The UK’s national governing body for angling, the Angling Trust, has launched its latest game fishing venture – a bank-based fly-fishing competition – to raise monies for the England youth fly fishing team.

TroutFest 2024 is both a national bank fly fishing competition and a vehicle that supports fundraising for the England Youth Flyfishers squad.

 Hosted at some of the finest trout fisheries in the country, TroutFest 2024 will see seven individual qualifying matches take place over the next few months, all leading to the grand final on November 3rd.

The first qualifier was held on Sunday, February 11^th at Walthamstow, reservoir number five. Walthamstow has a great reputation for hosting excellent Fly-Fishing Matches. All of the Thames Water venues are fishing well at present with Walthamstow Fly Fishing Club members catching well in recent weeks.

Each qualifier will be fished from the bank, with the top anglers from each event winning a Trout Fest trophy and a golden ticket to the final where 28 rods will compete for the inaugural Trout Fest title, main trophy, and winner’s purse.

The seven qualifiers, beginning on Sunday, February 11^th will also include Chatton Fishery on Sunday, March 17^th, Elinor on Sunday, March 31^st, Exe Valley on Sunday, April 14^th, Ellerdine on Sunday, April 28^th, Innis Fly Fishery on Sunday, May 12^th, and Bank House on Saturday, June 22^nd.

Entry to each qualifier costs £40 per angler and there will be limited spaces at each qualifier. The top four anglers at the four qualifiers with 20 anglers, and the top three at the smaller qualifiers will each earn a golden ticket to the final.

Based on a sellout, the top prize for the winner at the final will be £1,000 as well as their name engraved on the inaugural trophy. Entry to the final will be £75 per angler which will cover day tickets, prizes, and lunch – the rest will go towards supporting the England Youth Flyfishers squad. Tickets for TroutFest 2024 are on sale now HERE.