ONLINE CAMPAIGN TO TEMPT THE KIDS

Junior licence sales spurt prompts angling films initiative

AN INCREASE in junior licence sales has prompted the launch of a groundbreaking scheme to introduce more youngsters to the sport.

How to Fish is a digital-based initiative created by the Angling Trust, the Environment Agency and Sport England.

It involves teaching kids how to get into fishing by showing them short angling films explaining everything from where to get a rod licence to holding and unhooking a fish.

The project follows the Trust’s successful 2017 Get Fishing Campaign – a year which saw the Environment Agency reveal an increase in junior rod licence sales.

Clive Copeland, head of participation at the Angling Trust, said: “Recruitment of new anglers into our fantastic sport is high on our agenda and our insight tells us that people want more information about the basics, such as where to go, how to do it and so on.

“Our How To Fish campaign will help to address that issue and sits perfectly alongside our successful Get Fishing initiative.

“The aim is to provide information to beginners, and even those who are interested but haven’t yet started, so that they can start their angling journey with confidence.”

The Angling Trust has recruited England Carp Team manager and BT Sport TV presenter Rob Hughes to front the films, which will cover all disciplines from coarse to carp, sea to game.

“Recruitment, especially among juniors, is vital as youngsters need information and they want it personally or digitally,” said Rob.

“Having studied many of the instructional films, it’s clear there are limited resources aimed at the absolute beginner.

“Fewer new anglers are following the traditional routes into angling such as being taken by older family members, so that route for information and guidance is dwindling.

“Hopefully, the How To Fish initiative will go some way to solving that problem.”

For more information about fishing and how to get into it go to www.getfishing.org.uk