We do care, but perhaps not enough

I empathise very strongly with Bryan Jackson's problems (if you haven't read the item please give it a few minutes) because I worked with young people on a voluntary basis for many years and found the same situation but not just in angling.

I do recall, however, running the first (possibly the last)fishing match for all Sefton Youth Clubs. The then secretary of a local large angling association was approached and when I explained that I was trying to get more youngsters involved in the sport he agreed that we could fish a stretch of canal without charge. However the stretch involved was a fair way off the beaten track and not known for its fish stocks. I asked if I could borrow some scales for the weigh-in. He said "no" but he would come along on the day with a set.

The competition took place but numbers were limited by the location and the sec. failed to turn up with the scales - but then it didn't matter because only one fish was caught!!!

What a lost opportunity and Bryan's experience suggests that more are going begging. On the other hand many clubs do sterling work and should be applauded.

One point though, Bryan says: "The largest participant sport is angling, therefore logically it is the hardest to get to the top as there are more participants in the way. Yet, firms are more willing to sponsor a junior football team that will perhaps win only one or two games a year rather than a successful angling team."

I think that we would be deluding ourselves into ever thinking that Angling could rival football as a generator of sponsorship. Whilst there may be more participants in the sport, that is across all branches and includes all ages from juniors to very OAPs (even Ron Clay). Active footballers come from a much narrower age range. The number of young match anglers is probably very much smaller than their footballing counterparts and the number of mums and dads that week-in-week out stand on the touchlines is probably massively more than turn out to watch fishing matches.

I am not trying to disillusion Bryan or anyone else who gives of their time so valuably, quite the reverse - don't be discouraged, see what you are doing in context and keep on reminding the rest of us - and suggest appropriate ways we might help - your item is the start of a process by which you can raise your club's profile.

One suggestion - have you written to any of the TV Angling Programmes? - getting a mention, or even a short feature on one of those would almost certainly generate some interest (from VDE perhaps?)

We all bemoan the lack of facilities and encouragement, but if we're honest most of us don't do anything like what we could.

An update of progress!
November2002 - Stratford on Avon Team Champions for the third year in succession, February 2003 Rover Team Champions for the second successive year, May 2003 Millennium Trophy Champions for second successive year, June 2003 BWB Grand Union Canal (South) Champions (first year we've fished it!).
Sponsorship - only the ones that have kindly supported us already!
Will we give up - will we heck!

I just don't know Chris, an angling article and a raunchy book review on the same day in the same publication, whatever next.

Im an Explorer Scout leader. These kidds come from variouse back gounds.
The ones less welloff chuck themselfs into every thing whilst some that have it all are real hard work.
They were facinated that i also do a little fly fishing too, and were all interested as to how the fly is cast and tied, also how it is an artificial bait able to fool a fish.
I only took over this group in april and most want to come out fishing, even if they dont fish.
Hope to get them down the river this summer for a few evening sessions.
As a young Scout, I used to fish scout fishing matches, they were always well attended and organised.

A friend of mine, Charles Landells, President of The Chub Study Group, runs angling courses for the local youngsters. He has been running these courses for many years. I know that they find it very enjoyable and some good young specialist anglers, Mark Shelton and Mark Calloway being two examples, are graduates of Charles's courses. I think these courses give the youngsters an interest and are more rewarding than building skateboard ramps in the street, setting fire to shopping trolleys etc. I admire people like Charles but I couldn't do it myself as I don't have the patience.

Bryan, congratulations on your success. Keep up the good work. Interestingly the Angler's Mail featured a 12 year old girl on the front and inside cover editorial this week. Why not chase them to do an article on your team whilst youth is in the frame?

Hi Bryan,

Congrats. Sounds like you have a very successful young team there, keep up the good work. As someone who began fishing at a very young age, I know all to well how addictive a sport it can be when you are young and also how little support you get from some older anglers. And then there are guys like yourself who are more than happy to help out the youngsters with the benefit of your experience. We need more people like you on the water.