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CHRIS REEVE, OXFORD

As a keen fisherman I am always looking out for ways to get more people into fishing.

While contemplating this, I had an email from my youngest's cubs leader to see if any parents could spare an evening to help teach the 20 or so cubs a new skill. I took the opportunity and put myself down for two sessions. On the first I would teach the kids how to make a float and rig bamboo canes as rods, and on the second session they would use the gear to catch some fish.

The first evening session involved the kids bringing in a wine cork and a paperclip. With some guidance they turned the corks into half- decent fishing floats. I supplied a spool of 3lb line, some size 18 whisker barb hooks, BB shot and 8ft bamboo canes to be used as a rods. I explained the basics of fishing and how a float works as well as bait, feeding the fish but, more importantly, fish care and how to stay safe ( not fall in!).

I then showed the kids how to make a float. With some paternal support, we rigged the floats on to the canes, set the depth to about 18in with some BB shot and tied on the hook. The evening ended with the kids full of enthusiasm and anticipation for the actual fishing session next week.

We agreed to meet at a quiet spot at the River Thames at Abingdon. The river is full of bleak as well as other small silvers, lots of perch and the odd chub.

The owner of Top Tackle in Oxford, an absolute gem of a local fishing shop, got in touch and offered to supply the maggots free of charge ( thanks Wayne!)

The fishing week arrived, and 16 kids turned up in the car park wearing full cub uniform. After finding a quiet spot on the bank and a quick reminder about fish care, a few handfuls of maggots were chucked in, their hooks baited up and they began fishing for the first time.

It took a matter of minutes for one to shout, “I’ve got one, I’ve got a fish!” as the elation of catching set in. It was a bleak, nothing spectacular in the species as there millions in the Thames but this was an important moment, a first fish, caught on a hand- made float with a bamboo cane. The others crowded around to admire the fish, which spurred them on to catch their own. They set to it and clumsily dropped their rigs in the water. “Look, I’ve got one too!”….. “And me”. It was a superb sight with 16 bamboo canes and the hand- made floats in the water, something Mr Crabtree would be proud of.

An hour was spent with the cubs captivated by the magic of angling. The evening ended with all 16 cubs all having caught lots of fish – perch, roach, skimmer bream, chub and lots of bleak. This is a brilliant way of spreading the art of fishing, and I would encourage anyone to try this with a local group.