South Hams residents are being urged to grab a rod and discover the joys of angling during Nati­onal Fishing Month, which starts on Satur­day.

Unlike many sports which rely on rapid body movement or an eye for a ball, just about anybody can fish.

Angling is a great leveller, with no barriers based on age, gender or social status. You can spend a warm summer's day or a crisp winter's morning by the water in beautiful places you would otherwise never, ever visit.

Indeed, fishing really is a four-season sport, and one of its joys is that in each season there are different and exciting fish to catch.

Fishing is well-known for its capacity to help you to relax into a new, fascinating world, the ideal antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life. It transports you to the heart of nature and the many, intriguing plants and animals that live there. By attending a National Fishing Month event this summer, you could experience the joys of fishing yourself.

Fishing is an ideal starting point for anyone looking to make lifestyle improvements, but it is also the case that angling brings with it important health benefits.

You don't need to have high levels of strength or stamina to be able to enjoy fishing, but you will find that your lungs, heart and your main muscles will all receive a workout.

Angling takes you into the fresh, unpolluted air, promoting healthy lung function and a sense of well-being. Recent research by Substance clearly shows that getting out on the bank can be good for you. More information on the health benefits of angling can be found at http://www.substance.net">www.substance.net.

These health benefits also extend to the mind, and angling is well-known for its therapeutic, mental effects.

Anglers may sometimes appear to be sitting passively by a river or lake, but this apparent physical inactivity can mask the actions of an active mind, be it solving angling challenges as they arise or dreaming up new tactics or novel baits to outwit wily fish.

Anglers develop a philosophical appreciation of the fine line between success and failure because it is possible to get everything 99 per cent right and still not catch fish. Fish have to be tempted to bite and cannot be forced to do so, and 'active patience' is another virtue that anglers learn.

Angling is an ageless pastime, too. In how many other sports can children take part on equal terms with their grandparents?

National Fishing Month is a celebration of the sport of angling, organised and led by the Angling Trades Association with the Angling Trust, Angling Cymru, the Game Ang­ling Instructors Associ­ation, the Professional Anglers Association and the Environment Agency as supporting partners.