The National Celebration of Young People and Fishing 2024

Everyone who participates will take home a medal or trophy, a goody bag and special event certificate. And if you are skilful enough to land a gudgeon, a special 2024 edition gudgeon mug will be yours to keep.

Winning a special prize or being crowned champion would of course be a dream come true, but taking part in this unique occasion is something that every young person aged between 7 and 20 is now able to do. Let's Fish! is there to help each and every one of you along your journey to the celebration.

Age categories at the Celebration:

• Cadets (aged 7 to 10 years on the day of the event, 6 years olds many participate if they have an elder sibling also participating)
• Young juniors (aged 11 and 12 on the day of the event)
• Full juniors (aged 13 to 15 on the day of the event
• Experienced youth (aged 16 to 20 on the day of the event)
• Developing youth (this category, new for 2024 is designed for new anglers ages 16-20 who have limited or no experience with events of this type)

What happened at the 2023 National Celebration?

• The cadet and youth events will be held on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire on Saturday 14 September.
• The young and full junior events will be held on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire & Shropshire on Sunday 15 September.
• Subject to agreement, participants may take part in an older age category especially it is makes family travel easier, but cannot take part, or be eligible for prizes, in a younger age category. Young juniors many participate in the full junior category but not vice versa.
• We will hold an online draw for your fishing peg on the Canal & River Trust Angling Facebook page on the evening of Wednesday 11 September, starting around 5pm.
• We encourage those taking part to form teams of three, ideally through their local Let's Fish! club, school or community group. There will be a special prize for the top performing school, in both the cadet and junior event.
• Entries will open in late March 2024.
• Once you have registered to take part, you will be entitled to one free two-hour canal coaching development session through the Let's Fish! programme (subject to availability). These sessions are designed to help you prepare for the big day.

• If you register early for this event, you will automatically be invited to take part in other Let's Fish! regional fishing celebration style events.
• To read through the rules of the event, click here.

Why you should take part in the National Celebration

What you can win at the National Celebration

A look back at the 2023 event

The 2023 National Celebration of Young People and Fishing made for a fantastic weekend of over 330 youngsters fishing on the Shropshire Union Canal. Thank you to everyone who took part and their families, and special thanks to all the Let's Fish! coaches, clubs and volunteers who helped run the event.

With thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery for their support and in association with the Angling Trust. Sponsored by Matrix, Daiwa, Maver, GUGGS, Leigh Tackle, Prince Albert Angling Society, Sensas, Colmic, Sonubaits, Reuben Heaton, Guru and Fjuka

Thanks to

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