On Sunday I went to Cottage Lane near Burghfield, a lake rented by Reading and District Angling Association to help out on a “taster day” for local kids run by Reading Angling Project and organised by my partner in TryAngling, Lee Blundell. The event was jointly funded by the Environment Agency and Westcoast.

Members of the public who are interested in their children learning about fishing had booked places in advance and a group of NFA coaches and myself were on hand to provide the coaching. Some of these coaches had travelled miles to attend this function and were paid little more than expenses.

The weather was against us from the start with a cold snap overnight and torrential rain nearly all day, only a tiny fraction of those who had booked actually turned up. I’ve fished this venue in the past but a lot of water had passed under the proverbial bridge since then (about thirty years worth but I was assured that the venue was full of fish. Lee has held courses on the lake with great sucess but on the day bites were as difficult to come by as potential students. The two lads who spent time with me left fishless only having a couple of bites each, their inexperience prevented them from reacting quick enough and after they left I struggled for one small roach.

One little girl, Holly, had more success assisted by one of the NFA coaches and the result was a small mirror carp of about five pounds. All the young people who attended were given a telescopic whip and a “goody bag” by the EA.

Small girl with mirror carp

The expression on this child’s face was worth the soaking and the lack of sport.

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