Inspiring the next generation: What drives our fishing coaches?

Our coaching team is at the heart of Fishing for Schools, inspiring young people and passing on their passion for the sport. In this article, we hear from two longstanding coaches and two new team members about what motivates them, how they support young people, and their hopes for the future of fishing.

Why is being part of Fishing for Schools important to you?

Lee: I am really very proud to be part of the Fishing for Schools team and I think the main reason is that I see first-hand, on a regular basis, the positive impact we have on our students—many of whom are facing challenges in education or going through difficult childhood experiences.

Mark: Angling has been a constant thread in my life, bringing me immense pleasure and connecting me with nature in ways I never could have imagined while growing up in a mining town in the Midlands. The mining industry was on the wane in the late seventies and early eighties but the scar of the industry remained with an old cinder railway track being the path to the local Coventry canal where I cut my angling teeth as it were. That old cinder track was a gateway to another magical world where possibility lay on my own terms for a young enquiring mind. Fast forward 45 years - those years full of wonderful memories, angling experiences, cherished friendships which have inspired me to pass on the baton to the next generation of young anglers. Just to inspire a handful of young anglers to embark on their own angling journey in life gives me the greatest of pleasure.

Michael: Fishing for Schools is important to me, because the work that the organisation does is invaluable. Now more than ever, young people need access to constructive outdoor pursuits, and fishing is definitely one of those. The needs of today’s school children are far more complex, particularly as they navigate the increasingly technology-reliant society that we live in. Just a few hours away from screens can make a massive difference and open up a young person’s eyes to what the wider world has to offer. In addition, the mental and physical health benefits offered by fishing cannot be understated.

Max: I would say the main reason being part of Fishing for Schools is so important to me is that sessions like the ones we provide are exactly why I’m doing what I do today. Without them, I would likely never have taken up fishing or made a career out of it. For me it is a gratifying feeling that I am helping inspire the next generation of anglers, to support our industry.

How do you see your role in supporting young people through the programme?

Lee: This is going to sound odd coming from an absolute fishing addict but for me the fishing is just a vehicle to reach our students. The inspiring confidence, teamwork and leaning to enjoy nature is far more important to me. I really enjoy seeing our students regularly astound their teachers with their progress with us.

Mark: I see my role in the Fishing for Schools programme as one of being a conduit, opening young eyes to all that is good in angling, showing them what is well within their grasp with a little initial guidance and encouragement. Essentially, we're giving youngsters the basic skills and tools to embark on their own angling journey - hopefully one that lasts a lifetime. I also see my role as providing inspiration to youngsters who may be facing life challenges. For example, those with learning or who have not had the best start in life. That brief window of opportunity to inspire or connect with youngsters is so important. The magic of angling provides that window and it cuts through in a unique way. In essence, we as coaches have an opportunity to boost a youngster’s self-esteem, to offer them something positive where those opportunities in their lives maybe lacking or in short supply. To have that opportunity, for me personally, is a gift and one of my key motivations for being involved with the Fishing for Schools team.

Michael: I see my role as a facilitator, much as my uncle was to me in the 1980s when he took me fishing for the very first time. He provided me with a gateway into the sport, and my level of captivation was instantaneous. I remember that day very clearly, and I hope that I can pass on similar experiences for the young people that I coach whilst working with Fishing for Schools.

Max: I see my role as being an aid to the young people I teach. I want them to have a good experience whilst fishing but not lead them into a false sense of reality of what fishing is like; there will be good fishing days and bad fishing days, as many anglers all know. However, every session I conduct, I want students to be able to take away something from it - whether it is a new personal best or they have learnt how to set up a rod independently, it doesn’t matter, as long as they have enjoyed themselves along the way. By aiding and guiding them through the programme I would love every student to come away and, if they wished to do so, to be able to turn up to the bank side and be able to fish effectively and have fun doing so.

What are your thoughts on the future of fishing?

Lee: Lots of people will tell you that the youngsters of today are only interested in computer games and they aren't interested in fishing at all. Going by what I see, if you give the youngsters an opportunity to try fishing, they absolutely love it. We are planting seeds for fishing future I believe, lots of our students get bitten and continue to fish and I'm sure others will pick it up again later in life. 

Mark: I foresee the future of angling continuing to provide an oasis of calm in a forever busy world. The outdoors is an elixir to the increasing demands of modern life, I believe angling as it has always done will provide pause for reflection and more importantly connection to the natural environment. Something that is recognised as being so important for all our well-being no matter what our age.

Michael: In terms of my thoughts on the future of fishing, I would say that as long as we have organisations like Fishing for Schools around, then it will continue to thrive. Many children will not necessarily have relatives or friends who can take them fishing, so to have that opportunity at school is a real godsend. 

Max: I believe that fishing as a whole is up and coming; I think the most recent reason for this is covid, as fishing got many people through that dark period and got them reengaged with people and the outside world, and thankfully many people have continued with the sport. I am slightly concerned with some areas of the fishing industry, primarily within the tackle industry, with many smaller high street stores closing. Like many anglers, this is where we like to spend a lot of time and our money. Without local tackle shops I feel we lose a big part of our angling community as this is where new and experienced anglers come to share catch reports, ask for information about anything fishing related and just talk for hours about the sport we all love.