Building the Future of Fishing in Somerset: Why Junior Angling Coaching Matters More Than Ever
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Published on November 23, 2025
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When the Water Becomes Home
The Quiet Rise of Somerset’s Junior Anglers
If you stand quietly beside any Somerset water — whether it’s the peaceful banks of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, the mirror-like margins at Summerhayes Fishery, or the open spaces at Sedges — you’ll feel something that’s hard to describe. It’s calm. It’s grounding. It’s healing. And for hundreds of children across Bridgwater, Taunton and beyond, that feeling has become something powerful: their safe space, their confidence builder, their place to grow.
Over the past year, we’ve watched a movement rise from almost nothing — a movement powered not by big organisations or bottomless budgets, but by local fisheries, volunteers, parents and the children themselves. A movement that has turned junior angling from a quiet side-project into one of the most exciting youth development opportunities in Somerset.
This is the story of how junior angling coaching in Somerset has become a lifeline for young people who desperately needed somewhere to belong.
A Year That Changed Lives — One Child at a Time
When Summerhayes Juniors first started running weekly coaching sessions, we hoped to attract a handful of interested children. Instead, we found ourselves at the centre of something far bigger. Parents from Bridgwater, Taunton, Highbridge, Burnham, North Petherton and the surrounding villages began contacting us almost weekly, searching for:
- “Fishing lessons for kids in Somerset”
- “Junior angling coaching Bridgwater”
- “Safe fishing club for children”
- “Somerset youth angling”
They weren’t just looking for a sport — they were looking for a place where their children could breathe.
Across this year alone, 41 children registered, and around 20 turned up every single week, regardless of the weather. Every drop of rain, every windy evening, every cold morning… they were there. Enthusiastic. Excited. Determined.
And with every session, something beautiful happened.
Children who barely spoke in school started laughing with new friends. Young anglers who had never held a rod before were suddenly explaining floats and rigs to others. Kids who were anxious or struggling with confidence found calm by the water in a way no classroom or crowded sports hall could ever offer.
Fishing didn’t just change their weekends.
It changed their lives.
Supported by Local Fisheries – The Backbone of Our Success
We have to say this clearly: without the support of local fisheries, projects like this wouldn’t stand a chance.
Summerhayes Fishery, Sedges Fishery and others across our region have opened their gates to our young anglers time and time again. They’ve given us safe, welcoming spaces to teach children the foundations of coarse angling—from whip fishing and float control to fish welfare and venue respect.
These fisheries didn’t do it for praise.
They did it because they care.
Because they know that if young people stop fishing, the future of angling stops too.
Because they’ve seen first-hand how children light up when the float dips or the feeder tip twitches.
Because they understand that junior angling coaching isn’t just a sport — it’s a chance for children to find confidence, community and purpose.
A Quiet Frustration: Limited Access to Our Natural Venues
While we are unbelievably grateful for the support of our local commercial fisheries, it is fair to say something is missing from Somerset’s junior angling picture.
Somerset is full of beautiful natural waters — rivers, canals, drains, and stretches of historic waterway that would make perfect learning grounds for young anglers. Parents often ask us:
- “Can the juniors fish the canal?”
- “Are there any natural venues they can try?”
- “Do you run coaching on wild waters in Somerset?”
The honest answer is… we want to.
The children want to.
The parents want to.
But meaningful access to natural venues for junior coaching is still incredibly difficult. Permissions are limited. Opportunities are scarce. And it’s a shame, because Somerset’s natural waterways should be alive with young anglers learning how to fish in the very environments that shaped angling history.
We aren’t here to point fingers at anyone.
We aren’t here to criticise specific organisations.
But it is worth saying:
junior angling thrives when children can experience both commercial fisheries and natural venues.
And right now, Somerset’s juniors simply don’t have enough access to the wild, iconic waters that many of us grew up fishing.
We hope that will change.
We’re ready whenever it does.
Real Stories, Real Change
Every coach, volunteer and parent involved in Summerhayes Juniors can tell you at least one story that stays with them.
The boy who struggled socially at school but found his confidence after catching his first tench.
The girl who arrived terrified to hold a fish but now teaches newcomers how to handle roach safely.
The teenager who said fishing was the only time he felt calm.
The parent who cried with happiness after seeing their child smile properly for the first time in months.
These moments aren’t rare.
They happen every week.
And they’re exactly why fishing coaching in Bridgwater, Taunton and Somerset has become more than a sport.
It’s become a community.
A support system.
A place where every child — no matter their background, ability or challenges — gets to feel equal.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and the Future of Junior Angling in Somerset
As we look towards 2026, our goals are ambitious but simple:
- More coaching sessions
- More holiday programmes
- More support from the Angling Trust and local partners
- More local venues opening their doors
- More opportunities for juniors who want to compete or develop further
- And who knows maybe even one day — a dedicated junior coaching venue in Somerset
Most importantly, we want to continue giving young people what fishing gives best: peace, confidence, purpose, friendship and a connection to the natural world that feels increasingly rare.
Our Message
To Every Family in Somerset
If your child has ever shown even a flicker of interest in fishing…
If you’re looking for junior angling coaching Somerset…
If you want fishing lessons in Bridgwater, Taunton or surrounding areas…
If you want a sport that’s calm, inclusive and life-changing…
Summerhayes Juniors is here for you.
This isn’t just a club.
It’s a family.
It’s a lifeline.
It’s a growing community that believes every child deserves the chance to feel that unbelievable moment when the float dips and the world stops for a second.
And with the help of Somerset’s incredible local fisheries — and hopefully one day, access to even more of our natural waters — we will keep building this movement one young angler at a time.
The future of Somerset angling is already sitting on the bank.
We’re just helping them cast into it. 🎣💛
