Recovery Rods help boost mental health and wellbeing by providing low cost fishing sessions for beginners in Bedfordshire

Recovery Rods in Bedfordshire are using fishing as a tool to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of people who visit their events including a recent Get Fishing session which saw non-stop angling action for beginners in lovely warm weather at the beautiful Water End Fishery

Recovery Rods recognise the benefits of fishing and how good the sport can be for people experiencing mental health issues and addiction. Ben started Recovery Rods because fishing helped him with his own issues. He is now 11 years sober and has turned his life around so much that he now feels it’s important to give back to the community and get people to understand that fishing is a great way to help with these kinds of conditions..

The Recovery Rods team use the facilities of How End Fisheries in Bedfordshire where Ben and his wife Nikki run events on Mondays and Thursdays where as much that can be supplied as free is on offer to participants to use while they fish, along with a rod fishing licence provided by the Environment Agency.

This includes use of fishing tackle and bait, as well as instruction on how to use this to catch and safely release fish. Ben and Nikki simply ask those who can afford it to purchase a day ticket to use the fishery, but if you come along and can’t afford it they will still welcome you – how about that for an amazing and generous offer to get more people fishing and help everyone who needs it to experience the positive and proven benefits of simply going fishing! Contact the Recovery Rods Team via Facebook.

Each of the angling sessions have 10 to 15 people fishing and welcome all abilities – even those who have never had a go at fishing are encouraged to try fishing and experience the peace, calm and relaxation as well as the moments of excitement and reward when you catch a fish!

“Fishing has been a lifeline and a massive part of my recovery. Being with nature and by the water really calms the mind for me. When I have a rough time I go to the lakes on my own. I’ve woken up up in my fishing bivvi with a deer eating my bait and had robins sit on my rods. You can’t beat that!”

Fishing is a great way for families and friends to spend time by the water together – it provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and feel the range of benefits that enjoying time outdoors can bring.

Going fishing is about much more than just catching a fish. It provides an opportunity to spend time outdoors, away from the pressures of normal life. Time near water has been found to have a positive effect on mental wellbeing, increasing happiness and enjoyment of life, as well as reducing anxiety levels.

If you’re new to fishing or want to give it a go for the first time, there are lots of ways to get started. Find out about events for newcomers to get into fishing, with free or low cost have-a-go-sessions to discover what fishing is all about, plus places to go fishing, what to use, the best baits and fishing tackle and where to buy it at www.anglingtrust.net/getfishing

We’re helping to organise more Get Fishing Events like this in your area too, and in fact all over the country! Events are added to our website and social media all the time and at the moment, during our popular Spring into Fishing programme, every single day! So please check our Get Fishing events diary for new events near to you

The Get Fishing campaign is funded by

The Angling Trust’s Get Fishing campaign to get more people fishing more often is funded by the Environment Agency from fishing licence income as part of the National Angling Strategic Services contract with the Angling Trust, and Sport England. Children under 13 do not need a licence, and licences for children aged between 13 and 16 are free but you still need to register and receive a licence before you go fishing. You can get a licence for the full year, for 8 days (ideal for holidays!) or just a day’s fishing.

NOTE: Although young children who are under 13 year old do not need a licence to fish, the person supervising them needs to have the proper fishing licence before they take hold of the fishing rod or help the child fish with it.

Get Fishing is Proudly Supported by

The Angling Trust’s ‘Get Fishing’ campaign is proudly supported by
Shakespeare, Exclusive Tackle Partner and Angling Direct, Exclusive Retail Partner
as we all work towards getting more people fishing, more often.

If there’s something that you cannot find here to help you start fishing or return to angling, please contact your local Regional Angling Development Officer – you can find the nearest one to where you want to go fishing here.