Club History & Ethos

The club was set up in 2013 by Fishwish in response to demand for an exit route by those they had engaged through local community angling projects and schools.  The club became properly constituted in 2015 and an Angling Trust member to ensure that quality assurances and best coaching practices continued.

Most of the activity takes place at Summerhayes, which is commercial coarse fishery ran by Peter and Sally Wakeling.  The close proximity to the M5 and Bridgwater town center makes the venue easy to access, and it meets the needs of the coaching sessions by offering five different types of lake to fish on, including Denny’s that has our own purpose built coaching area and extra large disabled access teaching platforms.   There is also parking, disabled access toilets and food available on site.  It is the only fishery in the region to be a registered site with Somerset Wildlife Trust.

The club ethos is focus on inclusivity and participation.  We encourage all people, of all ages to take part in all types of fishing.  For that reason, the club visits other fisheries and has strong links with Wessex Water and clubs such as Bridgwater and Taunton Angling Association, who own the fishing rights to fishing on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and other local drains and lakes.

The club has never been interested in the number of people that we engage.  We would sooner have half a dozen young people complete a course and feel confident and good about fishing independently ni the future, than churn out anglers with limited experience and understanding.  For that reason, courses are often repeated and progressive pathways and individual learning plans encouraged.

IMG_5036
Trout Fishing
IMG_1798
Lure Fishing
IMG_2064
Match Fishing
12998375_1587968311518361_7158990205093448499_o
Open Junior Matches

The Junior Club has a history of running open junior coarse matches that used to attract young anglers from as far as Bath, Swindon and Exeter!  In more recent years, our focus has been on improving the coaching provision, but with our new partnerships and programs in place, we are pleased to announce that we will be re-introducing open junior matches in the very near future and some of the members are already turning heads in matches elsewhere,  Please keep an eye on the news section and events calendar for more information on future matches.

IMG_4604
Coaching

Angling can be enjoyed by all people of all ages.  We accomodate a wide range of abilities and by offering a qualified, experienced and professional team of coaches, we can provide the right level and type of learning for absolutely anyone taking part.  Unlike most sports, angling can offer a very level playing field that allows us to coach the person as much as the sport, regardless of their age or ability.  Most sessions will only have a maximum of 30 minutes technical development before applied practical learning during fishing practice.  We also provide longer workshops for the more enthusiastic or specialist anglers, particularly over the winter months.  Examples includes match fishing, carp fishing, fly fishing, lure fishing and sea fishing.