Whether it’s exciting new projects, powerful tech or growing trade for shops and fisheries, here are just some of the reasons we’re seeing the green shoots of new growth in fishing right now.
Could 2026 prove to be a bumper year for fishing? In spite of the unsettling times we live in, there are several reasons to be cheerful. Here are just some of the things we’re excited about for the coming months.
Angling clubs and retailers growing!
While the picture is still tricky for some, a healthy number of angling businesses are not only surviving but thriving. In retail, the online giants haven’t killed off UK stores! In spite of a glut of tax dodging global companies, there is still loyalty to the local tackle shop.
Tight Lines Tackle and Bait in Leighton Buzzard
In fact, 2025 saw some positive growth and several new independent traders opening, such as Tight Lines Tackle and Bait in Leighton Buzzard (above), and Crewe carp specialists Rippa Tackle. It’s up to all of us to keep supporting local tackle shops and real world retail, however, which is why Clubmate is proud to support The Tackle Shop Project.
Meanwhile, a healthy proportion of angling clubs are growing or command waiting lists! Most importantly of all, the stats show that junior memberships are up. A 25% growth in junior rod licences for 2025 was great news, while our junior angling survey showed 61% of clubs reporting increased junior participation, with some clubs more than doubling their youth intake in the last decade.
Better tech taking fishing into 21st Century
Another big boost for fishing has been countless clubs and businesses getting a tech upgrade. Our sport is getting better organised, better at selling itself online and more successful at appealing to today’s social media driven audiences.
Our systems help make websites beautifully clear and easy to manage!
Clubmate are proud to play a huge part in this! We are now by far the largest provider of online day tickets and memberships. No longer is tech daunting, thanks to affordable, user friendly ways to manage clubs, fisheries and businesses. 2025 was a huge year for us, but we are driven to make things even better moving forward. Our ever-evolving platform now offers more features than ever, such as drag and drop website design, easy to use comms features and online commerce capabilities.
On the subject of renewal in general, it’s also time for many of us to do just that with our favourite fishing clubs, or perhaps to join a new one to plan fresh adventures ahead. Of course, Clubmate clients can use our system to send out a timely reminder for members to hit refresh on that annual ticket.
Fishing podcasts going from strength to strength
Of all the new forms of media, the podcast has to be one of the best suited to angling. After all, for so many of us, talking about fishing is the next best thing to doing it, and whether we’re on the road or on the bank, a podcast is a great way to access angling content pretty much anywhere.
Shows like the Thinking Tackle Podcast, and Fishing Gurus Podcast get thousands of carp and match anglers tuning in, providing the latest topics discussed and big name guests. Talking of which, Clubmate’s very own Casting Forward Podcast has recently included stellar names such as match anglers Steve Ringer and Matt Godfrey, not to mention a fascinating chat with Britain’s finest fish artist, David Miller! Click here to catch our latest episodes.
Influential anglers and huge viewing numbers!
Anyone who tells you that fishing is a small, niche sport clearly hasn’t seen the sort of audiences the biggest YouTubers and influencers now command. Angling Times recent “Top 50 Most Influential People in Fishing” feature was an eye-opener, leaning heavily into this digital trend with a who’s who of digital content makers.
Channels such as Fishing with Carl have a huge reach, boosting youth engagement in particular
It’s easy to be sniffy about new media, but could this be one of the largest drivers of growth and engagement in angling today? Fish with Carl now has over 600K subscribers, many of them young and newer rods, while the likes of Alan Blair, Ali Hamidi and Martin Bowler routinely get views into the tens of thousands. Not that it’s all about vast numbers and star names- because clubs and fisheries investing in digital and visual technology are also reaping the rewards.
Anglers like Jamie Clayton (above R) are building a brighter future for all anglers
Talented anglers who give back
We all love to see the good guys in angling rewarded, right? Well, that has never been truer than the present, with some truly worthy people and causes being championed. Just look at the success of Tackling Minds– the mental health charity that has helped thousands of people, directly influencing the national conversation on wellbeing and angling, and even informing a groundbreaking university study to put our sport in the best possible light.
Or you could look to heroes like Jamie Clayton, an Angling Times award-winner who has put his heart and soul into improving fishing in the North West. Clubmate has been proud to work with Jamie, who is now launching the North West Anglers Alliance, to boost funding and fish stocks in the region.
Over to you…
All of which gives us plenty of hope that the next few years could be an exciting time for fishing. We’re more determined than ever to play our part in this growth, helping clubs and fisheries to thrive in the modern era. Contact us today to see how we can build your angling business!