NATIONAL charity the Canal & River Trust is encouraging anglers from Monmouthshire to try a different kind of network and compete in the UK's first ever angling match hosted via social media on Saturday 6th December.

With half the population living within five miles of a canal, the national competition is a great opportunity to encourage more people to get outdoors and discover fishing on their local waterway.

Beginners and experienced anglers alike will be able to pit their wits against each other for the first time via the competition hosted on Facebook.

A Shimano Exage 2500FD reel is up for grabs and it's free to enter.

Although fishing is still one of the biggest participant sports in the UK, research carried out by the Trust shows the number of people fishing on the nation's historic canals has seen a decrease – particularly

among young people.

The Trust hopes that the

online match will help give the historic sport a 21st century shot in the arm and "reel" a few more people back to the canals.

Instead of taking place on a single stretch of canal, the match will enable people anywhere in the country to compete against each other by sharing a photo of their longest catch on the Trust's angling Facebook page.

Becca Dent, angling development manager for the Trust explains; "We're really excited to be hosting the first ever canal fishing match of its kind in the UK.

"It's a great way of involving people who otherwise might not think of taking part in a traditional angling match.

"Canals have got lots to offer and are a fantastic place to get into fishing; many are full of fish and are an easily accessible place to escape to.

"We really want more people

to rediscover what their local canals have to offer and are always on the lookout for new ways to get more people doing what is one of the nations' oldest and most cherished sports."

The match is free but anyone wanting to take part must have a valid rod licence as well as a permit from the relevant angling club or, where there is no club operating currently, a Waterways Wanderers pass from the Canal & River Trust.

The competition takes place

between 10am and 4pm. All details can be found on the Canal & River Trust Angling page on Facebook.

Anyone can enter by posting a photo of their catch showing a measurement from the mouth to the tail fork and including a special code which will also be released by the Trust that morning.