BIRMINGHAM’S city centre canals were the clearly ‘plaice’ to be yesterday for a number of city’s youngsters who had taken up the Go Fishing Show’s offer to come down and ‘have a go’ at fishing. Over thirty (30) youngsters from a number of Birmingham’s youth groups took up Go Fishing’s offer, under the expert tuition of youth fishing group Get Hooked.

“At this year’s Go Fishing Show, we are going to be actively encouraging the younger visitors to come and have a go for themselves” enthused Angela Gorman of the Go Fishing Show. “We’ll be filling Pendigo Lake with over 5,000 trout and transforming the bank of the lake into a sandy beached sea cove, probably making it the most ideal location to catch a fish for the first time.”

Youth angling projects such as the one today were first introduced in 2002 under the ‘Get Hooked’ banner by the Bourneville Village Trust, since then there have been numerous clubs established across the country.

‘Get Hooked’ project leader Andy Walker explained, ““Get Hooked provides free angling sessions for young people aged 8-17 years.  We provide free transport, tackle, bait, permit and most of all the fish!

We teach the absolute beginner the basics and the more experienced anglers a variety of techniques. All juniors are taught by qualified professional coaches who are members of the Professional Anglers Association. As well as the coaching they look after the health and safety of juniors at all times and make fishing easy and fun”.

Europe’s largest angling show, the Go Fishing Show 2006 is being held at the NEC from 3^rd to the 5^th of March, for further information go to www.gofishingshow.com or contact 0870 730 0062.