jeff

Two reasons are some parents wont allow their kids out of sight and some parents can't be bothered to get off their backsides to learn them, but commercials have taken a lot of anglers from the rivers and the parking is easy, not like the river parking.

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Therapy's expensive..Go fishing.

BoldBear

One of my clubs also has the occasional day where the relevant club specialist groups introduce members to various fisheries and the fish that can be caught in them. The last one was a day on the Gt. Ouse at Radwell to encourage members to try fishing for big Barbel, Chub, Roach etc. instead of just fishing the local lakes for Carp etc. closer to home.
A few of the younger anglers showed some real interest when they realised what they had been missing. and more days like that are being organised.
I think more clubs should do this.
They also had a Waggler only match on one of our match lakes with rods and reels (No Poles) which was very well attended and gave the younger members who didn't own poles an enjoyable day out match fishing.

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Happiness is Fish Shaped (it used to be woman shaped but the wife is getting on a bit now)

big g

Took my youngest daughter to Northgate Fisheries near Alrewas last year. She had 50 carp in less than 3 hours and absolutely loved it. Wants to go again as soon as it warms up. Think she is one for the future. Unfortunately my other daughter isn't into fishing and my son is guitar/music mad. Would be great if there was an easy way to get kids into fishing. Where we fall down is if a parent doesn't fish it stands a good chance their kids wont either. It is probably the only sport where we are super consistent at international level but get no recognition. If people knew just how good fishing in this country is I am sure it would attract more new anglers. Maybe it is up to organisations like the NRA and the EA to advertise angling to the public. There are so many fisheries on peoples doorsteps and miles of free canal fishing that it is a crime to waste it. Also anglers do so much for charities that goes un-noticed it is a shame that we dont get the credit we deserve. Maybe we should all take up football at 40 grand a week! Moan over. Tight lines.

ian hornby

i have, with the help of many others had two youth teams which i started from scratch. all i did was to send a letter to the local schools in a twenty mile radious. i also asked the local NFA affiliated club permision to use there name ( somerset and west wilts fed). you need the parents help at all times but with a little hard work the results are amazing. the first team i had were an amazing set of kids full of life and always happy.we got them to fish two nationals and even took them to a intermediate national on the trent.
the second lot were if anything even better mainly because of the boys parents taking an interest. we were fortunate enough to join the three counties junior setup. (wooten bassett) which opened up a whole new world to these boys . it takes nearly all your time running these's boys teams but its worth it.
unfortunately i agree with the teepot. i also ran a 5 aside football league at the school where i am site manager. this ran for three years with all the kids realy up for it.( 12 teams) then i overheard a parent saying how much "i loved boys". the league stopped that day and has never returned. its sad that one lowlife tart should spoil it for all the future generations but thats our legacy.my generation were responsable for educating such small minded idiots,and we failed, and you can see the results every day.

jethro

you only need one bad apple

tallman

The young anglers around Stainforth have a few matches in the summer months which is held by the New Inn fishing club and the local tackle shop owner sponsors the match with preston innovations through Mick Viles ,these matches also include perants for safty reasons ever one has a good day Its a sorry sight to see most of the young anglers and club anglers going for commercials waters, but in the light of it all they are easy accessible venues plus you can get large weights of fish,it also can be fairly cheap bait bill. and at one time the club angler would be see on the open circuit.That is also why there as been a drop in the open circuit attendances on canal and rivers, not for geting the walks and low weights of fish.The match anglers on the banks of canals and rivers are mostly the older die hards or vetrons you might call us,because its all the old faces on most of the canal circuit,we don't call the commercials because it another form of angling but it would be nice to get a chance to qualify for the fish o'mania on a canal again, and it would give you more ticklets to go at.

compleat tangler

i echo all sentiments here but the biggest factor to me is physical activity . the youth of today wouldnt dream of walking 5 miles with a bit of fishing gear to have a full day out so instead they need pampering and society is just to busy. in my youth i just 'borrowed' a few bits out of my dads creel took a few worms and off i went on an adventure. now it has to be 'structured' 'safe' 'convenient' although kids dont realise they have been absoloutly robbed by todays society. its a crying shame it really is.

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the carrot bites back
ooh you are awful!!

maver man

hi all im guy
im only 14 and been fishin for 2 years now and i do matches all round hampshire/surrey, at my local lakes they run kids matches all through the summer and over 2 years the number of kids has doubled and lots of them have gone on to fish for mosella farngorough i thing the future might be bright lads.