Luring ladies to fishing

28/09/2007

Feminine fishing charms will be used to hook wily trout at a special ladies-only angling event to be staged at a North East reservoir.

There will be a competition for women who already fish to raise money for the breast cancer support organisation ‘Casting for Recovery’ and instructors will also be there running free one-hour drop-in sessions giving ladies a chance to try fishing for the first time.

It will be staged on the banks of Northumbrian Water’s Derwent reservoir – the best attended commercial trout fishery in Europe – at Millshield Bay on Saturday 6 October from 10am to 3pm.

One of the instructors will be 20-year-old Newcastle-born Lucy Bowden (pretty in pink in the attached fishing picture) who now lives in Alnwick, Northumberland.

Lucy is continuing her family fishing tradition and runs the ‘fishing for everyone’ website to encourage more people, and in particular females, to take up the sport.

Lucy, a fishing writer, promotes the sport world-wide. She said: “Fishing is one of the few sports that everyone and anyone can get involved with, regardless of age, race, gender or ability. Anyone can fish and it is a sport that gets you out there at one with nature where you can relax and enjoy.”

Reporters and photographers are invited to cover the Saturday competition. An advance taster session for female journalists who would like to try fishing can be arranged at Fontburn reservoir in Northumberland on the morning of Thursday 4 October. 

Don Coe, Northumbrian Water’s Fisheries and Waterside Parks Operations Manager, said: “Some people already believe that women make better anglers than men, saying that their pheromones attract the fish - particularly the male fish.

“We have some regular women anglers at Derwent and our other fisheries but not very many. This event will give the fairer sex the chance to show their male counterparts how good they are and also encourage new ladies to take up the sport.”

Entries to the five-hour competition for existing female fishers will be taken on the day and cost £16. Donations will be collected at the drop-in try-it sessions.

‘Casting for Recovery’ is a non-profit support and educational programme offering fishing retreats for women who have or have had breast cancer.

For further information contact Alistair Baker 0191 301 6851.