There’s something for everyone at the Guyra TroutFest, festival co-ordinator Lynne Chapman promises.
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The event celebrates the official opening of the trout season with activities for both fishers and non-fishers of all ages.
Now in its third year, it will be held on the October long weekend from Saturday, September 29 to Monday, October 1.
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Competitive catches
Keen fishermen can enter a competition that runs over the weekend.
“They can fish anywhere around the region: in the dams, in the trout-streams, whatever takes their fancy,” Mrs Chapman said.
Anglers can catch any sort of native fish, not just trout.
Competitors can register online or at the Administration stand on Saturday morning.
The competition will be run in conjunction with the Fishing Simulator, which is also for juniors and seniors.
The simulator is like a video game, using real rods and lines.
“You're using an actual fishing rod, so it's hands-on and quite exciting!” Mrs Chapman said. “It gets everyone completely involved. It's very interactive, obviously.
"It's available for any age, and you can dial up the level of difficulty and the type of fish you want to have a go at.
“Even good fishermen can ramp up the level of challenge to give themselves a workout."
This is the first time the Guyra Hotel Anglers’ Club has offered a Fishing Simulator.
“BCS had it at their stall last year,” Mrs Chapman said, “and were out the door and up the street!”
The Simulator will be located in the GALA building all day on Saturday, and at the Bowling Club on Sunday afternoon from 2pm onwards.
There is a junior and senior section for the Fish Simulator, with prizes for both.
“Winners get a good quality rod and reel,” Mrs Chapman said.
Prizes for children and adults in both competitions will be presented at the Bowling Club on Sunday night, from 5pm onwards.
“Our Anglers' Club are really very skilled at getting fantastic prizes for our fishing competition,” Mrs Chapman said.
“There'll be giveaways from the Department of Primary Industries. They have lots of things for the kids, including lures and hooks, because our club is also running a go fish day on 14 October.”
Kids’ fishing clinic
Children will be able to attend a How to fish clinic at the Mother of Ducks Lagoon on Saturday, September 29, from 9am.
Kids 8 to 14 years old can learn fishing techniques, bag and size limits, and fish handling for catch release from experienced volunteers and staff from Industry & Investment NSW.
The event is run with the help of the Department of Primary Industries’ Fisheries section.
“They will have a morning full of learning how to tie knots and cast, and about different sorts of fish,” Mrs Chapman said.
It culminates in a fishing session where children can catch a huge brood fish supplied by Dutton Trout Hatchery.
Kids will also get showbags with a fishing-rod and reel, a tackle box, a free T-shirt, and a hat.
Bookings are essential, and close this Friday, September 21. Contact Contact Milan Duwenhogger-Lange on 0458 274 876 or milan.duwenhogger@dpi.nsw.gov.au.
Markets
The festival opens on Friday evening at 5.30pm, with a presentation of awards in the festival’s art exhibition.
Bookings are essential for catering purposes.
Saturday will see Bradley Street transformed into a marketplace. There will be international food, musical entertainment, stalls of every kind, and activities especially for children.
Visitors can enjoy food, wine, and boutique beers, while local food outlets have trout dishes high on the menu this year.
Local produce – including Working with Nature pastured eggs, Glencoe Cottage mushrooms, Deano’s smoked trout, Guyra potatoes, and award-winning U Goose products – will be for sale, along with international specialties from Turkey and South America. The Guyra Adult Learning Association will offer cheese-tasting.
There will also be a full program of music from Country and Western to Blues and Folk to Hip Hop.
Boomerang painting workshops for kids in the main street, and a jewellery-making workshop at GALA in the afternoon round out the program. Kids can also have their faces painted, and go on a jumping castle or train rides.
Bradley Street will be closed to traffic from 9.30am to 2pm. In case of wet weather, the market will be held in the Bowling Club carpark.