chance to meet up finally with some new friends such as Anne Woodcock of LadiesFishing.co.uk and Janina Gray of the Salmon & Trout Association, both of whom I hope will start to feature more on the FISH&FLY and Fly Forums sites sharing views and news on womens fishing and science/conservation issues respectively.

How about you?

Went off to fish Brenig in beautiful North Wales instead, personally a much more enjoyable experience.

For anyone who did go, I hope you enjoyed yourself and it was worth the time, effort, money and crowds.

The Pirate.

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Sonik Sports Team Pitsford Pirates - No pressure, just pleasure! Pip pip!

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The highlight of the three days for me was the low level bombing run by the Lancaster on Friday afternoon. THAT was worth the entrance money on its own.

I was there today and met the Forum admin staff on the Fish n Fly stand. Spent the day dog wrestling with my 9 month old labbie pup who wanted to say hello to every other dog and every person. I'm now officially knackered.

Big congratulations to the organisers as the traffic management was excellent, (it has been a big problem at previous Blenheim Game Fairs) the loo queues worked smoothly and there were plenty of drinking stands/free poo bags for the dogs.

Saw a nice Purdey at £189k!!!! Damn, I left my Shotgun Cert at home.

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“There is no more lovely country than Monmouthshire in early spring. Nowhere do the larks sing quite so passionately, as if somehow inspired by the Welsh themselves. There is a blackbird on every thorn and a cock chaffinch, a twink as they call him there, on every bush...... It moved me profoundly. I had been spared to see another spring, and I thank God for it.”

Oliver Kite
“A Spring Day on the Usk”
A Fisherman’s Diary

Wanted to go as its almost on my doorstep - instead underwent an arthroscopy on my knee and spent the weekend with my leg elevated at 45degrees and wrapped in a large comical bandage.

Trust all who went enjoyed.

Went early on Sunday , no traffic problems . Gets dearer every year but still an enjoyable (sunny) day . Only disappointment was Fishermans Row which seems to get smaller each year - very few bargains i thought .

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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day.
Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

I also went yesterday. Main motive was to get my Hardy Gem reel serviced on the Hardy stand rather than wait months for them to return it when sent in to their service department. Very pleased with the result.

Also took the opportunity to have a cast with with a few rods. Particularly liked the flexibility of the new Greys Streamflex Plus rods with the ability to add 6" to the working rod length without the need to reline the rod. Very useful when switching between dries and nymphs for river fishing. Had a waggle with a few other rods and managed to resist the hype about the new syntrix/nano technology rods. The facilities for trynig out rods was greatly improved this year.

As Lesgo mentioned, Fisherman's Row seems to get shorter every year. Those dealers etc. who were present were helpful but there were very few real bargins to be had. A sign of the times.

I popped up on the Saturday and i must admit i was prepared for horrendous traffic queues, thankfully the approach signs and car parking meant that everything flowed smoothly.
Friends who arrived more than an hour after me also got into the car park easily, a vast improvement over previous years at this venue.
Personally i thought the fair was better than Ragley hall last year, however as others have said the fishing village seems smaller than fairs of the past, the Broadlands fair stands out for fishing content as far as i am concerned.
Mind you one stall holder who i spoke to mentioned that a 3 day pitch with small 6M frontage cost him £1050.00, maybe the retailers are being priced out of the fair and with many doing good internet business these days cannot justify the financial outlay of attending.

I was there on Friday and had an enjoyable day even though it was hard walking with my ankle being so bad still.

The CLA sent me a disabled ticket for the car to get close to the show, but even then it was a long long walk to the entrance, not a patch on last year.

The stall holders were saying they couldn't give much discount or stuff away as the pitches were so dear, my quibble with the entrance fee. (anyone know what profit is made from the shows)

Got a nice wychwood vuefinder comp box and they gave me a hat.

Overall rating of the entire show OVERPRICED and preferred it more last year.

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I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,9 bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey bee.

I was treated to that at Grafham, whilst avoiding the Royal wedding this year.
I do the Game Fair every year and agree the fishing village was much smaller, with far fewer bargains- in fact I spent very little.
Still well worth the £18 (booked) ticket price though, especially if you are into shooting too.

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Behold the fisherman
He riseth up early and disturbeth the whole household.
MIGHTY ARE HIS PREPARATIONS!
He goeth forth full of hope and when the day is far spent he returneth
Smelling of strong drink, and the truth is not in him