Children discover the hidden world beneath the water at Antrim angling days
Sloane, aged five-years-old, from Ballymena is delighted to land his first fish
Saturday 26 September 2026
More than 50 children and their families have spent the summer discovering fishing, wildlife and the hidden world beneath local waterways through a programme run by Antrim & District Angling Association (ADAA).
The Outdoor Learning and Nature Development Days combined hands-on environmental education with an introduction to angling, giving many of the young participants the chance to catch a fish for the first time.
From family interest to three summer sessions
The programme was developed after the Association received regular enquiries from parents interested in introducing their children to fishing, particularly fly fishing.
Matthew, aged seven-years-old, from Ahoghill
Órla Rose, aged four-years-old, from Maghera
Building on a successful pilot community engagement day in 2025, ADAA established a subcommittee and organised three sessions at Potterswall Dam during 2026, with around 20 children attending each day alongside parents and guardians.
The days were designed to offer much more than simply catching fish, with children learning about the wildlife and freshwater ecosystems surrounding the reservoir.
Exploring life around the reservoir
Nature hunt gets underway for the young explorers
(L-R): Nature hunt sheets and binoculars; Learning about aquatic invertebrates; and the Bethel brothers from Antrim area take a closer look.
After a health and safety induction, participants took part in a biodiversity session exploring how plants, insects and animals are connected within an ecosystem.
Children then headed into the woodland and around the reservoir for a nature hunt, searching for signs of something eating, something being eaten, something crawling, something flying, a habitat and evidence of a mammal.
Attention then turned to what was living beneath the water during an activity on the Dunsilly Burn, which feeds the reservoir.
A live kick-sampling demonstration introduced children and parents to aquatic invertebrates and showed how the tiny creatures found in waterways can help indicate water quality. Participants were then able to investigate specimens themselves.
A live kick-sampling demonstration
Joshua, aged six-years-old, from Doagh
Alfie, aged seven-years-old, from Crossgar
Fish caught earlier from the Six Mile Water and its tributaries were also displayed in an oxygenated tank, allowing families to see some of the species living in local waterways.
First steps into angling
The final activities introduced the children to angling equipment, fly casting and safe practice around water before each day concluded with a supervised opportunity to try fishing.
It proved one of the biggest highlights. Almost every child successfully caught their first fish, while organisers said enthusiasm was so strong that sessions ran well beyond their planned finishing times.
Harry, aged 12-years-old, from Antrim
One particularly memorable moment came after a young participant, Harry, and his father spent around three hours trying to catch his first fish. His persistence eventually paid off when he landed a 3lb rainbow trout.
Seeing Harry’s enthusiasm for the sport, lead organiser Ray McKeeman gifted him a fly rod and reel to encourage him to continue fishing.
Families continue fishing after programme
The impact has continued beyond the summer sessions, according to ADAA, with several families subsequently buying day or season permits and taking their children fishing on the Six Mile Water. Parents have also continued contacting the Association with questions about angling.
Parents praised the relaxed and well-organised nature of the events, as well as the knowledge and patience of the volunteers who helped children through the activities.
Always time to take a break
Young lads gaining valuable knowledge with the fly-casting lesson
ADAA volunteer Daniel Dennison said:
“The programme gave me the opportunity to see angling through the eyes of a child again. There is something incredibly exciting about discovering what is hidden beneath the surface – something completely unexpected suddenly appears, whether it is a fish or a tiny stonefly nymph.
“Seeing that sense of wonder and excitement in the children was one of the highlights of the programme.”
Equipment will support future activities
The programme was supported by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council through its Capital Equipment Grant, part of the Community Development Grant Aid Programme.
The funding provided reusable safety, educational and beginner angling equipment, meaning the resources can continue to support future community activities.
For the families who took part, the programme has already achieved something more lasting than a first catch: introducing a new generation to angling while helping children understand the wildlife and ecosystems that make local waterways worth protecting.
