Volunteer coaches introduce 224 youngsters to fishing in 2025

Final PFAC coaching session of the year

Pembrokeshire Federation of Angling Coaches (PFAC) celebrated its 30th and final coaching event of 2025 on 8 October by introducing 14 pupils from Ysgol Bro Gwaun Secondary School to fly-fishing at Foxhill Trout Fishery in Haverfordwest.

The session saw three students catch their first trout on dry-flies under the guidance of 10 PFAC coaches, with pupils learning casting basics through one-to-one tuition.

Paul Matthews, PFAC’s coaches coordinator, said: “This season has been very busy for PFAC and very rewarding, as we have held coaching sessions for a huge variety of youngsters, from young carers, scout organisations,and even a group of Brazilian exchange students.”

Impact across 224 young people

The federation, founded in 2010 and now comprising 17 active volunteer coaches, reached 224 young people across its 30 events this year. While PFAC offers experiences across sea, coarse and game fishing, the organisation says fly-fishing remains the most requested discipline among participating schools and youth organisations.

PFAC reports particular success with sessions involving pupils with special educational needs, with events consistently oversubscribed. Boosting fundraising is a key objective for 2026, as event costs often exceed contributions from participating schools and organisations.

The organisation can be found on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/173919522950804.