Take a Friend Fishing is back!
The latest campaign is to run from Friday 23rd July to Sunday 5th September

• Take a Friend Fishing is back for summer 2021, giving even more people the chance to get out fishing.
• Due to its massive success throughout 2020, Take a Friend Fishing is back for the summer holidays.
• Between Friday 23rd July to Sunday 5th September (inclusive), existing fishing licence holders can register for a FREE one-day fishing licence from the Environment Agency at www.anglingtrust.net/takeafriendfishing to take someone they know fishing.

The summer holidays are a fantastic opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy some time next to the water. Taking a friend or family member for a fishing trip is the ideal opportunity to spend time outdoors and escape your screens this summer.

Getting outside in the countryside is a great way to be with family and friends and angling is the perfect fit for staying active outdoors, especially if you are staying in the country this summer.

With physical activity playing a vital role in both our health and mental wellbeing, a fishing trip with a mate or family member means you can stay active, and fish safely following guidelines on the Angling Trust website.

There are fisheries, lakes, stretches of river and canal open all over the country near to where you live that are perfect to visit for a catch-up with a friend during a quick Take a Friend Fishing trip together.

Registering for a free one-day fishing licence couldn’t be easier. Simply visit www.anglingtrust.net/takeafriendfishing, select the date of your fishing trip, enter some basic info about you and your friend, and away you go!

The free fishing licence will be sent with a confirmation email, so please remember to have the angler’s fishing licence and both people’s email addresses plus a few other details handy when you pre-register to Take a Friend Fishing.

The Take a Friend Fishing campaign is a partnership between the Angling Trust, Environment Agency and Angling Trades Association – it’s designed to give more people the chance to get into fishing.

Relaunched in 2020 when over 4,000 people took part in Take a Friend Fishing, this summer’s campaign aims to get even more people back out by the waterside. The initiative will show people it’s still just as easy to get into angling, especially with a friend to show you how, and a free fishing licence from the Environment Agency usually worth £6 to £12.

Heidi Stone, Environment Agency Fisheries Partnerships Manager, said: “We’re thrilled to see Take a Friend Fishing return ahead of National Fishing Month, giving even more people the chance to give angling a go and try the sport alongside a more experienced angler. This is the best way to gain confidence and learn what a fantastic sport this is for everyone regardless of age and mobility.

“As schools break up and many people choose staycations this summer, Take a Friend Fishing is a wonderful way to get outside and try something different. Fishing allows us to connect with nature and offers the chance to relieve stress and boost wellbeing. It’s the perfect activity to introduce to a friend.”

Clive Copeland, Head of Participation at the Angling Trust, said “Our partnership work with the Environment Agency and Angling Trades Association means Take a Friend Fishing is back – but this time extended right through to when schools return in September! Now that measures to ease out of lockdown are looking likely, we hope anglers will want to join with us to promote the benefits of just how brilliant going fishing is. Take a Friend Fishing this summer, relax and for a few hours get together with a mate to enjoy all the best things angling has to offer. If you go fishing please take a friend in the weeks to come and spread the message that angling is a fun, safe way to help get back to normality. You’ve always meant to do it – now’s your chance – go on, get someone you know to give fishing a go!”

Andrew Race, Chairman of the Angling Trades Association (ATA), added “It is fantastic to see Take a Friend Fishing back for summer 2021. With both renewed and new interest in fishing, the easing of lockdown, summer staycations and more time near home, mean our industry can capitalise on the moment. To match that interest, we have a new logo, marketing campaign and yet more special events giving visible growth in opportunities for anyone wanting to give angling a go. I would ask both ATA members and the wider angling trade to get behind this nationwide initiative now whilst we have this momentum. Angling offers, health benefits, wellbeing, excitement, and relaxation. Time well-spent by waters is not to be missed. Now is a great time for anglers to introduce a friend or family member via Take a Friend Fishing this summer.”

Hashtags:
#takeafriendfishing #getfishing

Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/anglingtrust
Twitter: @GetFishing
Instagram: @getintofishing

Media Contact, Logo and Images: More images (as well as the ones below) can be found in our Take a Friend Fishing gallery along with the brand new Take a Friend Fishing 2021 logo and guidelines. For more info contact James Roche – james.roche@anglingtrust.net 07791 786 251.

Notes for editors:
Take a Friend Fishing is a partnership between the Angling Trust, Environment Agency and Angling Trades Association. The campaign focuses on making it as easy as possible for an existing angler to take someone they know fishing. It is part of the Get Fishing campaign run by the Angling Trust the national representative and governing body for angling in England. This work is supported by Environment Agency rod fishing licence income and helps to introduce thousands of people to fishing each year. Find out more at www.anglingtrust.net.

You should always follow social distancing guidelines when encountering others. The most up-to-date information on these restrictions can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

The Environment Agency funds the Angling Trust to provide more opportunities for people to go fishing and encourage sales of rod fishing licences. Money from rod fishing licence sales is spent on improving fisheries habitat and angling infrastructure through projects like the Angling Improvement Fund.

You normally need a valid Environment Agency rod fishing licence if you are aged 13 or over and fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel in England (except the River Tweed), Wales, and the Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland.  An annual fishing licence only costs £30 for up to 2 rods to fish for coarse fish & trout. For a salmon and sea trout licence it’s £82. Concessionary, short term and three rod coarse fishing licences are also available. Visit www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/buy-a-fishing-licence to buy one online. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency

The Angling Trades Association (ATA) is the voice of the British Angling industry, aiming to unite the industry, promote and protect our loved sport. The ATA represents angling manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, fisheries, publishers, and distributors. www.anglingtradesassociation.com.

Logos: There’s a brand new Take a Friend Fishing logo for 2021 and it’s available here (5Mb) in various formats with some simple guidelines on how to use it in your promotions and social media. The Take a Friend Fishing campaign is a partnership between the Angling Trades Association, the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust – it’s designed to give more people the chance to get into fishing.

Images – caption: An Angler can Take a Friend Fishing this summer – enjoy a break from everything going on and all of the health and wellbeing benefits that angling has to offer – www.anglingtrust.net/takeafriendfishing