FISHING AS A HOBBY
Just because you live in the city doesn't mean you have to give up your connection to the natural world in anything other than sitting on a park bench. In fact, those who take up fishing as a hobby are far more likely than most of their counterparts to get out into the fresh air on a weekly basis. It's good for the mind and body.

Of course, how good depends upon how you choose to go about it. Everyone knows the angler who takes a whole living room with her-or himself. After the 16th lager, the health benefit of such an expedition is debatable in the extreme. However, that's just one stereotypical angler. There are just as many people who take up fishing as a hobby because it provides a good excuse to go hiking on pristine waterways and getting well “off the path.” Like any other avocation, people tend to practice sport in a manner befitting their personality.

There are not always many outlets to practice fishing as a hobby in urban areas, however. For starters, the lakes and rivers around most urban districts are still rather polluted. If the fish do manage to survive shipping traffic or waste, they may not be safe to eat. However, the situation has certainly been improving in most urban waters since the mid-20th century when things were, arguably, at their worst. Waterways where the fish are not safe to eat should be marked with warning signs. Early season fishing, when the volume of water is higher, is usually safer – check with the Environment Agency to make sure.

Thankfully for those who count fishing as a hobby, one is never more than an hour or two from good fishing in the UK, no matter where you are. In fact, many waterways are accessible from trains and buses with relatively little walking. Joining an urban fishing club is a great way to find out where all the best, nearby spots are. Many clubs that don't have a dedicated water that they lay claim to will organize regular fishing trips for their members – usually at least one per week.

Because there is very often travel involved, it is important for the urban angler to have a very portable set-up. This means having a hard rod and reel case and a small compliment of tackle in a case or box. While those with their own vehicles can more of the comforts of home with them, younger and less affluent folks will often go a bit rough, being content to sit on rocks and pack along a sack lunch. This rarely detracts from the enjoyment of angling as the sport of choice of even more Britons on any given weekend than football.

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