ONE of the most popular anglers has helped get our angling nation in a positive mood during lockdown with a smash-hit picture campaign.
Matt Hayes has been running his #WhyWeFish campaign while the coronavirus has been keeping anglers at home.
Famed for his starring role in The Great Rod Race and many other TV angling shows, it’s been social media where he’s rallied thousands of rods.
The 59-year-old said: “I received well over 1,000 pictures from the public via Facebook and Twitter for the first week of the #WhyWeFish campaign. Some of them are fantastic.
“It’s amazing stuff, a true celebration of angling from the grassroots.
“The great Bill Shankly once said that ‘Some people think football is a matter of life and death. It’s much more serious than that.’
“Well, much as I love fishing, I love my family more. My fishing hero is my dad.
“There is a young couple in the UK who I will not mention by name, but they know who they are.
“For the past fortnight, they have done my mum and dad’s shopping, and visited them to check that everything is okay.
“I cannot tell you how much this means to me, being stuck in Norway and unable to visit them.
“Not all young people are ‘snowflakes’ – this is the best of Britain.
“Hopefully, we can all start fishing soon, once the restrictions are lifted. Until then, it’s about being safe, positive and getting through this.
Matt Hayes on the first winner….
“The first winner was Rob Butterfield, pictured with his daughter, Aicha,” said Matt.
“I chose this image as the weekly winner because there is so much joy in it, and it was hugely popular on the live show,” added Matt, who is drawing nearly 50,000 Facebook viewers to his Friday evening live fishing shows.
Braintree, Essex-based Rob, who won a JRC TX2 Extreme shelter and an Angler’s Mail magazine subscription, was thrilled to be named the winner.
Matt Hayes picked this cracking image as his cream of the crop. It shows Rob Butterfield with his daughter, Aicha. The standard of entries was very impressive.
Dad and daughter’s own story…
Rob said: “This was Aicha’s first carp. She has come carp fishing with me a few times as she has got older.
“We hired a cabin at Woodlakes, in Norfolk, and she really enjoyed it, so I got her a 4 m whip and took her to my local day ticket lake to try it out.
“We started by catching a few skimmers on sweetcorn in the margins, and then this carp pulled the elastic very nicely.
“My partner suggested that we take a picture, and I’m glad that we did, as it has created some brilliant memories.
“She is hooked now, and is nagging me for a pink fishing rod.
“She is very much looking forward to coming with me on my first visit to my syndicate as soon all this craziness is over.
“She wants to use her new JRC tent, as she calls it. She is four years old, five in November.
“I have fished all my life, starting out with a bamboo cane for gudgeon. I would not be myself if I didn’t fish.
“It is part of me, and that buzz of landing a big fish never dies. Being out to see the world is breathtaking,” concluded Rob.
Atmospheric scenic shots by Jacob Wise and Mark Filipiuk took runner-up spots, chosen by Matt Hayes.
They also won Angler’s Mail magazine subscriptions so will get the most interesting read in fishing, direct to their homes each week.
Jacob Wise was a runner-up with this fantastic moody, misty image.
Mark Filipiuk was dancing for joy after getting in the frame with Matt Hayes.
GOT A STORY OR VIEWS TO SHARE WITH US? Email us, with or without photos, to: anglersmail@ti-media.com YOU could get into print with us.
For the best exclusive content, read Angler’s Mail magazine every week. It’s in shops but also available via easy home-delivery methods, as you can find out here.
Watch brilliant Mail columnist Steve Collett, just before the UK went into lockdown, explain how to ensure you get your weekly ‘fishing fix’…
There has never been a better time get AM print magazine delivered to you… each and every week.
GET ANGLER’S MAIL MAGAZINE DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME – AT A GREAT PRICE!
You may also like to read these Angler’s Mail stories…
How to get Angler’s Mail magazine during the coronavirus crisis
Home delivery solves the problem of how to get Angler’s Mail magazine. The deals are right here, online… and easy…
Matt Hayes’ appealing particle baits tips
1 ‘Prepare them properly’ – says Matt Hayes Particles cover baits from seeds like hemp right through to maize, wheat…
Matt Hayes & Ben Fogle star in new BBC2 TV series Earth’s Wildest Waters: The Big Fish
Weekly episodes of Earth’s Wildest Waters: The Big Fish start at 8pm, Sunday, October 11 on BBC2, and will also be…
Greatest-ever wedding photo!
ANGLING-mad honeymooners Nigel and Caroline Watts managed to get a wedding picture that we’ll all remember. But it all could…
10 tips to ensure your fishing photos impress everyone!
THE flow of fishing photos to Angler’s Mail HQ has been massive – mainly attached to emails, also posted on…