Play your part in fishing’s most important month
THIS is the most important month in the fishing calendar. Not for the big catches, huge matches, busy fisheries, or increased sales of tackle which hit their peak now, but a month which helps secure a strong, long-lasting future for our sport.
August is National Fishing Month, a period of just over four weeks when angling is showcased to the nation via support from the Government, its wide-reaching PR machines, and a network of hard-working volunteers at our best clubs and fisheries.
It’s back after a two-year break due to Covid, and this year it’s likely to get its biggest support ever after record-breaking new angler recruitment over the past 12 months and a nation holidaying at home.
The kids have finished school, too, and how many parents would rather they’re out on the bank in the fresh air than rotting their brains playing computer games?
So, what does this mean for you and me? Well, one part of NFM is the famous Take a Friend Fishing scheme – our opportunity to get newcomers and lapsed anglers young and old on to the bank to sample our sport.
I don’t know exactly how many anglers TAFF has introduced to fishing over the years, but it must number in the hundreds of thousands. It’s not only important for our future, but incredibly rewarding too. A few years ago I took a chap out for a taster session and he now fishes more often than I do! He’s also introduced his two daughters to the joys of angling by making it a much more rounded experience than just catching fish. Knowing the fish are only one part of a diverse ecosystem will ensure these youngsters will be the next generation of environmental custodians.
Please make time to introduce someone to fishing this month – it can only make our sport stronger.