The National Celebration of Young People and Fishing 2025

Everyone who participates will take home a celebration medal or trophy, a Tackle Guru goody bag and special collectible event certificate. If you are skilful enough to land a gudgeon, a special 2025 edition Guru gudgeon mug will be yours to keep.

Our aim is to make sure participants have a fun day, improve their skills and confidence, meet new friends and hopefully land some fish.

Winning a special prize or being crowned champion, in your age category would of course be a dream come true, but taking part in this unique occasion is something that every young person aged between 6 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 6 to 10 years, as at 01/01/2025)
• Young juniors (aged 11 and 12, as at 01/01/2025)
• Full juniors (aged 13 to 15, as at 01/01/2025)
• Full youth (aged 16 to 20, as at 01/01/2025)
• Emerging youth (this category is designed for the new anglers aged 16-20 who have limited or no experience with events of this type, or those aged 11-15 who are unable to attend on the Sunday.

What happened at the 2024 National Celebration?

• The cadet and youth events will be held on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire on Saturday 13 September. The event headquarters where the prize presentation will be held is the Harper Adams University, Newport TF10 8NB.
• The young and full junior events will be held on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire & Shropshire on Sunday 14 September. The event headquarters where the prize presentation will be held is the Harper Adams University, Newport TF10 8NB.
• Participants may take part in an older age category 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 a Facebook Live draw for fishing positions on the Canal & River Trust Angling Facebook page on the evening of Wednesday 10 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 1 March 2025. Those of you who have pre-registered in advance will be guaranteed a place until 31 May 2025.

• Participants, their parents or guardians must make themselves aware of the event guidance around how much help it is acceptable for young people to receive.
• 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