#Angling - Whitechurch Youth Group from Rathfarnham in Dublin has once again taken up angling as part of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Dublin Angling Initiative (DAI).
The youth group recently embarked on lessons in the basics of fly fishing, one of the most popular forms of angling.
Students picked up the basics of fly fishing equipment, fly tying and fly casting very quickly. And after a couple of lessons on dry land in Whitechurch, they were ready to go to the river bank and put their skills into practice at a popular angling spot in Milltown.
That’s where Matthew McDonald caught a wild brown trout assisted by his friend Nicky O’Hagan on their first fishing trip with the DAI.
Whitechurch Youth Group previously ran a fly-tying programme for fly fishing during the Winter months for several years. After a two year break from fly-tying, they have decided to re-introduce it to the youth group’s programme over the next few months.
IFI’s initiative offers young people from national and secondary schools, summer projects and youth services the opportunity to attend fishing courses throughout the summer.
Among them are young people from the Sphere 17 youth group in Darndale, North Dublin, who took part in a nighttime fishing event in Maynooth recently.
To date, thousands of young people have been introduced to sea, coarse and game angling and the initiative has been a catalyst in setting up fishing clubs for young people throughout the country.
“We have partnered with Whitechurch Youth Group for many years in showing young people what fishing is all about,” said DAI co-ordinator Oisin Cahill. “Fly Fishing is a particularly enjoyable type of fishing and it was great to see how quickly the youth group members picked up the art of fly tying and casting.
“Fishing is a hobby which can be enjoyed at any age. It is fantastic to see so many young people take up angling through the Dublin Angling Initiative.
“We would encourage anyone interested to try it out and discover a pastime which will have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing as well as being good fun.”
For further information on the DAI, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie or contact Oisin Cahill at [email protected].
