Writing a dating profile when fishing is a big part of your life

Photos first

Your photos decide whether anyone reads your profile, so start there. Most people look at your pictures before they read a word.

• A clear face photo as your main picture. No sunglasses, no hat pulled low, no group shot. Good natural light, ideally outdoors, smiling.
• One photo by the water. It shows what you love without saying anything. It doesn't have to include a fish. A picture of you on the bank, on a boat or on a pier with a view is often better.
• One photo away from fishing. At a wedding, on a walk, with your dog, at the pub. It shows there's more to you.
• Recent pictures. Within the last couple of years, and showing what you look like now.

Every photo is reviewed, the members area's image rules ban nudity and lingerie, and you'll usually need at least one photo before your profile goes live. If you're tempted to lead with a big carp or a salmon, read our guide on posting a photo holding a fish first.

Be specific

Specific details make a profile memorable and give people something to reply to. "I enjoy fishing and the outdoors" could be anyone; where, what and how often could only be you.

Compare:

Example: "I love fishing and spending time outdoors. Looking for someone genuine."

with:

Example: "Mostly carp and tench on a club lake near Stafford, plus a week on the Norfolk Broads every summer. Happy to teach a beginner or to fish while you read in the sun. Out of waders, I'm a nurse, a decent cook and a terrible pub quiz captain."

The second tells someone where you are, what you do, what you're like and how they might fit in. It also hands them three easy opening questions.

Example lines for every kind of angler

Every branch of angling has its own rhythm, and saying which one is yours helps the right people find you. These are examples to borrow the shape of, not copy.

Example, coarse angler: "Canal and lake angler, mostly roach and perch in winter and tench when it warms up. I'll happily swap a Sunday session for a long lunch if the company's good."

Example, sea angler: "Beach and pier, mostly bass and mackerel. I check the tide times before the weather forecast. Looking for someone who likes a windswept walk and fish and chips after."

Example, fly angler: "Rivers and lochs, a fly box I'm slightly too proud of, and a habit of stopping on every bridge to look for rising fish. Patient on the water, less so in traffic."

Example, not an angler (yet): "Never fished, but I love being outdoors and I'm curious about what makes people get up before dawn for it. I'll bring the flask and the questions."

If you're unsure which crowd you're in, the angling section explains what coarse, sea and fly anglers tend to be like on a date.

Be honest about fishing time

Say how much you fish, because the right person will find it charming and the wrong one will move on early. If you fish most weekends, say so.

If you do overnight sessions, a week in Scotland every year, or a winter of beach fishing at odd hours, mention it lightly. Underplaying your hobby to seem more available just moves the awkward conversation to date five. Our guide to dating someone who fishes covers how couples handle it.

Show the rest of your life

Even on a fishing site, nobody wants to date a tackle catalogue. A line or two on each of these gives people a fuller picture:

• what you do for work, in a line;
• family that matters, like children or a dog;
• one or two other things you enjoy;
• what a good weekend looks like when you're not fishing.

Fill in the profile details, not just the text

The profile fields do quiet but useful work, so don't skip them. Beyond your photos and description, the profile has fields for things like who you're looking for, the age range and distance you're interested in, religion, ethnicity, languages, children, smoking and drinking.

Filling them in honestly saves both sides a wasted conversation. Set your distance to how far you'd really travel for a regular date; if you live somewhere remote, our guide to dating in the countryside helps you pick a sensible radius.

Say what you're looking for

Be clear about the kind of relationship you want and who you'd like to meet. "Someone who likes the outdoors and doesn't mind a 5am alarm now and then" is more useful than "my perfect match".

If you'd love a partner to fish with, say so; if you'd rather keep fishing as your own time, that's fine too. Our guide to whether sharing a hobby matters can help you decide which you are.

Leave a hook

End with something that's easy to reply to: a question, a strong opinion or a small challenge.

Example: "Tell me the best thing you've ever eaten on a beach."

Example: "Bonus points if you can explain the offside rule or the difference between a waggler and a stick float."

What to keep off your profile

Keep anything that could identify where you live, work or fish out of your profile. Profiles on Fish For Singles are shared with partner sites in the same network, so more people may see yours than you expect, and what members write about themselves isn't checked, so not everyone reading is who they say they are.

• No phone number, email address or social media handles.
• No workplace, village name or the name of your regular fishing spot or club.
• No photos showing your house, car registration or children's faces.
• No details you'd use for security questions, such as your date of birth in full.

A quick profile checklist

Run through this before you start messaging. It takes two minutes.

The optional ID badge

An ID-verified badge is an optional, paid mark showing a member has matched their photo ID to a selfie. It's checked by an outside provider, LEM Verify.

It isn't required for most members, and not having one doesn't mean someone is dishonest. Some people like it because it shows they've gone a step further. Details are on how it works.

Then make the first move

Once your profile is ready, browse, and when you're ready to read and reply to messages, a paid membership unlocks that (see prices). Our guide to first messages that get a reply will help you start conversations, and fishing as a first date helps when it's time to meet.