Waterways angling for attention at exhibition

Rivers, Streams and the Art of Fly Tying will bring together many images and specimens from Bradford Council’s Natural History collection.

The free exhibition will be held at Bracken Hall Countryside Centre and Museum from Saturday, October 1 until April 2012.

It will display photographs of freshwater animals that can be found in many of the area’s clean rivers and streams.

These include the insect larvae/nymphs of stonefly, caddis flies, and freshwater shrimp.

These will be shown alongside some of their human-made copies that are used by fly-tiers in an attempt to attract fish.

One of the many highlights will be the famous north country spiders, which are fishing flies tied in a particular style in the north of England to a design which has barely changed for over 300 years.

The exhibition will also feature a specimen collection that includes stuffed red and black grouse, a mole, brown hare and a brown trout caught at Starbottom-in-Wharfedale.

At the event’s opening event there will be a tank containing live specimens from the venue’s local stream and an area in which to view a fly-tying DVD between noon and 5pm.

UK based and local fly-tyer/dressers Rob Smith and Ken Stokes will also be on hand to give fly-tying/dressing displays.

Coun David Green, Bradford Council’s executive member for culture, said: “This exhibition will give a revealing glimpse into the wealth of life within the district’s waterways and the many ways in which humans have tried to mimic the natural food of their local fish.”

Bracken Hall Countryside Centre and Museum is open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5pm in October and April, and Wednesday and Sunday from noon to 5pm between November and March.