John Bailey, author and presenter of the book and the TV series ‘Fishing in the Footsteps of Mr. Crabtree’ appeared on BBC1 this morning to talk about the decline in youngsters getting involved in the sport of fishing.
It’s a subject that’s close to our hearts as we continue our own national talent search for young anglers to appear in Series 2 of ‘Fishing in the Footsteps of Mr. Crabtree’.
According to EA figures, the numbers of junior licences being bought has dropped from 77K in 2009 to 44K in 2013.
So what’s the problem? Is fishing no longer the #1 participatory sport in the Uk? Is it just that people aren’t buying licenses? Is it all part of a (not so) slow decline into a stagnant lifestyle that revolves around tech and instant gratification?
As Team Crabtree we’ve straddled the mainstream and the fishing industry, and been privy to the assumptions that people make about angling and anglers. Here’s some of our thoughts on the subject, but what do you think?
1. Angling is still #1
The EA stats may reveal that the numbers of teenagers coming in to the sport are down, but angling is still the Number 1 participation sport in the UK – and the world!
2. Barriers to Access
There are undoubtedly more barriers to entry these days. More private waters than ever before, health and safety concerns, worries about children going out alone. And then there’s all the tech barriers – the XBox generation and a general lack of physical activity amongst the young. In our opinion though, the biggest barrier to entry is lack of opportunity – there was a time that fishing was something that all children has tried and then made the decision about whether to stick with. That’s certainly not the case now.
3. Lack of support from the mainstream media
Angling has a widespread and varied appeal across its disciplines, and millions of participants at grass roots level. However, it is rarely supported by mainstream media unless it’s a sensationalist type of show that doesn’t represent day to day fishing and isn’t accessible or attainable. Great angling shows appear often on the likes of Sky Sports and Discovery but these reach dedicated audiences and not potential new people or those with a passing interest that could be channelled into action.
4. Anglers are ‘cool’ – you just don’t necessarily hear about them!
Many people in the public eye use fishing as their escapism – they don’t shout from the rooftops about it – It’s their way of getting away from the limelight. There are so many famous actors, rock and pop stars, personalities and sportspeople that go fishing. Fishing is not necessarily perceived as ‘cool’ because it’s not really a ‘look at me’ sport. And harking back to point #3 – because it’s not always supported by the mainstream media, people have a stereotyped view of what anglers are. If you saw the kids that apply to be our young protégés in the shows and our Peters that appear – you will see some really cool kids from a real cross section of the UK.
5. Angling offers something for everybody
If the positives – of which there are many – were to be illustrated on terrestrial TV channels there would be a massive shift in popularity and of people going and giving it a try. It’s a great and inclusive pastime, it’s a great way to meet nature, to share with parents, family and friends, it’s active, it gets you outdoors and you get to see and experience so much that you can’t sitting at home glued to a play station. One of the best aspects of angling is that it can be enjoyed equally at 6 or 86 – and it is! Through Crabtree we’ve clearly seen and enjoyed the meeting of generations, sharing in a common passion – the transference of skills, knowledge and experience. Angling provides the ideal platform to create communities, injecting mutual respect and providing all involved with the opportunity to set themselves personal goals and targets that they can celebrate with friends and family.
For us and other agencies that we work with – and there are so many great people out there doing amazing things to help and support getting youngsters into the sport – the key is about introducing beginners of all ages, class and gender to the sport – but especially youngsters and teenagers.
What are your views? Can we stem the tide and get more kids back into fishing or do we simply have to accept that fishing is a dying sport?
Clubs need to do more to encourage youngsters to get into our sport/hobby, we have run an annual junior day for the last 8 years with assistance from the EA and local tackle shops and we also hold several have a go days through out the year. We also run a buddy system where youngsters can have one to one sessions with a (CRB checked) older angler. All these are provided free of charge and many of the youngsters end up joining the club and taking part in our summer series of junior matches as well as enjoying the benefits of time outside rather than staring at a computer screen. In stark contrast another club we know of actually makes it so hard for juniors to join that they have an almost non existant junior membership and then wonder why their adult membership numbers are declining as they don’t seem to have realised that its the juniors coming thru that keep the membership up.
Got up just in time to catch the end of JB’s interview. I agree too many kids are hooked on electronics these days, I visit my local tackle shop from time to time for a chat, not been on the bank for a while, what with Drs and Hospitals, anyway it was disheartening to see how the the guy behind the counter treated them, shameful, they are the future. I ts also noticeable how many kids come in with their Mums and Dads, who obviously have no interest in our great sport.
I felt like offering to take them fishing, but no, cant spare the time came the reply, these days you cant take a youngster under your wing for fear of. well you know the deal.
As for TV representation of the sport, its getting better, but most of the programs, although very good are aimed at the specimen hunters, and will get some interest from the younger generation, a solution? more Crabtree for one, I have my own theory but that’s what it is a theory, why cant the tackle stores arrange for family days out fishing out with the Mums and Dads, Grandparents too, good business as well not rocket science is it. I’m sure there are many more like minded oldies out there, what about a campaign?
All the best keep up the good work
I was the Secretary to our local Angling Association for 17 years, we had great attendances to my ‘Learn to Fish’ classes. Up to 40 and we taught fly tying and casting, ending up for pop and a burger in a local pub. Things HAVE changed, but I think Kids are still basically the same. Schools don’t encourage kids to have a go at fishing. A school package should be prepared and Heads visited, the Water Authorities could sponsor it. I think Kids would queue up for this. And I’m Happy to Help Out!!!!
There needs to be more fishing programes on tv, yes sky have some but not everybody has sky, BBC/ITV etc should fit some in on Saturday to break up all that boring football, Tennis, Cricket etc etc etc. come on BBC lets have some real sport
carried out by real sportsman/women, not overpaid so called sportsmen.
We as anglers are needed to pass on the experience and help. Not many do, in my experience this comes down to being scared to even talk to children let alone mentor them. Its a sad time we live in. If we give opportunity they will come.
Hi Mr Crabtree
I think its worth noting that specimen angling is not particularly child / youth friendly in terms of either access, tactics and cost. Venues are exclusive (costly) and sometimes downright unfriendly toward the untutored that may arrive. Carp angling in its contemporary commercial form appears to suffer really badly from this and a flick through the magazines offers very few images and situations that might appeal to the younger mind.
Perhaps worse than this, magazines contain quite inappropriate content for children and negative stereotyping of both women and other cultures. Half naked women clutching carp or sporting the most fashionable bank wear aren’t conveying the best impression to prospective angling parents are they?
The obvious answer is to engage children in other forms of angling but this seems to run counter to the more aspirational, commercial and competitive culture that seems to pervade the sport no matter what the quarry. The simple pleasure of catching small fish, or observing the local wildlife are rarely reified in the angling media and instead we’re driven toward the excesses of tackle fashion and the endless quest for a ‘PB’.
Children should not be underestimated and will rarely embark on an activity in which they have few chances of success and enjoyment. If their heroes are catching 30’s after 48 on the bank behind three stationary rods on £300 season ticket water, what chance would they have to contribute and succeed? Softer images of angling are much needed.
Unfit children don’t participate in sport because of the fear of failure and humiliation in front of their peers. Thus perpetuating the problem. Is angling suffering a similar phenomena?
All the best, tightlines!
John. .
Health and safety scares, computer games, unreliable weather patterns, monopolies of boily carp fishing role models using boring un skillful methods perhaps, lack of the old adventures of worming and freelining, lack of matches, certain ly where I live.
There seems to be an element of anti carpers in a few of the replies but to be honest I think the likes of fairbrass and Hamidi are good for the sport they stand more chance of getting kids into fishing than anybody on the match scene they are probably the first fishing superstars even though IMO thinking tackle is just one Korda advert but ask most kids fishing now and they will know who they are
children should not have to pay rod license, they do more to combat youth annoyance and crime by simply going fishing, the austerity of the government is depressing for them as well
As you know I try to encourage youngster’s as much as possible but I do feel that a lot of anglers have done a 180 on the principals and morals I was brought up with.
When I was a youngster I was taught fishermen/women were the “guardians of the waterways” and that it was our responsibility to look after not only the welfare of the fish but all of the wildlife found on the banks of rivers, lakes, canals, etc. There was an air of pride to being a fisherman/woman which as in a lot of society not just fishing has been lost somewhere along the line.
A lot of the attitudes I see nowadays are “why should I?”, “it’s someone else’s responsibility” or “it’s not my rubbish so I’m not clearing it up” mix this with a trend of getting drunk or drugged up whilst fishing and is it any wonder that youngsters are finding it more difficult to find people to help them learn and therefore get into the sport.
I agree to most, if not all of the points above, however I am drawn to reference point no. 2 from above – barriers to access
“Back when I was a lad..in the 70’s & 80’s…..” (makes me sound do very old and uncool), outdoor pursuits were the way of life – Fact. No x-boxes, computers just coming onto the scene and un-established. Football, ‘playing out’, climbing trees, camping out and fishing were the bread and butter of child-hood activity. The fishing for me, started predominantly as a school summer holiday activity, when the mackeral were running a plenty from the local pier. The masses of fish, the excitement of hooking 3,4 or even 5 fish would put a smile as wide as a cheshire cat on every child (and adults) face. My personal experience from this is that when my eldest sibling ‘got into’ course fishing, it was a no-brainer to pursue this pastime with him also. The thought of being able to experience a fighting fish not only during the brief summer holiday excited me. Competitions at the local pond, both junior and senior, were well attended and provided an extra edge of competitiveness to the routine weekend fishing. Happy days! And so this continued until my mid/late teens. Early adulthood came along and fishing tackle abandoned for more “grown up” pursuits.
Fast-forward 30 yrs….. My 10 year old son, football and running curtailed by recurring ankle injury wants something to do. He’s very outdoor type, yet our home location coupled with todays society doesn’t allow the type of freedoms we enyoyed as children back then. Fishing it is then son, and this gives me the perfect oppotunity to dig out the old rods, an enjoy some Dad n Lad time together. That was just over a year ago now, and I can honestly say it has been the most enjoyable ever. Time bonding with my son, teaching, re-counting stories of catches from years ago and the ones that got away…the peace and tranquilty…the fresh outdoors….the nature (after all, fishing is not just about…fishing!)…the excitement…the satisfaction. My son is not MAD on fishing – forget your modern-day technology, it still features in his life, but is MILES behind a fishing trip opportunity. I have re-discovered my love for fishing that was just ‘abandoned’ all those years ago…..what a waste….
A sad sign of the times (along with the freedom of unlimited playing out I suppose) is that the world has changed. I recently brought up at the local fishing clubs AGM about starting a junior competition – only to find out that the amount of training, risk assessments, and other red-tape make it far from an easy thing to do. So chindren who don’t have a father or mother that’s going to teach them could be dead in the water without even picking a rod up. So how will they experience fishing now? Who will teach them? I’m not saying it’s impossible to do but couple the rules and regulations of today’s modern society with the tecnology explosion and how easy the games console and computer arena feature daily in our children’s lives, and the path of least resistance will always be taken. It’s a sad, but true state of affairs.
I, and my son however, will fall foul to neither of the above and will continue to enjoy most passionately our fishing experiences – the dad n lad chats, the fishing tales of old, the learning for us both, the peace and tranquility, the excitement…and of course, the catch.
When I was 11 my dad took me Salmon fishing to the Scottish Highlands on the main tributary of the spey the river Avon that was in 1980.
There were up to 32 rods fishing 3 beats and with those rods were kids like me the next generation, its over 30 years on and I am still fishing up there and am one of the youngest at 45.
There are no children being taken to fish, I have 2 kids one loves horses the other video games both have been fishing with me several times but have other distractions to keep them entertained. Back in the 80s when I got hooked on fishing tech was virtually not developed and now with mobile phones, xbox’s, Sky Tv, ipods they don’t have to try hard to be entertained.
Its modern society that is keeping children from the river bank !!!
Hate to say it, but I feel us Brits suffer with our passed successes and traditional thinking. Many sectors of angling have failed to innovate and keep up with the times. Angling in the UK isn’t ‘cool’ and I can’t really remember a time when it was (in nearly 30 years). But then again I didn’t get into it because it was cool. Maybe I’m just not very cool! Kids today appear very fashion conscious. Trying not to sound old at 37, certainly more than in my day. If we want to get kids into the sport, perhaps we need to create new branches of the sport that appeal to the kids of today – not try to change them to fit our sport. ‘Our’ sport is dying for a reason.
I take a small amount of comfort from seeing other countries succeed when faced with the same problem. I really like what the French have done with modern lure fishing – Street Fishing & Light Rock Fishing. Tackle companies have evolved to embrace the lure fishing revolution creating great looking brands and most importantly, fishing tackle that maximises the fun in catching fish of any size. They know their market and its growing. I love seeing the kids buzzing around the lure stands at French tackle shows, spending their hard earned pocket money very wisely.
Perch, Sea Scorpions and other mini-beasts will save us.
I have been trying to get kids and parents into fly fishing for the last few years doing local fetes, schools and taster days with Pass It On Young Sports http://www.pass-it-on-young-sports.org.uk/ The thing that worried me was when I asked the kids if they had done any form of fishing before 95% of them answered no and that goes for a lot of the parents as well. We are loosing a whole generation of fishers. We have to as I have been trying to do is hit the schools primary and secondary. Then the kids will educate the parents.
Hi,
I had never seen the programme on tv until last week. Quest were running the series at around 0800hrs and as I am recovering from illness I happened upon it whilst having my breakfast. What a fantastic experience those young lads had. The exitement they felt at catching some wonderful fish was plain to see and John clearly shares in their pleasure.
I remember seeing John on some of the waters I fished, when he fished with Steve Harper in the early 80’s and he was always passionate then. John has taken everything good from his experiences and produced a cracking bit of tv.
It is good to see those youngsters being given the chance to enhance their skills in a super environment, which must at the same time encouraging their peers to “have a go”.
Well done to John and to the producers of the programme.