On Wednesday 11 February 2026 Andrew Rea, Captain of the Irish Lough Style International Fly Fishing Team for the spring international at Llyn Trawsffyndd, Wales on 22 May 2026 was at the Banbridge Angling Club’s Clubhouse to provide a fly tying demonstration. The evening turned out to be more of ‘An Evening with Andrew’. Andrew was very informative, interesting and entertaining. He demonstrated the tying of buzzers for competition fishing including the buzzer on which he caught a trout of over 6lbs on Lough Sheelin, Co Cavan which helped him to win the coveted postion of Captain of the Irish Team. He assured the audience that these buzzers would also catch fish at the Corbet Lough. In addition to his excellent fly tying Andrew also spoke of his days as a young angler at the Corbet Lough and how fly fishing has given him the opportunity to fly fish throughout Ireland and the UK. He recognised his father Stevie, who has been his great mentor and friend throughout his fly fishing journey. He also mentioned William Cochrane and the team in the old Coburns Tackle Shop, David McCreedy and Banbridge Angling Club for the role that they played in helping him to achieve this great accolade. He encouraged the Club’s young anglers to keep fishing and to learn how to fly fish. Andrew is a great role model for the Club’s young anglers and ambassador for Banbridge Angling Club.
Sam Watt, Chairman of Banbridge Angling Club congratulated Andrew and presented him with a bronze fly fishing statue in recognition of his tremondous achievement in winning the coveted position of Captain of the Irish Lough Style Fly Fishing Team. He wished Andrew and the team tight lines and every success for the forthoming competition at Llyn Trawsffyndd, Wales.