It’s National Fishing Month and there’s a scheme where anglers encourage a friend or family member to go fishing for free, writes Mark Briggs.

To take a family member or friend on a fishing session between July 20 and July 28, download a voucher (worth £3.75) from:http://www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk/offers/free-rod-licence-voucher.

As with previous Take a Friend Fishing initiatives this year, when you’ve chosen where you’d like to fish, all you need to do is to complete the rod licence voucher, fill in the person’s details and validate it online at www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk, read the Terms and Conditions, grab tackle, bait and voucher then your free to go fishing!

Each free licence voucher is valid for one day only for all coarse fish and non-migratory trout waters within England and Wales.

In additional to a free rod licence, your family member or friend can also fish for free at a number of Angling Trust fishery and club member venues. These Angling Trust members have pledged to support the Take a Friend Fishing campaign during National Fishing Month by offering a free day ticket or member passes so that your friend can fish for nothing on their waters. Some of them may also be organising NFM events, check www.nationalfishingmonth.com for participating venues in your area.

Environment Agency Fisheries Regulation and Use Manager, Richard Wightman said: “The message is simple, Take a friend fishing! If you have your own full annual licence we would love you to use the one-day licence voucher to help introduce a friend or family member to go fishing during National Fishing Month.”

The Take a Friend Fishing team welcomes feedback on how people enjoyed the day, together with emailed pictures (including venue name, catch details, captor’s name and daytime telephone number). These should be sent to info@takeafriendfishing.co.uk.

This fantastic opportunity provided by the National Fishing Month gives any budding angler the chance to go fishing, free of charge and see what they think of it. This scheme is to also provide more awareness of some great outdoor sports, such as fishing, which can be a great skill to learn.