You don’t need to be an expert to come to HOOKED! In fact, if you’ve never picked up a rod before – or you’re a club volunteer who’s poured years into the sport – this part of the show is built for you.
What to expect
This zone is the heart of the community side of HOOKED! – three dedicated areas celebrating the people who make angling what it is, and welcoming the next generation in.
Club Showcase is a celebration of the clubs, volunteers, and communities that keep UK angling alive. Proud achievements, historic trophies, club histories, and the people who do the work week in, week out. If your club has a story to tell, this is where it gets told – and if you’re looking for a club to join, this is where you’ll find one.
Beginners Bay is where your first cast starts. A dedicated cluster of stands from the organisations that help people get into fishing – pick up catch logs, fish identification sheets, find a local club, and get proper advice from the people whose job it is to grow the sport. No experience needed, everyone welcome.
Careers Hub opens up the other side of angling. Tackle design, fishery management, coaching, conservation, retail, media – find out what’s out there, meet employers, and discover the pathways that can turn your passion into a profession.
Across the zone, the area will run beginner-friendly workshops – basic rigs, safe fish handling, an intro to fly tying – and will feature sessions on how today’s anglers got started, what they wish they’d known, and why they fell in love with the sport.
The whole event is designed around the idea that fishing is one sport with many disciplines. You might walk in thinking you want to try carp fishing and leave wanting to cast a fly rod. That’s the point.
For brands, clubs, and exhibitors
Newcomers are one of the most valuable audiences in angling. They haven’t formed brand loyalties, they’re about to spend money on kit for the first time, and they’re actively looking for guidance on what to buy and who to trust.
For clubs, this is a chance to put your name in front of thousands of visitors looking for somewhere to fish – and to recruit the volunteers, juniors, and members who’ll keep your club going for the next decade.
HOOKED! is positioned to catch the sport at the exact moment new anglers are stepping in. If your brand or club wants to be the first name a new angler remembers, this is where you need to be.
Stand bookings are open now with a 10% early bird discount before October 2026.
Get in touch: hello@hookednationalfishingfestival.co.uk
