STRESSED out by the tensions of football? How about getting hooked on fishing instead?

On Saturday, Darlington Anglers’ Club is inviting everyone to a Get Fishing day at its stillwater fishery on the edge of town.

The pandemic has renewed interest in the sport as it enables people to escape lockdown and it also comes with built-in social distancing.

“We have seen a marked increase in the number of participants in the past 18 months, and the Environment Agency sold an extra 100,000 annual fishing licences in 2020,” says Chris Noble of the Darlington club. “During lockdown, we had an influx of new members because people had time on their hands and it offered an escape from their prison.

“Angling hardly stopped during lockdown as it is recognised as a source of good health and wellness.

“Most people do it to relax, because it is completely different from the hurly burly of modern life. Even if you don’t catch anything, it is still relaxing – it isn’t like having a bad round of golf.

“There are 4m anglers in the country so it is the most popular sport. More people go fishing than watch televised football – although that figure may not be accurate this week because of a certain match against Germany,” says Chris, who avoided the football last night by going fishing.

Saturday’s Get Fishing day runs from 10am until 4pm at Cleasby Lake, which is just south of the River Tees from Blackwell. The six acre lake was once a gravel pit, but, being just 50 metres from the Tees, it fills naturally with water and about 15 years ago was taken over by the anglers’ club.

It is stocked with rainbow trout and brown trout as well as pike, bream and carp.

“We put them in as tiddlers but there’s so much food in there they can grow like topsy so now there are some whopping fish – 20 or 30lbs,” says Chris. “Some of them have never been caught.”

Facilities at the lake have recently been upgraded so there is easy access to the waterside along concreted paths and three purpose-built casting platforms.

The club only takes part in no-killing fishing, and members use barbless hooks.

On Saturday, there will be free tuition by qualified instructors using equipment provided by the club. The Tees River Trust will also be present to discuss its projects, which include tackling invasive species such as giant hogweed, Himalayan Balsam and Signal Crayfish.

Darlington Anglers’ Club was formed in 1894, although records of an earlier club go back to the 1880s, and has more than 250 members. As well as the lake, its members have access to about nine miles of river fishing along the Tees, which is well known for its brown trout, grayling and salmon.

For further information, visit darlingtonanglersclub.org.uk, find the club on Facebook, or go down on Saturday.