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This season HAHAS kicked off a programme of 2hr midweek fishing lessons which we called ‘club evenings’. They are for new anglers who have made a start at fishing (at one of our Give Angling A Go days perhaps) but lack the knowledge or confidence to go fishing independently.

By attending a series of club evenings, novice anglers can work their way through a progressive syllabus of angling subjects including permits and licences, tackle setup, respect for the environment, casting, knots and how to handle the fish. We make sure that they learn something new each time, building on what they already know.

Just as importantly, they get plenty of time fishing, learning how to deal with tangles, varying weather conditions and the many other challenges that this sport throws up.

Each session starts with the HAHAS coaches setting up and trying to catch a fish or two:

When our pupils arrive, we discuss with them what material we should try to cover in the lesson, and then get them fishing straight away:

The main interest is always provided by the fish of course:

Learning how to unhook fish is crucial, so everyone learns how to do it, first by watching a demonstration and then by having a go themselves.

At the end we have a group discussion. It’s a good opportunity for everyone to learn from each other. We compare notes on how we all got on, what worked and what didn’t:

We were delighted to hear from the mother of one youngster who attended all three club evenings so far this season. For his birthday he insisted on going fishing in the rain on the Model Boating Pond, preferring this to all other celebratory options. His father and uncle went along to help:

He was soon putting his new skills and knowledge to good use, catching six fish in the first hour.