Londoner selected for Angling Trust’s short film YouTube series

A breathtaking short film celebrating the community contributions of a renowned angler aims to encourage more Londoners to take up fishing and join a ‘family of anglers’ who share a love of nature in the capital.

The only barriers in fishing are the ones you put up yourself.

Brigepal Singh, 57, a keen angler from Hackney, has been selected by the Angling Trust to share his powerful connection to fishing in the capital, hoping to inspire the next generation of anglers.

‘We Fish as One’

The mini-documentary joins the #WeFishAsOne YouTube series, featuring beautifully shot vignettes of anglers from diverse backgrounds who have found their way into the sport through various means and life circumstances.

Drawing on Brigepal’s own journey, the film explores the parallels between his Sikh faith and fishing as meditative practices, as well as his strong sense of community, his volunteering work at his local temple and as part of his ‘angling family’, where he has encouraged young people to try the sport.

An Angling Legend

Brigepal is now legendary within his angling community for catching chub, one of the UK’s best-known native river fish, and he regularly fishes on the Grand Union Canal.

Brigepal told us:

“My faith and fishing are both the same. It’s like a form of meditation for me. Both allow me to free my mind. I also love being in nature.

“I started fishing on the River Lea, near Springfield Marina and Tottenham Locks, where I learned a lot, especially since I didn’t have a car and could walk there. As the years went on, I bought an old van, which allowed me to travel further, exploring fishing spots all over London and the surrounding counties.

Despite most of my fishing being on the Lea, I was initially daunted by the Thames. I had no knowledge of where or how to fish such a large river, but I overcame that fear by diving in and gaining experience over time. Eventually, I fell in love with the Thames and split my time between both rivers – fishing the Thames during summer and the Lea in the winter months until the closed season for chub.

In fishing, we are a family. You are an angler; I am an angler. I’ve made lifelong friends. I’m very grateful to angling, and similarly, it does not matter what background, race, or gender you come from—it’s all about what you catch and how you did it.

The only barriers in fishing are the ones you put up yourself. No matter the rain, sleet, or snow, this is what I love. It’s the reason I get up at silly hours in the morning.

I’m worried that we may lose future generations of anglers to mobile devices, iPads, and screens. Angling is such a great activity for the wellbeing of young people, and I’ve seen firsthand the benefits it can have, especially among those with autism and ADHD.

We used to have a great fishing event over the school holidays for two weekends in Hillingdon, but sadly that stopped when the pandemic hit.

Luckily, the Angling Trust supports fantastic beginners’ events in London through its Get Fishing programme, like at Get Hooked on Fishing in Ealing. It would be great to see even more opportunities created for young people, as finding the right support is crucial.”

Clive Copeland, Head of Participation at the Angling Trust said:

“Every angler has a story to tell and it’s not just about the ‘one that got away’! Fishing has the power to build communities and bring people together. It is also an opportunity for stillness, and Brigepal’s story captures this essence. We hope this breathtaking film will capture the next generation of anglers and inspire Londoners to look beyond the city’s bricks and mortar to enjoy and fully utilise blue green spaces, perhaps at one of our Get Fishing events“

In 2023, about 75% of the 43,224 people who participated in the Angling Trust’s Get Fishing events across England were under 18.

For more information about fishing events and coaches in London, visit www.anglingtrust.net/getfishing.