2020 has been a year like no
other. We have all had to find a way of coping with a new
way
of life under the shadow of Covid-19. Thankfully there
have been some silver lingings and
one of them has been the re-emergence of angling as the
countries favourite way of destressing,
relaxing and enjoying the great outdoors. Dom Garnett
explores how the summer of 2020 became
fishing’s great renaissance.
Sport England’s Director of Sport Phil Smith and
Director of Communications Ali Donnelly joined
the Angling Trust’s Jamie Cook and Martin Salter as guests
of Godalming Angling Society at
Marsh Farm for their first ever fishing trip.
Marsh Farm is home to
specimen tench and crucians as well as being a thriving
match and day
ticket fishery. It was one of the first fisheries in the
country to benefit from Sport England investment
and its success is testament to the dedication and
hard work of the club’s committee and volunteers.
Sport England work with the
Angling Trust to maintain active lifestyles through sport
and are acutely
aware of the benefits to physical health and mental
wellbeing angling delivers.
As skilled sporting
enthusiasts in their own right, Ali and Phil hit the ground
running and with the
support of Godalming’s skilled Level 2 coaches they managed
six different species and even
encountered the crucian carp which have made the fishery
famous. Not a bad start on a chilly day
with falling water temperatures!
Ali Donnelly and Phil Smith with Jamie Cook in background