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Viewing 1 to (8 Total) Declining junior angling |
Total Posts: 194
Joined: December 16, 2014
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In contrast to our other types of annual membership which are currently showing a healthy uptake, junior membership has been in decline for a number of years. I believe the fall in the number of junior members is also impacting other clubs and EA rod license sales. This is an issue for angling in general as older members who cease fishing are not being replaced by young anglers.
What are your ideas on how we can tackle this looming problem?
How can we get the youngsters fishing?
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Posted on February 26, 2016 at 4:28 PM
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Total Posts: 407
Joined: June 10, 2015
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Re: Declining junior angling
In my opinion, it's because kids are pushed toward holes in the ground, full of tame carp. Too many people consider a good days fishing to be catching 200lb of vermin, rather than running a stick down for roach, or waiting for a barbel to threaten to pull the rod in. I fish commercials in summer with my club, and in the close season, and see plenty of kids fishing, I've yet to one on any of the river stretches I fish. Far more adults fish commies, so their kids will follow.
That's my thoughts anyway.
Posted on February 27, 2016 at 8:24 PM
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Total Posts: 31
Joined: August 10, 2015
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Re: Declining junior angling
I agree that if kids do want to go out then they will always prefer to bash a carp puddle but I think the biggest problem is getting them out at all. Whether it's because of Playstation or Facebook or whatever it just seems to me that kids don't want to go outside anymore. I like opposite some football and when I was a kid I would of been on them constantly.....we never needed an excuse to go out kick a ball or whatever. I never see anybody over there, so I don't think it is just fishing....I think it's outdoors in general. If hanging around by the shops and smoking fags was an olympic sport though I reckon our kids would take some beating.
Posted on February 29, 2016 at 12:30 PM
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Total Posts: 3
Joined: July 13, 2015
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Re: Declining junior angling
In line with the environment agency license rules the BAA could offer free membership to juniors under the age of 12.
Members could then take their children fishing with them from an early age, which is when most of us got the "bug" and keep a steady line of new recruits coming into the sport.
My happiest memories are fishing at Hopwood and Barnt Green on the Worcs Bham canal as a youngster and catching a single gudgeon all day but thinking what an achievment it was. I believe this is what gets you into fishing not hauling out loads of mutated carp every time.
Its like playing football and winning every game 20 nil you would soon get fed up !
Regards
Pete N
Posted on June 8, 2016 at 4:37 PM
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Total Posts: 245
Joined: August 23, 2015
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Re: Declining junior angling
It does just seem to be an ageing crowd on rivers these days. Thinking about it ive not seen anyone younger than me out on the rivers for a long time and Im 40. As a kid i used to love looking forward to the BAA junior matches fishing with and against all the lads from the Starlets just seem there is no investment in junior angling anymore. Maybe the Baa could bring back a few junior matches again. The likes of Dave Webb and Ken and Janet Ask are sadly missed for sure with the amount of time, love and effort they put into junior angling.
Posted on August 8, 2016 at 7:36 AM
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Total Posts: 75
Joined: August 27, 2015
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Re: Declining junior angling
I mentioned this in the questionaire a couple of years ago. Give juniors free membership as long as they were fishing with an adult member. It has a chance of increasing the adult membership if they can take their kids along for free.
Posted on August 8, 2016 at 1:23 PM
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Total Posts: 44
Joined: June 10, 2015
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Re: Declining junior angling
It is sad to see, and I agree that social media/computers are mainly to blame, and those youngsters that do fish nowadays are more into selfie bags of hybrids from puddles. I have fond memories of the NFA Junior National in the early 80s (and the Schools National, whatever happened to that?). I joined the Starlets club in 1981 following a conversation with the late great Claire Legge at an open, but fished for W&DUAA in the Nationals. Learned so much from some great anglers and had the best teenage years on the riverbank learning fishing skills and an appreciation of the countryside. Kids these days are really missing out!
Posted on August 19, 2016 at 1:09 PM
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Total Posts: 20
Joined: June 22, 2015
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Re: Declining junior angling
How about connecting up with scouts and guides groups and offering support for the Angler Activity Badge? Most scout leaders probably don't go fishing, so the association could provide speakers at meetings or organise fishing events that kids could earn their badge at.
http://members.scouts.org.uk/supportresources/4348/angler-activity-...
Posted on June 30, 2017 at 8:57 PM
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