As the 2014 salmon fishing season opened on the River Ness on Saturday (February 1), Inverness Angling Club confirmed that it was making a determined bid to recruit more young people to the sport.
Opening of the 2014 salmon fishing season on the River Ness with a ceremony at the Mill Stream Pool, behind the Holm Mills Shopping Village.
The club has decided to remove membership fees for 12 to 17 year olds, meaning that all junior membership – not just those aged up to 11 years – will be free of charge. Another effort to attract and hold younger people in the sport sees the creation of an intermediate category of membership. Anglers aged 18, 19 and 20, who would have been due to pay the full adult membership fee of £150, will be able to remain in or join the club for a fee of £50.
Club president Michael Campbell said: “We have always had a strong junior membership. But in a world where angling has so much competition from other interests, we will do everything we can to maintain and expand our junior section. They are crucial to the future of the club.
“We know that many of our 18 to 20 year old members found the transition from a £12 junior fee to the full adult rate of £150 very difficult, particularly if they were in further education or just starting full or part-time work,” said Mr Campbell. “We hope the intermediate rate will stimulate an increase in that age group.”
Young people and newcomers to salmon angling will continue to be offered training to help nurture club members’ widely recognised Speycasting skills. And any young people who don’t have the right fishing tackle will benefit form the club’s rod loan scheme.
“Hopefully, we will enjoy a successful season following an increase in catches last year,” said Mr Campbell. “Anglers are the eternal optimists!”
Piper Ken Watson and Club President Michael Campbell, together with Holm Mills manager Neil Soutar as he ‘blesses’ the water with the traditional dram. The club’s Honorary President, Jack Fraser, about to take the first cast of the season.