A Digital Game Changer!
This new app has been designed to save you time and money, as well as provide you with a digital tonne of up-to-the-minute information, but what the hell is it?
What is Catch?
“Technology, software, algorithms, e-commerce, mobile payments, contactless… I think we all agree that none of these things has a place on the bank… or do they?
“Technology has been a taboo word in angling since… well, forever! But why is that? There have been platforms, apps, ticket machines, QR codes and many other technology ideas that have come and gone but didn’t stick. It does not mean the ideas weren’t any good, but sometimes you just need that extra care and attention to bring the idea to life and give it the investment it deserves to truly make it work. Remember Blockbuster video!
“Catch is a platform that makes it easier to do more of the things in fishing that you enjoy and keep records of the details that matter. By creating a platform that allows you to easily search, book, find, learn, record, and compete with your friends, Catch is laying the foundation for improvements in every aspect of angling.
“We want to improve the sport for everyone involved, providing access to information for both the novice and pro angler in a way that means you do not need to be a Generation Z TikTok guru to use. Whether you just want to book, turn up and turn on silent mode for a digital detox, or whether you want to use every available feature to track, store and measure your performance, we have you covered.”
Sounds great. So could I book a swim in advance using this app?
“The ticket purchase function of the Catch platform gives the angler control of how they wish to reserve their session, be it full watercraft or advance swim selection. We expect many anglers will choose the ‘Watercraft Ticket’ option, thereby giving the angler as much flexibility as he or she currently has but with the promise of being able to arrive with certainty they will be able to fish. However, if you know a preferred swim in advance and wish to prebook to guarantee your spot for a much-anticipated session then the option is there for you.”
How much information will be on there and how often is it updated?
“The information displayed by each fishery is under their control. We provide each fishery access to the Fishery Platform which allows them to update and create content easily, this is something that most struggle with their own websites and managing content. The information will be displayed in an easy-to-read format for the anglers and we breakdown the key features of each venue, the fishery information also forms part of our search algorithms that optionally allow anglers to search for venues based on facilities, stock type and fish sizes etc.”
How many venues are already listed and are they nationwide?
“We want to provide anglers as much choice as possible, and for launch we simply cannot start with all the fisheries as building an online directory is really of no value to everyone, so this will take us time, we know that.
“We will have 30+ lakes and circa 400 swims on the platform for launch, and you will see this list grow as fast as we can onboard each new venue. Anglers can help us on this mission by introducing us to their favourite venues.”
Are there venue maps for each of the lakes?
“Yes, for every fishery venue we onboard we create digital venue maps for all of them. Our ‘Catch Maps’ indicate key information to the anglers, such as swim locations, facilities and other information such as out of bounds areas. The maps can also form part of the booking process when making a swim choice, indicating which are available or those already taken.”
How much is the app?
“The Catch app is free to download on both Apple iOS and Android devices. Angler accounts can be created on the APP or on the Catch website, anglers can choose which account is right for them, infrequent anglers can choose to be ‘Pay as You Go’ where they will be charged a small convenience fee (£2.49) when booking. For regular anglers then the subscription option will be for them, and this is £1.95 per month, and subscription anglers can book as much as they like with no additional fees applied on checkout.”
Finally, what else can I look forward to this year with Catch?
“Plenty! We set out to make a platform that can be used by everyone from the novice to pro, giving them the ability to connect, interact, learn, and book fishing experiences and we have only just begun our journey in creating a one-stop community for everyone to benefit from.
“This first version was never going to be easy, as the wish list from anglers and fisheries was long enough to circle the world three times! However, we have put our collective best feet forward and we’re now able to present to you a platform that we hope exceeds all expectations.
“We have some exciting things coming down the pipeline very soon. All our future developments promise to be industry-leading and will continue to evolve as we receive more content and information to make Catch an even better experience.
“This is not our journey; this is your journey. Our industry has been deserving of attention for years and we hope we can do it the justice it deserves by providing you with a platform that you can trust and rely on, while at the same time having fun with friends and learning something new every day.”
