Fishing in Devon can only be positive with the Scout’s Angling competition badge launched by the Environment Agency, in partnership with The Scout Association in a national campaign to encourage responsible fishing and greater environmental awareness among young people.
The launch, at Mid Kent Fisheries, Chilham Mill, Canterbury, coincided with the annual UK National Fishing Week, which offers opportunities for potential new anglers to try the sport and is supported by angling and sporting bodies. in all the country. We would have preferred a release in the Devon fishing holiday area, but we can only applaud any release of this kind of encouragement in the sport.
The Agency is already doing a lot to encourage young people to fish, such as removing licenses for those under 12 and halving the £8 fees for those under 17.
It also produces brochures, magazines and fishing guides, offering tips and useful information for anglers of all ages.
We all hope that the Agency’s sponsorship over the next three years will be an additional encouragement for more boys and girls to take up sport. The Competency Badge offers enormous potential for the future of
angle. There are some 10,000 Scout Groups in the country, comprising millions of Scouts and Cub Scouts.
I have a selfish interest in this promotion and I imagine that all the Rural Houses and fishing centers want more young fishermen to enjoy this sport. But they do need a low pressure environment to help all young anglers enjoy fishing. Obviously the more enthusiasts involved in the sport the better, but at the end of the day it is just as beneficial for the youth as it is for the sport.
There are lodges and fishing centers that promote sport for the whole family and help them enjoy the sport in a pressure-free environment.
The executive director of the Environment Agency, Ed Gallagher, who announced the sponsorship, welcomed the opportunity to work with the Scout Association and stated: “This is a unique opportunity to offer young people the opportunity to learn more about the environment first-hand environment. The badge will teach young people not only how to fish safely and responsibly, and how to get the most out of the sport, but will also foster respect for nature, for the animals and fish that are part of the field, itself a essential part of the environment on which we all depend.
Welcoming the Environment Agency’s sponsorship of the Badge, England’s Chief Scout Commissioner Bill Cockroft said: “Scouting has always put young people in touch with nature and Scouts have been active for a long time. in learning about the environment. This sponsorship is especially welcome, not only because it brings with it a valuable resource booklet to help youth earn the badge, but also because this is the first time a government agency has sponsored one of our competition badges.
The Agency’s curriculum will cover a wide range of environmental topics, including waterside awareness and safety, fishing techniques and gear care and maintenance, wildlife, fish biology and care. of the fish It also includes a troubleshooting section on what to do in the event of water contamination.
Copies of the new resource booklet will be distributed to Scout Groups in the coming weeks.
The badge requires the Scout to complete the following requirements:
Health and security
1. Know the safety regulations in the water and the proper precautions to take when fishing from the shore or from the shore, or from a boat. Understand the dangers of freshwater wading and sea shore fishing and precautions to take.
2. Know the basic hygiene precautions to take when fishing.
crafts with cane
3. Go fishing in fresh or salt water on at least six occasions, recording the following:
a) captured numbers
b) species and size of fish
c) method, gear and baits used
d) weather and water conditions
e) Comment on the trips made.
4. Explain the signs of stress in fish. Know the number of the Environment Agency’s emergency hotline.
Approach and techniques
5. Understand why it is important to properly dispose of used gear.
6. Choose one of the following activities:
a) Throw with beach fishing equipment at a distance of 45 meters.
b) Throw a stringer and floating tackle in a 1 meter circle at least three times out of six at a range of nine meters.
c) Cast a trout fly on a fly line in a 3 meter circle at least three times out of eight over a range of 11 meters.
7. Demonstrate how to set up one of the following rigging sets:
a) waggler platform
b) swimming feed platform
c) fly toss
d) turntable
e) fishing gear on land
d) beach launch pad
8. Explain the importance of:
a) Handle fish with care and release with care.
b) Use a lower strength hook link when freshwater, sport or sea fishing.
9. Explain the importance of one of the following activities:
a) Correctly place a tower net.
b) How to use a priest to dispatch fish quickly.
know your fish
10. Be able to identify each of the species in one of the following groups:
a) Bass, cod, flooder, red mullet and mackerel
b) Cockroach, perch, chub, common carp and tench
c) Grayling, brown trout, rainbow trout and salmon
11. Have knowledge of the habitat and feeding behavior of the identified fish and know the appropriate baits, flies, lures and hook sizes.
administration and law
Complete the requirements for any of the following options:
12. Freshwater fishing
a) Know the dates of the freshwater season and the size limits of freshwater fish in the areas in which they fish.
b) Be able to explain why licenses and permits are required to fish and know at what age a national rod license is required.
c) Know the location of the local fishing club and the waters they can control.
13. Saltwater Fishing
a) Know the size limits of saltwater fish in the areas where they fish.
b) Be able to explain why licenses and permits are required to fish and know at what age a national rod license is required.
c) Know the location of the local fishing club and the waters they can control.
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