BETHEL — The Mollyocket Chapter of Trout Unlimited will prepare fishermen for the new season at the Western Maine Fly Fishing Expo on Saturday, March 19, at the Bethel Inn Conference Center.

More than 35 exhibitors in the main conference room, a large selection of fishing related silent auction items for bidding, a kids’ fly-tying bench, well known guest speakers and a showing of “Fly Fishing Film Tour” will be featured at the expo.

This year’s exhibitors include guides and outfitters, sporting camps in Maine, New Brunswick and Labrador, fishing equipment representatives, fly fishing shops, fly tiers, bamboo rod builders, artists, authors and organizations associated with fly fishing.

Guest speakers are Robert Romano, well-known author of fishing-related novels, stories and essays, who will share his extensive knowledge of fishing in the Rangeley region; award winning fly tier Selene Dumaine, who will speak about and demonstrate tying flies using Carrie Stevens’ vise-less in hand method; Bill Pierce, executive director of the Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum, who will present the history of fly fishing in the Rangeley region; and Robin Reeve, managing partner of Labrador’s Three Rivers Lodge, who will talk about fly fishing for Labrador’s legendary brook trout.

A kids’ fly-tying bench will be manned by experienced fly tiers throughout the day. Each child who ties a fly will be entered into a raffle for one of four fly-tying kits to be given away. Winners are not required to be present at the drawing.

The event is the primary fundraiser for the Mollyocket Chapter of TU and provides the means to support conservation projects, fly casting and fly tying lessons to youth groups, schools and charitable organizations such as Casting For Recovery, the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine and the Disabled Veteran’s Fishing Pier at Songo Lock, which the Mollyocket Chapter initiated and funded with the state. The grand opening of the Veteran’s Fishing Pier is scheduled this spring.

The expo will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a $5 entrance fee.

Carter Davidson of Gray Ghost Productions will present the 2016 Fly Fishing Film Tour’s feature film at 7 p.m. The cost is $15 a person. Tickets for the film may be purchased at the expo throughout the day.

FMI: www.mollyockettu.org.


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