Roy WebsterThe Norwich and District Anglers Association are poised to launch a new recruitment drive for young members that would guarantee the future of Norfolk's top angling body to the second half of the century.Roy Webster

The Norwich and District Anglers Association are poised to launch a new recruitment drive for young members that would guarantee the future of Norfolk's top angling body to the second half of the century.

The ambitious plan was unveiled by the chairman Tony Gibbons at their annual meeting and involves persuading parents to enter their children into a coaching scheme managed by experienced members offering their services free of charge. There is the added benefit of the association providing the trainees with suitable fishing tackle for beginners.

Explaining why he believed the time was right to grasp the nettle of dwindling numbers in the sport Gibbons said: ' A recent angling survey suggested fishing had become an old man's sport because the percentage of under 30s on the banks is in steep decline.

'We have to meet this head on and part of the problem is that existing coaching schemes do not provide the pupils with fishing tackle, and equipment that is brought along is unsuitable, while some children have none at all and cannot participate.

'In addition, we require young progressive anglers in their 20s with fresh ideas to come on board with a fair understanding of what would be needed in the sport in 20 years' time.'

t The chief executive of the Angling Trust, Mark Lloyd, has announced there will be no compulsory fee attached to the fishing licence to help bridge the funding gap of the new governing body.

Instead the Trust is to advertise the opportunity to make donations, become a member or both.

Lloyd accepts that anglers would not wish to be forced to support the Trust and confirms that the Environment Agency, whose statutory remit is to develop, maintain and improve fisheries financed by all anglers, has rejected this proposal. It was first mooted in the the national angling media some months ago and since then has been discussed publicly and privately.

Current membership of all members including affiliations stood at approximately 13,600 at the start of the year with nearly 1,300 clubs signed up.

t The fish have been on the feed in the Day Ticket Lake at Catch 22 Fishing Centre.

Chris Claxton had 19lb 8oz and 20lb 8oz of commons from peg 7. Dave Smedley had six fish up to 26lb from peg 9.

Mainline Cell and flouro pop ups are catching.