Come and to learn how to fish – what’s on with weekend at learn how to fish events through the whole of summer and school holidays near to home

Spring into Fishing events have been springing up everywhere! Learn to fish events happening near to you for the school holidays to get into fishing – FREE or low cost have-a-go fishing

There are more events happening every weekend now throughout the whole of our Spring and Summer of Fishing event programmes which see thousands of newcomers introduced to the wonders of angling every year. If you’ve always been curious about what makes angling so popular, but have never been able to understand why people love fishing so much, come and give it a go!

Most events happening during the school holidays are free (the rest are low cost and simply cover the price of admission or venue hire) and they are all fun, safe and friendly with tackle, bait and other equipment included to use on the day. Importantly, this includes a FREE one-day fishing licence cover for everyone while they are fishing at the event, and it means you don’t need to buy an Environment Agency rod fishing licence just to try out fishing. By the end of the session we are pretty sure you will be hooked on fishing, and we will provide you and your family, or whoever comes along (everybody is welcome!) with next-steps info on how and where to fish, who you can go with and the best tackle, bait or method to use.

We know that going fishing is about much more than just catching a fish. It provides an opportunity to spend time outdoors, away from the pressures of normal life. Spending time near water has been found to have a positive effect on mental wellbeing, increasing happiness and enjoyment of life, as well as reducing anxiety levels. Fishing is a great way to spend time relaxing alone, getting competitive with friends or meeting new people. It can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities and in many different locations.

If you’re new to fishing, there are lots of ways to get started – you can ask a fishing shop, a local angling club, get in touch with a Licensed and Qualified Angling Coach, or get lots of info online – YouTube has hundreds of beginner fishing videos.

Catch a Whopper – other sizes are available!

But first of all, we recommend you come and get some hands-on experience at a Get Fishing event – there’s nothing like getting outdoors in nature and spending quality time with people you know. Give fishing a go this summer – it’s a low-cost activity that provides an opportunity and a reason to be next to water and will build lasting memories and social connections away from screens. Because you can spend an hour or a day fishing, it is completely flexible and can fit in with other activities including walking and cycling – you don’t have to spend hours or days waiting for a bite and even if you don’t catch something, you will still get to experience the nature and beauty of being next to a river, stream, lake, pond or canal where nature thrives, even in urban areas.

After you come to a Get Fishing event, make sure you have the correct fishing licence (they are free for under 13’s!), the permission of the fishing owner or club, and the right few bits of tackle.

Get a Get Fishing Award and become a certified, experienced angler – FREE

If you are not sure how to get into fishing for the first time, simply pop-in to one of our Angling Direct Partner Stores (find on here using the store locator) or get in touch with your Regional Angling Development Officer here at the Angling Trust – they are all friendly and helpful and will direct you to the best local opportunities close to where you live.

Looking for children’s activities that are both fun and educational? Come to a Get Fishing event – they are a fantastic opportunity for kids to learn new skills and enjoy the great outdoors. With free fishing lessons for kids, your little ones will have a blast while discovering the joys of angling. Plus, all equipment is provided, making it easy for everyone to participate.

Why you should start going fishing…

• Outdoor activities: spend quality time relaxing next to water
• Family bonding: brings adults and young people alike together – spans generations
• Everyone welcome: experienced anglers can come with a complete beginner
• Create lasting memories: you never forget your first fish!
• Learn a skill: connect and share a hobby that can be enjoyed for years to come
• Catch and safely release fish: how to net, unhook and put back fish in catch and release venues
• Fun for all ages: enjoy a day out with family and friends
• Free or low-cost fishing lessons: everything included on the day includes a licence while you learn
• All equipment provided: no need to bring anything – we’ve got you covered!

Did you know…

Angling creates over 37,000 full time jobs and generates over £1 billion for the UK economy, but at its heart it’s a much-loved outdoor activity, connecting people with nature. In 2023-24, fishing licence sales helped the Environment Agency stock 480,000 fish into freshwater, work with over 500 different projects and improve habitats for fish on rivers, stillwaters and canals.

The Get Fishing campaign is funded by

The Angling Trust’s Get Fishing campaign to get more people fishing more often is funded by the Environment Agency from fishing licence income as part of the National Angling Strategic Services contract with the Angling Trust, and Sport England. Children under 13 do not need a licence, and licences for children aged between 13 and 16 are free but you still need to register and receive a licence before you go fishing. You can get a licence for the full year, for 8 days (ideal for holidays!) or just a day’s fishing.

NOTE: Although young children who are under 13 year old do not need a licence to fish, the person supervising them needs to have the proper fishing licence before they take hold of the fishing rod or help the child fish with it.

Get Fishing is Proudly Supported by

The Angling Trust’s ‘Get Fishing’ campaign is proudly supported by
Shakespeare, Exclusive Tackle Partner and Angling Direct, Exclusive Retail Partner
as we all work towards getting more people fishing, more often.

If there’s something that you cannot find here to help you start fishing or return to angling, please contact your local Regional Angling Development Officer – you can find the nearest one to where you want to go fishing here.