Fishing is one of the UK's most popular country pursuits, and is one of the key activites you would expect to see at any game and country fair. To some it's a fun recreational sport, and a great way to relax in some of the most tranquil surroundings. To others it is a highly competitive precision sport. It's certainly a sport that has almost universal appeal.

Fishing has been a favourite outdoor pastime for centuries and in the UK it remains the most popular forms of participation sport. This sport offers anglers and enthusiasts the chance to truly enjoy the outdoor life and appeals on a grand scale, drawing in both young and old alike. Whether competiting in casting events at a game and country fair, or just getting away from it all, this stress-free activity can be as challenging as one decides to make it; pitting skills, patience and dedication against nature alone.

As with all outdoor activities, fishing is a sport that has many different levels. Highly technical and specific, in terms of where one may decide to fish and indeed in what waters, fishing is an activity that requires dedication and a true love of being at one with nature. Dependant on the type of fishing one takes up, research into locations and areas will determine the type of fishing equipment and tackle to invest in. A quality game and country fair is a good place to find information with many of the leading representative bodies in attendance. The Environment Agency website is a great place to start. Visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk and follow the recreation links to fishing.

With this sport, techniques and learned skills are often built up over many days spent by the water and so in time can become a very rewarding choice of pursuit. Be sure to visit your local game and country fair for advice and tuition, or just to brush up your skills. Recreational fishing is still bound by licensing laws, restrictions and conventions and so the more research one dedicates to this type of hobby will be time well spent. Two common types of fishing that are enjoyed throughout the UK are coarse fishing and fly-fishing.