Fishing brings mental health benefits

Tony Prior first started fishing when he was a child

A man who uses a wheelchair has said fishing has helped him regain his independence and improve his wellbeing.

Tony Prior, who has begun fishing regularly at Jubilee Pools in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwickshire, said he found organising his equipment and experiencing nature therapeutic.

"I think the mental health side of it is I think where I benefit," he said. "That is why I bought a rod licence."

Mr Prior, who sustained disabilities in a motorbike crash 20 years ago, fishes at one of five pegs at the site which have been specially adapted.

Ros Hubbard, who has looked after Jubilee Pools with her husband Neil for 30 years, said three of these pegs had been paved for wheelchair access.

She said this year hardstanding had been put nearby to make the area accessible in all weathers.

"There's different things to see including birds, it's not just the fishing," she said.

"It's a safe area and beautiful here."

Some children who use wheelchairs also fish at the pools as part of their school's activities, Mrs Hubbard added.

The pegs for disabled anglers are among more than 40 pegs on the larger of two lakes at the site near Coventry.

Tony Prior has become a regular user of the pools, which have improved access to the paved pegs this year

Mr Prior, who started fishing as a child, said he had a "brilliant" time there.

The hobby gave him independence, he said, as he had to organise his time and belongings.

"If I sit there and look around then everything is where I need it and I've done that," he said.

"There's nobody else around me, it's where I want it. Nobody else has put it there."

'A new generation'

About 60,000 people with disabilities are estimated to have bought rod licences in the past year and some fisheries are working to make routes to fishing pools more accessible.

Tom Sherwood, from the Environment Agency, said overall the number of anglers in England had fallen from more than a million in 2010 to about 800,000.

However, he said rod licence sales had suggested there had been "a resurgence in juniors coming through in the last couple of years".

"So you'd hope to think there was a new generation of people getting into fishing," he said.

"We are trying to make it more diverse, we are starting to see a growth of more women getting into fishing and of course we would like people from all walks of life to get into fishing."