Meet Team Member Gareth Parker

Name:Gareth Parker 
Lives:Gloucester 
Occupation:
Angling Categories: Match fishing 

During lockdown, like everyone else, I was struggling. My mental health was suffering and the walls were closing in. One day I decided to buy some fishing kit and join a local club, and that was it. All the negatives from my past started turning into positives.

I got some basic kit and started entering matches, and I got completely destroyed 🤣 but with the addictive nature I have, I needed to keep trying until the results started to show. I bought a second-hand pole and was going five days a week. Practise, practise, practise. The following season I won my first open match and kept winning regular local matches, gaining experience and travelling to new venues to test myself against some top anglers. Every season I'm improving and learning new skills.

My aim is to help and coach ex-addicts in the future and hopefully set up my own charity supporting people who struggle with mental health and addiction.

Since joining the Hinders brand my confidence has been growing weekly, and I look forward to working with them for many years. They gave me a chance, I respect that, and I'll do my best to represent the brand.

Favourite venue: Harescombe fishery and redhill
Favourite species:Tench  and ide 😍
Favourite methods:mugging and short for big wobbly carp
Favourite Hinders Bait:Tutti Frutti Expander Mix