UCAPA River Clyde Salmon Season Opening Day – 2025

Saturday, 15th February, was a significant day for the angling community as it marked the official opening of the 2025 salmon fishing season on the River Clyde. To celebrate this occasion, UCAPA organized a fantastic opening day ceremony, welcoming both anglers and the general public.

Before the traditional march to the river—led by a lone piper—a special event was held at the Popinjay Hotel in Rosebank, near the River Clyde. This free gathering provided a wonderful opportunity for attendees to engage with the rich traditions of Clyde fishing.

I was honored to be invited, alongside my fellow members of the Sharp & Gentles Fly Tying Club, to demonstrate the intricate art of tying the unique Clyde Style Flies. It was a truly memorable experience for me personally and a privilege for our club as a whole.

On the hotel lawns, casting lessons were available from casting expert Jim Fern of Guide Fly Fishing, offering valuable insights to both beginners and experienced anglers.

A highlight of the event was the charity raffle and auction, which raised an impressive sum of over £3,000 in support of the Les Hoey MBE DreamMaker Foundation and CHAS Children’s Hospice—both incredibly worthy causes.

Adding to the excitement of the day, I had the pleasure of meeting celebrity angler and actor Paul Young, who took the time to chat and even complimented my fly display—a real thrill!

Overall, it was a fantastic event, perfectly blending tradition, skill-sharing, and community spirit, making for a memorable start to the 2025 season.

Sharp & Gentles Flytying Club At the BFFI 2025

The British Fly Fair International (BFFI) 2025, held on the 8th and 9th of February at the Staffordshire County Showground, marked my first venture into public fly tying, representing the esteemed Sharp and Gentles Fly Tying Club.

Departing from Airdrie, Scotland, the journey to Stafford in England was lengthy but filled with anticipation. Despite the distance, the excitement of participating in such a renowned event made the trip enjoyable.

Upon reaching Stafford, we checked into the Premier Inn that would serve as our base for the weekend. The accommodation was comfortable, providing a much-needed respite after the long journey. The staff were welcoming, and the proximity to the event venue made it a convenient choice for our stay.

The evenings were spent in the company of fellow club members, friends and acquaintances. We gathered at the next-door pub [The Shire Horse] and the nearby restaurant sharing stories, techniques, and our passion for fly tying while enjoying great food and drinks.

The BFFI is renowned as the premier fly-fishing show in the UK and for me to be invited as a representative of The Sharp and Gentles Fly-tying Club was a great thrill and privilege.

The club, established in 1957 by Bert Sharp, is dedicated to preserving the tying of traditional Clyde-style flies. It was a fantastic experience to share our unique style of fly patterns with the vast numbers of the fly tying and flyfishing Community who passed by the Club tying stall.

Throughout the event we had opportunity to demonstrate fly tying techniques, engage with attendees, and learn from other skilled tyers.

The atmosphere was so friendly with enthusiasts from all over the country converging to celebrate the art of fly tying.

I am incredibly grateful to the Sharp and Gentles Fly Tying Club for inviting me to this fantastic event. Special thanks also go to the United Clyde Angling Protective Association (UCAPA) for providing us with professional-looking pop-up banners that made for an excellent backdrop at our tying stall, as well as the stylish gilets embroidered with the Club and UCAPA badges.

It was an incredible experience and a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the finest fly tyers in the country and beyond while connecting with like-minded enthusiasts. And of course, I also took a moment to explore the event, adding a couple of books to my angling library and picking up various fly-tying materials to expand my ever-growing collection.

I was reliably informed that this year’s BFFI was the busiest yet so here’s hoping the fair can go from strength to strength and continue for many years to come.