On rivers and canals across the country, a new group of anglers has emerged. Some arrive by push-bike, others on foot, and a few are even dropped off by their parents. They share two things in common – they’re young, and they’re fishing with lures!
Junior angling participation is currently on a roll, judging by Environment Agency data. It shows that, last year, sales of junior two-rod coarse and non-migratory trout licences had increased by 27 per cent over the previous season. It’s not just the EA that is reporting a rise in junior participation, as angling clubs nationwide are also seeing a spike in interest. Tackle shops, too, are seeing more young anglers coming through the door. And, in many cases, it’s lure fishing that is drawing these newcomers in...
'Its taken off'
Tiverton AC, in the South West, is one of many outfits witnessing the boom in lure angling, as secretary Chris Danby told us during a recent visit to its stretch of the Grand Western Canal.
“We have around 300 junior members currently, and lots of them fish lures,” he said.
“The canal is full of small pike, it’s cheap to fish, and can easily be accessed from the villages and towns along its length, making it a great place for youngsters to learn.”
This became apparent during our visit, as groups of kids descended on to the bank after a club match finished, eager to make a few casts. Predator Tackle in North Lincolnshire, one of the UK’s largest specialists in lure angling, is another outfit to have witnessed a surge in visits from juniors over the past year.
“We’ve got quite a few groups of kids that arrive on their push bikes, park up, and come in to buy lures,” staff member Jody Leverton told us.
“They’re always showing us pictures of the fish they’ve caught. I’d say that, over the last year, lure fishing has really taken off with young people.”
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Why lure fishing?
Thom Hunt, marketing specialist for Danish lure giant Westin, believes there are a few factors that are primarily responsible for the surge in lure fishing among young anglers.
“There’s a ‘cool’ element to it, with the tactics and clothing associated taking inspiration from the USA, where the lure scene is massive,” he said.
“This filtered through to the young anglers in Scandinavia a few years ago, where those that fish lures are also of a lower average age than anglers specialising in other disciplines.”
Additionally, Thom thinks that the ease of lure fishing is a big draw for juniors.
“I was over in Ely, in Cambridgeshire, on a Tuesday afternoon around six weeks ago where, on a small, half-mile stretch of river in town, there were 20 anglers, 15 of whom were kids fishing lures! They were in groups of mates and had arrived on bikes, just as I did when I started fishing,” Thom said.
“That’s the great thing with lure fishing – you can grab a rod, a little net, fill a pocket with lures, and you’re away. There isn’t the barrier of buying bait or carrying heavy tackle to a peg, which also makes the process of going fishing easier for parents. The sport can be instant if you’re in the right area – perfect for kids with a few free hours after school.”
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Helping out
Thom revealed that, when on the bank, he often hands out free lures to juniors, keen to encourage them. “Westin likes to support any participation events,” he added.
“For example, the other day I saw that Reading & District AA was running an introductory lure fishing session, so I contacted the club. Eventually, we sent out lures and landing nets to support them.”
At Predator Tackle, Jody told us that young anglers often enter the shop with non-angling parents and require a helping hand. The store has an ingenious way of setting them up.
“We do lure ‘mystery boxes’, which we can tailor to the type of fishing someone wants to do,” he said.
“For example, if someone wants to try Ned fishing, we can include the lures with the correct weights and hooks, which gives the buyer the best chance of success.” These boxes cost £25 and, when purchased, the customer will receive a few bonus items for their money.
“In one instance, a lad who wanted to catch pike came in, so I prepared him a mystery box for pike fishing,” Jody revealed.
“He came back the next day, absolutely buzzing, having caught a PB! That was a great moment, but kids don’t have to buy a mystery box to get some advice – we’ll happily give them tips, such as showing them how to rig lures.”
Jody added: “For years, it seemed that kids would rather stay in and play on their Xboxes and PlayStations. It’s great to see that now, plenty are getting out with their mates and going fishing, just as I did as a kid.”
