The Environment Agency is casting a network of angling events across England and Wales for National Fishing Week (August 19-28), encouraging novice anglers to try the nation’s most popular outdoor sport.

 

Across hundreds of sites, top coaches have been recruited to provide free angling tuition and advice, in a bid to lure new people into the sport.

 

“There are millions of people out there who would like to go fishing but either have no one to go with, don’t know where to go or have no tackle to use,” said Richard Wightman, Environment Agency Angling Development Manager.

 

“National Fishing Week addresses all those barriers and gives people a chance to try out fishing and meet people who will help them take up the sport and stick with it.

 

“Interest in angling is on a real high at the moment and with the obvious social and economic benefits of the sport, the Environment Agency want to help the angling community seize on this growth.

 

“Over the last two years, more than one hundred thousand people have tried out angling at National Fishing Week and the various other events that the Environment Agency supports. As the flagship program for recruiting new anglers, we want to see that number continue to rise. So not only are we sponsoring and promoting National Fishing Week, but we’re waiving the need for a rod licence for anyone attending an official event.

 

“The Environment Agency is incredibly grateful for the support and enthusiasm of all the angling coaches and fishery owners who put so much effort in making them work. Thanks also to Dreamstore, Sports-match and Royal Bank of Scotland who have all made important contributions. The fishing tackle trade is also more engaged this year and that’s good news for the future.”