As young anglers, you are the future of the sport and the environment we fish in. As users of the natural environment it is up to you to guarantee its future so that your children and grandchildren can enjoy the delights fishing is giving you at this moment. There are those of us though through inexperience or through thoughtlessness, that may harm the wildlife which we all in enjoy having around us when we go fishing. It also gives angling a bad name, which we know is not really the case as most anglers are conservationists.

Here are a few pointers on how we should behave when we go fishing, to help ensure that the sport and the environment we use has a future.

LITTER

Litter should always be taken home. None of us want to fish rubbish dumps. Even if you fish a peg and there is litter in it that isn't yours, it doesn't take a minute to pick it up and put it in your bag. Discarded tackle, especially nylon line is very hazardous to wildlife. All sorts of creatures can become entangled in it, causing great discomfort and suffering.

REMEMBER - Any litter should be picked up and taken home, then binned.

SNAGS

If you get your line caught in trees and vegetation, retrieve the line where it is safe to do so and take it home.

REMEMBER - If it is safe to collect snapped off tackle - take it home.

CHOOSING YOUR SWIM

Features often draw fish to them, but make sure you fish swims that can be fished comfortably, decreasing the chances of snagging trees and vegetation. Many birds associate people with food, so be careful if you are fishing and the bird population has homed in on your peg. Be extra careful not to hook one!

REMEMBER - Pick a snag free swim and be watchful of birds in your area.

FISHING

When fishing never leave your rod unattended. A fish may hook itself and snag on an underwater obstruction. You could also hook a fish that may pull your tackle into the water, or snap off and cause metres of nylon line to be left in the water. When you leave your rod on the bank make sure the hook isn't baited so that birds or animals don't eat any offerings.

REMEMBER - Never leave your rod unattended - it's illegal.

METHODS

Use a hook length of a lower breaking strain than your main line. If you hook a snag you will only lose your hook length and not your whole rig and possibly lots of line. Other weaknesses may occur at knots, swivels and where shot is placed on the line. Be careful and check your line regularly for any deterioration. Reel line should also be checked for wear and tear. It should be replaced regularly and the old line disposed of properly at home.

Bolt Rigs are okay, but make sure the leger weight can slip free if the rig gets snagged or tangled.This will stop a fish or bird dragging the weight around if it gets caught on the line.

Hooks - Barbless or micro-barb hooks are best. Fish you snap off on or hooked birds can shed these hooks easier by their own means.

Shot / Weights - most sizes of lead weights are illegal. Non toxic weights are widely available and are very good. Weights of size number 8 or less (10, 12, 13 etc.) or 1 ounce or bigger can still be used in lead form as they are too small or too big for swans to ingest.

WHILST FISHING

Be careful of birds swimming into your line or picking up surface baits. When legering with bait alarms, keep your rod tip under the water. When legering with quiver tips or other indicators watch your rod at all times. Try and keep the tip as close to the water as possible, so that the majority of the line is under the surface away from birds. When fishing surface baits be careful, birds are used to eating baits like bread or floaters.

LICENCES

Anyone between the ages of 12 and 16 require a rod licence. A concessionary rate is available for this age group for £9.50. Anybody under the age of 12 does not require a licence. Anybody over the age of 16 requires a full licence which costs £21.00.

8 day and 1 day licences are available if a yearly licence isn't required.

REMEMBER - Look after the environment you fish in now and it will look after you in the future