Ready, steady, Jo for salmon season
Demos on RiverTeith
Celebrity angler Jo Stephenson will open the new salmon fishing season on the River Teith next Wednesday (February 1).
Jo was introduced to fishing at the age of 17, and while traveling in New Zealand eight years ago she discovered fly tying.
Since then she has been developing her tying skills and now demonstrates at fly shows around the UK and Ireland. In 2015 she was a contestant on BBCs ‘Earths Wildest Waters: The Big Fish’.
In the programme, she was one of eight anglers sent to spectacular locations around the world to use their existing fishing skills and learn new ones from the locals.
As guest of honour of Stirling Fisheries Jo will be officially opening the river for the new season, and later she’ll put on a demonstration of her fly tying skills.
The event will begin at 9.15am in Callander, where the parade, led by Jacobite actors from Clanranald Trust, will travel from Ancaster Square to a marquee in the Meadows Car Park. There, free hot food and drinks will be provided by Mhor, as well as whisky tasting by Deanston Distillery.
A number of organisations and businesses from the area will be in attendance.
Qualified coaches from SANA/ Scottish International Ladies Fly Fishing Team will be available to give a basic induction to fishing and will have kit available.
Stirling area anglers will be demonstrating the art of fly tying and Team Gaelforce will be on hand to offer advice about tackle, and giving casting demonstrations.
Callander-based charity Trossachs Mobility will be demonstrating their new all-terrain wheelchairs, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park will be giving advice on new byelaws within the national park, Lantra will be promoting employment opportunities in the Fisheries Management sector and Atlantic Salmon Trust will showcase the outstanding work they do to conserve salmon worldwide.
The Teith is publicly owned and managed by Stirling Council who have introduced conservation measures to protect fish stocks.
Stirling Council fisheries officer Scott Mason said: “This event is going from strength to strength each year and this is evident with the people and organisations who are attending.
“More anglers are turning out to support this event each year, so with the long range forecasts more favourable than last year I am hopeful for a good attendance. The theme this year is engaging new anglers into the sport, so I really hope people take advantage of the experts who are going to be in attendance.”