Monday 3rd August 2026 Triangle lake, Chichester.
Angling Mentors began 2 weeks of free sessions aimed at young people in our community.
Angling Mentors founder, Shane Davies kicked off the first day of 2 weeks, with daily sessions of angling instruction, to a group of enthusiastic youngsters.
Triangle lake, Chichester was the venue, a mixed fishery containing all the species that form the perfect entry into the world of angling.
First order of the day was to get each young person tackled up with either a 'whip' or 'feeder' set up.
A whip is a tapered length of fishing pole, with a fixed length of line on the end. A float for indication of bites, a few carefully pinched on weights set the position of the float, a small hook is tied onto the very end of the line, and simply add a grain of sweetcorn or a couple of maggots and its ready to use.
This straightforward set up gets results pretty quickly, enabling complete novices to gain confidence from the first cast.
It teaches control, some patience, and also consistency.
The results are immediately obvious, with huge smiles and often shouts of achievement.
The 'feeder' set up is generally the next logical option for beginners starting out into the world of angling.
Different to the 'whip' as there is now a fixed spool reel to control the distance you can fish at.
The rod is also equipped with rings that control the fishing line to the rod. At the fishy end of things is the 'feeder'
This is a shaped weight that allows a mixture of ground bait to be moulded around it, with a short length of line to the baited hook. Given the added weigh, the whole set up is easily cast into the water, where it settles on the bottom of the lake and begins to give off flavour which attracts the fish.
That leads to fish taking the bait, which is indicated at the bankside, by the rod tip pulling round.
This prompts the eager young angler to pick up the rod and feel those first exciting moments, knowing they are connected to their first fish.
Being further out into the water, there is time to teach essential skills and techniques of how to 'play' the fish all the way to the landing net.
The sessions over the first 2 weeks of August, are all booked up now, more may follow, so please check back for future events. They were all booked through the Angling Trust Market Place App which enables you to book a suitable date and time. Future events will be linked from here.
The first day was a resounding success, with parents happily watching their loved ones learning something new in a safe and inspiring environment.
The sessions are deliberately kept to a comfortable limit, to maximise learning and attention.
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Thanks to Amanda for the photographs
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