So often we just fish.
Some of us go that bit further and want to be evangelical about this endlessly fascinating sport of ours. Others simply plunge into a world of teaching; be they newcomers, the inquisitive, the curious or aspirational… but to teach is a passion.
To be able to shape someone, and offer that person a route to explore another world of interest is a calling like no other.
For me, personally, teaching is not some lofty idyl; nor self-congratulatory… but utterly practical – and ingrained.
Also, in respect of angling, if we want our sport to flourish into the future, we simply have to roll our metaphoric sleeves - and get cracking. No time to be idle, or worse, complacent… get teaching others!
So many elements now vie for young people’s attention … the latest computer game, conventional field sports – football, hockey, rugby, cricket, athletics; all of us in any recreational sector are urging, like benign pied pipers, the same pool of young people to participate in our personal and chosen recreation.
That is why I was completely “blown away” by the 24 families: some with two young people, who came to try fly fishing at one of our more beautiful reservoirs straddling the Kent-Sussex border - Bewl Water - the other Sunday. That is a lot of people to have come fly fishing. They loved it.
All the prospective fishers overcame the difficulty of casting, were besotted with colour and intricacy of the flies… loved the entire concept. It was a joy.
But none of it could have happened without the teaching ability of the Fishing for Schools coaching team – Bob Goble, Max Allen and ably assisted members of Bewl Bridge Flyfishers club.
The outright winner – teaching - the sport we love.
Oh and that nonsense about those that can’t: teach.
Rubbish!
A Fishing for Schools coach both teaches, and fishes…exceptionally.
(I am excluding myself from this, due to having a very indifferent season!)
And in closing….
As you will be aware this will be my last full year before trying to find a replacement next year, in order to drive this rather amazing adventure, Fishing for Schools, even further.
So…I wanted to do something very special…Welcome to our first on-line auction and fundraising event at Roger Daltry’s impossibly lovely series of lakes, Lakedown set in exquisite Sussex Wealden countryside …
Now the event is full, but the auction lots on offer are absolutely scintillating…
Find out more here