Kids – Learn to Fish for Free at events in the East Midlands!

If you’re looking for cheap days out to entertain children & families, during the school summer holidays, in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands – why not let them learn to fish!

On this page I’ve compiled links to organisations – such as the Angling Trust and Canal & River Trust – who host free-to-attend fishing events such as taster sessions, where children can have a go at fishing, under the guidance and supervision of qualified angling coaches & instructors.

I believe strongly that learning to fish gives youngsters a great range of skills, with many, wide-ranging benefits. If you’re taught properly how to fish, those skills stay with you for life.

If you’re a parent or grandparent of a child over the age of three (some kids try fishing younger, but it does take a little patience & attention span!), looking for a safe activity for your kids to try over the school holidays, this could be just what you’re looking for. It may be something they dabble in for the odd day to keep them occupied; it may even become an obsession which makes them a lifelong angler… Or somewhere in between! Whatever the outcome, the vast majority of young people will take something positive away from an angling taster session with some tuition… And the events below won’t cost you a penny because all tuition, tackle and bait is supplied for free!

Below is the list of organisations hosting fishing events – FREE to attend for children – during the school holidays. The link to the Canal & River Trust website show nationwide events, which the Angling Trust “Get Fishing” link is specifically to their events in the East Midlands.

If you know of any specific events close to Derby, Chesterfield or Nottingham, please contact me with the details and I’ll get it added.

What can your child get out of fishing? Primarily, fun! But I also think angling helps develop patience and concentration (studies show that fishing can help children with ADHD), self-confidence and self-worth, independence, relaxation, friendship, a chance to clear the mind, and an appreciation of nature, wildlife and the outdoors. I can say from personal experience that I still feel all of the above benefits when I fish!

If you or your child is thinking about trying fishing for the first time (or if you’re trying to get back into it after a long lay-off), there are some tips & FAQs on how to go fishing legally in this Angling Trust blog post. The Canal & River Trust have produced a nice information guide aimed at kids and novices, which you can download for free from their website.

Canals and ponds are the easiest places to learn to fish, and a bit of formal coaching – such as is available at these free events – will give anyone a head-start in learning how to fish. If you cannot make it to a taster or coaching session, I would strongly recommend you visit your local independent fishing tackle shop. They should be very keen to offer guidance and information on the basic tackle and bait you’ll need to start (and, importantly, how to set it up correctly), local fishing venues, and more. A happy customer is a returning customer, so independent tackle shops want you to go away happy – so you’ll return as a customer for years to come.

There are some excellent online resources to find fishing events, taster sessions, open days, free coaching events and other angling related activities for kids in the East Midlands, such as:

IMPORTANT!  It is a legal requirement for all anglers aged over 12 to be in posession of a valid Rod Licence when fishing. Rod licences for 13 to 16 year olds are FREE – but you still need to register for one. These can be purchased instantly online here (only buy rod licences from the official Gov website to avoid extra fees), or by calling the Environment Agency’s Rod Licence service on 0344 800 5386.