It started off as most do -- a seaside holiday, a cheap fishing rod from Woolies and the lure of the big catch out at sea. Next thing you know you are hooked.

That's exactly what happened to Derek Forrest on a family trip to Scotland although it is course fishing rather than sea fishing that forced him to take the bait.

And while he has hardly sold is soul to fishing, the rod and reel play a big part in the life of Derek -- or Dez to the fishing fraternity.

"I do have family commitments so I am not one to spend every spare minute fishing although I have to admit it does take up a large part of it."

Derek, his work or Sunday name, has been Hyndburn and Blackburn Angling Association's senior open match organiser for the past five years.

It's a role he revels in but the real hard work is bottled in to a hectic six month period where he organises up to 23 matches on East Lancashire waters the association currently holds licences for.

But he always make sure he finds time to compete in most of them as well.

"It's a very hectic time of the year, from picking the dates, finding the locations, booking the pegs and attracting the teams. Then afterwards it is a case of weighing the fish and announcing the winners.

"Although it is busy, I always make sure I have enough time to compete in the events myself. After all, that is what it is all about."

Now aged 34, Derek is not one to talk about the 'one that got away' and says a 14Ib carp is the biggest fish he has ever caught.

"That's about the same weight as seven bags of sugar in layman terms," said Derek. "I've never really been one to talk about the big fish that got away and I've never kept fish as trophies."

It proves to be a perfect moment to talk about all the good work Hyndburn and Blackburn Angling Association does for the environment and quell the myths that fishing should be categorised alongside fox hunting.

"We probably do more for the environment in the places we fish and the immediate surroundings than a lot of people think.

"And we have a policy that all fish we catch are put back in to the water and carp is not kept in holding nets and they can damage the fish. We are not in it to kill fish but show off our angling skills."

The club has worked closely with British Water Ways at its fishing venues which include the Leeds and Liverpool canal and Rishton Reservoir.

Derek added: "We have worked hard to improve the habitat in where the fish are stocked and also clean up the environment around the venues where we fish. Consequently, they are not only better places to fish but better to visit as well."

Today, like most well organised anglers, Derek has his own freezer locked away in the shed with the rest of his equipment.

But it wasn't always like that.

"I used to keep my maggots in my parents fridge, usually under the cabbage," joked Derek -- a point many anglers could relate to while their families relive horrors of what they've found lurking in the depths of the fridge.

Thankfully for Derek's family his favourite bait is bread!

As well as being the club's match organiser, Derek also runs the club fishing teams and has big plans to turn them in to one of the best in the North West.

He said: "When I took up running the team the first thing I wanted to do was to find a sponsor and I was very luck to find Andrew Philbin who has put a lot of money in to the team."

Andrew, who runs AM Services Carpet Fitters, promised to be the Jack Walker of angler -- on a lot smaller scale -- and has put his money where his mouth is.

The club competes under the name of teAMS Hyndburn and Blackburn -- to incorporate the name of the sponsor -- while Andrew also sponsors one of the club's Open competitions.

"It has been a great boost to the club and the team. Andrew made a lot of promises and he delivered. He had come forward with prize money and also kitted the team out with new equipment."

The team's fortunes are paramount in Derek's plans for the future as the look to establish themselves in the Drennan Super League.

"I've always said it will take about three years to slowly build a team to be a force to be reckoned with. We didn't do very well last season but we have improved this year and were place third overall in our last match."

Derek hopes that the teams fortunes change favourable in the future and can attract East Lancashire anglers like Mark Ellement, Richard Yates and Arthur Hargreaves back to the area.

"They are all local anglers but are currently competing for teams outside the area. I would love to see our team established and attract them back to their home town."

Derek has more than just the team's well being on his mind though as he continues to try and build on the foundations set by his predecessor Sean Dempsey.

Derek added: "Sean introduced the teams of four competition which has been very popular and I have tried to improve it every year since then."

He is also looking to add a few more Open matches to the calendar but hopefully to spread them out around the year.

"There used to be a close season but not anymore. Now we will fish all year round and I am hoping to get some more matches in the winter months."

He added: "We get some funny looks when we are out there fishing in all sorts of weather. Sometimes we even have to crack the ice before we can get a line in."

In fact, it is the summer months that prove to be the least favourable for fishermen -- especially when the sun is beating down.

"You'll find it hard to get a bite when it's hot and bright," added Derek. "Fish also seem to like to do a bit of sun bathing. Cold and overcast is your best weather."

And Derek knows because he's been out in all weathers!