Traditionally seen as a man's sport, angling has never attracted huge numbers of women but now the Government is keen to change all that.
Rural Affairs Reporter Sarah Probert visits one fishery to see how the tide may be turning...
"Women are better at fishing than men because their pheromones attract the fish," the instructor explained.
Just at that moment, a girl plucks a small roach out of the lake with her pole and a broad smile spreads across her face.
It may be a small catch, but a significant one as it is the first time she has even sat at the edge of a lake, never mind fished in one.
Groups of men in their comfy chairs, funny hats and umbrellas may litter the banks of lakes and rivers, but women are now keen to have a go, as they told Sarah Probert. "We used to take my son Alec fishing and I would sit there knitting or reading. I thought I would really like to have a go and so I started fishing myself," Heather Foulkes explained. Two years on and the 54-year-old teacher from Kings Norton, Birmingham, is now having lessons in groundbait fishing, while her son mentors other youngsters in the art of angling. And as she explains the merits of the sport, she leaps up with excitement as she gets a bite on her rod. Guided by her coach Aubrey, she reels in a mirror carp and after much coaxing, lands it in a large net, picks it up and kisses it. She then places it gently back into the water and watches it swim slowly away. "In this stressful life, it is really relaxing. It is something you can do as a family, actually sit down and talk to each other. "Generally speaking for most women, unless they have been involved in this environment with brothers or dads, it is not something you think about doing." Danielle Sleigh, an 11-year-old from Rednal, near Birmingham, decided to come along after hearing about the scheme on her local youth bus. "It is absolutely brilliant. We have a youth bus stop where we live and they told me all about fishing and this programme. It keeps me away from the house and gives me something to do. I can just relax here, normally I like to jump around at home so it is nice to do something quiet for a change. "It is nice to come outside and socialise with other people. You can learn more about the types of fish." For Jennie Rowley, a 17-year-old community worker from Selly Oak, it was her first time out on the lake. "I just think it is a bit different. It is a good opportunity to meet new people and at the same time learn a new skill," she said. "It is not a sport where you have to be active, you can just chill and enjoy yourself and let the world go by." |
Andrew Walker, who leads the Birmingham-based Get Hooked on Fishing programme, in Bournville, is used to introducing the art of fishing to new and diverse groups.
He has coached young offenders, children with severe disabilities and inner city youngsters who haven't even stepped foot in the countryside let alone picked up a rod and reel.
But now he is taking on an even tougher task - encouraging women to take up the sport in which 98 per cent of participants are men.
"Some clubs just don't want women," Mr Walker said.
"We had one woman who lived in Bewdley.
"When she walked into her local club she was told the hairdressers was next door.
"Women are brilliant at fishing, they make better anglers than men on the whole because they have a lot of patience and they can often do more than one thing at once," he joked.
Mr Walker and his team, who primarily work with young people, were holding a ladies' angling day at Lavender Hall Lane Fisheries in Berkswell, near Coventry, in a bid to encourage more women to take up the sport.
It follows a recently launched Government initiative run by the Environment Agency, which found that although an increasing number of women wanted to take part, only a tiny minority were doing so.
"This is the first ladies' day we have done, we normally have a few girls with us anyway but they wanted a session just for them.
"We had a few ladies sign up but the weather has put some of them off," Mr Walker added.
Wendy Lythgoe, an England international and qualified coach, who was teaching some of the girls on how to use a pole to fish, took up the sport when she was three-years-old.
She is now competing in international events against men, with her biggest fish so far weighing a whopping 14.5lb.
"My dad got me into it, I love the competing. It is not about the physical capabilities - we can compete against men on an equal basis.
"Women don't perceive it as a sport, they think it is for crusty old men."
Julia Simpson, head of recreation and navigation at the Environment Agency, said it was important women took part.
Get Hooked on Fishing is a community scheme set up by the Bournville Trust in Birmingham to encourage more youngsters to take up angling. The group works with eight-17-year-olds offering them coaching in the sport. It also works with young offenders to draw them away from a life of crime and takes referrals from the health service and rehabilitation centres. The programme also works with children with dyslexia, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and those with problems at school. Andrew Walker, who runs Get Hooked on Fishing, said: "Angling seems to be the one sport they can click with. We have found it has helped boost attendance records and attainment levels. * For more information about the scheme ring the Bournville Trust on 0121 415 6487. |
She said: "We are responsible for the nation's fisheries and must increase the social and economic benefits they bring.
"We want to encourage more people from all back-grounds to enjoy water-related recreation, and fishing is a great way to get more people involved."
For Mr Walker, it is not just about recreation, but also about increasing awareness of the countryside.
"A good angler is also a conservationist and it is great to be able to care for the whole of nature, from birds to the environment," he said.
"If you damage one, a plant for example, it can have an affect on everything else.
"You also get to see a lot of wildlife, here you get everything from buzzards and terns to bluetits.
"We had one lad who watched some swans fly over and said 'look at that big white duck' - so it is much about learning about the environment as it is about fishing."
