New event for youngsters
Barbel Society launches rivers initiative for under-18s
ARECORD list for running water has been created to help get more youngsters into river fishing.
The Barbel Society’s river record list for anglers aged 17 and under is already proving hugely popular, and society officials have been inundated with pictures and catch reports of barbel since the opening of the season on June 16.
“So many youngsters start their angling careers by becoming ‘instant carpers’ and probably don’t even try river fishing. That is a real shame,” said Barbel Society records officer Ray Kent.
“The idea of creating a junior record list for each river is to give young river anglers a target to aim at, and it creates that element of competition that keeps youngsters interested.
“Getting kids out on the rivers and learning the basics of watercraft makes them better anglers, and we hope this will help bring on the fishing stars of the future,” Ray continued.
“We all know many of the biggest names in the sport started their angling journeys this way.”
As well as currently creating lists for each species, the Barbel Society has also had printed official record certificates.
These will be awarded to anglers under the age of 18 who have caught the biggest barbel from their chosen river.
“We really hope that other organisations see what we are doing and follow suit,” said Ray.
“This has to be a great way of getting more youngsters into the sport.”
If you are under the age of 18 and have landed a big barbel – or know someone in the same age bracket who has – contact Ray Kent on the website www. thebarbelsociety.co.uk to see if you can claim a river record.