NATIONAL FISHING MONTH starts again this month with around 14,000 new anglers expected to try out the sport.
It’s on…. National Fishing Month is running between July 22 and August 29, and some 250 events will be hosted up and down the country.
This year the Canal and River Trust has got onboard for the first time and will be organising 25 free events and have invested in one thousand whip kits to get novices hooked on angling.
CRT head of fisheries John Ellis said: “It is one of the whole remits to get people using the canal network and angling is part of that and I’m pleased they’ve invested some money into it.
“I think the whole angling industry is concerned with the declining number of anglers and the fact the number of junior anglers buying rod licences has halved in the past five years is very worrying.
“Hopefully some of the juniors and older novices taking part in National Fishing Month will become life-long anglers.”
NFM organiser Naidre Werner said: “Unlike many sports which rely on rapid body movement or an eye for a ball, just about anybody can fish.
“Angling is a great leveller, with no barriers based on age, gender or social status. You can spend a warm summer’s day or a crisp winter’s morning by the water in beautiful places you would otherwise never, ever visit. Indeed, fishing really is a four-season sport, and one of its joys is that in each season there are different and exciting fish to catch,” she added.
Fishing sessions at all NFM events can all be booked directly with the organiser online at www.nationalfishingmonth.com
CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.