The Canal and River Trust, the charity which looks after many of our waterways, is also the organisation behind the hugely popular ‘have-a-go’ fishing at The Game Fair.

Once again, this summer, the beautiful lake at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire will be the venue for anyone keen to catch their first fish – or get a bit of angling advice.

The qualified angling coaches will be running FREE taster sessions throughout the weekend – last year these sessions were booked solid for all three days.

It’s all part of the CRT’s Let’s Fish! initiative. Whether you’ve never fished before or you fished as a youngster and now want to get back into it, Let’s Fish! Shows how fishing is fun, it’s good for your mind and body and it’s something the whole family can enjoy.

You’ll always remember the first time you caught a fish and the coaches will even present you with your Let’s Fish! certificate as a memento of the occasion.

It also ensures that anyone who tries fishing is followed up as the CRT’s aim is to get people to acquire the habit and become long-term customers for the tackle trade while also enjoying all the health benefits it can bring.

Each year typically between March and the end of October, supported by local angling clubs, we host hundreds of learn-to-fish introductory taster events, including the ones at The Game Fair.

They’re suitable for adults and children aged six or over, although at the discretion of the coach slightly younger children may be able to share a slot with an older person.

Last year, it ran almost 500 events, with 83 coaches helping more than 9,000 people pick up a fishing rod and it’s on target to expand that significantly for 2022.

This year, fishing for young people has also been included as part of United By Birmingham, the community programme of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, with 22 regional events being staged across England and Wales, culminating in a Nations Commonwealth Celebration in October.

Among the organisations the CRT works with to deliver its Let’s Fish programme are the People’s Postcode Lottery, Environment Agency, Angling Trades Association, Angling Trust and countless local groups, while some of its celebration events are supported by companies in the tackle trade.