Trying Fishing for the First Time at 40

“And away…”

This phrase has become standard in our house for anything that remotely involves releasing something.

Especially when it comes to feelings (but that’s probably another blog post).

And if you don’t know where that phrase comes from, then you’ve clearly never watched Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing.

If you had told me ten years ago that I would willingly try fishing, I would have said you were batshit crazy.

I didn’t like anything slippery or slimy.

The idea of handling fish was about as appealing as licking a frog.

Fishing was definitely not on my list of dream days out.

And yet, here we are.

At 40 years old.

Sitting by the water…

Holding a fishing rod…

Whispering “and away…” as I released my first fish back into the river.

Why Gone Fishing Made Me Want to Try Fishing

One of the first things I added to my 40 Things To Do at 40 list was to try fishing.

And I have Paul Whitehouse and Bob Mortimer to thank for that.

We’d been binge-watching Gone Fishing, and it became the perfect way to unwind after a busy day.

There’s something deeply calming about the programme.

The gentle scenery, the ripples on the water, the birdsong…

And the fantastic conversations.

It’s like a warm blanket made of rivers, tea and northern humour.

But beneath the comedy lies something much deeper.

The series began after Bob Mortimer underwent major heart surgery, when Paul Whitehouse invited his friend to go fishing with him.

It was a simple act of friendship. Of one man reaching out to another.

And that, I think, is what makes the programme so special.

It's so much more than just a fishing show.

Although the show looks like a slightly chaotic fishing trip with two comedians, it has quietly become one of the most thoughtful programmes on television.

Alongside celebrity guests and plenty of laughter, it tackles important conversations about:

• Mental health

• Physical health

• Ageing

• Friendship

• Grief

• What really matters in life

One of my favourite recurring guests is Dr Anand Patel, who joins the pair to discuss health issues in a relaxed and accessible way.

It feels groundbreaking in its own understated way.

Especially when it comes to men’s mental health.

Men’s Mental Health Matters

Many men still find it difficult to talk openly about how they are feeling.

Social expectations, embarrassment, and the old “just get on with it” mentality can make honest conversations incredibly hard.

That’s why programmes like Gone Fishing are so important.

They show that vulnerability and humour can exist side by side.

And that sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen when you’re not sitting face to face, but side by side doing something simple (this is one of the premises behind Wilderness Therapy Interventions).

If you or someone you know could benefit from support, Andy’s Man Club offers free peer-to-peer support groups across the UK.

Fishing, Nature and the Health of Our Rivers

The series also highlights something close to my heart as a nature lover.

The health of our rivers.

Many of the waterways in the UK are under pressure from pollution, sewage discharges, and habitat loss.

Our rivers support fish, birds, insects, plants, and countless other species, as well as providing us with beautiful places to walk, reflect, and reconnect.

Organisations like The Rivers Trust are doing important work to protect and restore these precious ecosystems.

The more time you spend beside water, the harder it is not to care about what happens to it.

My First Fishing Experience

Anyway... back to trying fishing for the first time!

Inspired by the show, I found a brilliant initiative run by the Canal & River Trust Let’s Fish programme.

They offer free taster sessions for beginners, which was ideal for someone whose fishing knowledge began and ended with Bob and Paul saying “and away.”

I was paired with an experienced angler called Peter.

My mate Peter.

We spent a lovely couple of hours sitting on the riverbank chatting about life, fishing, mental health, and all sorts of other things.

There was something wonderfully simple about sitting next to someone from a completely different walk of life and talking without distraction.

Peter swore by bread for the fish we were targeting that day.

He showed me how to hook it, how to judge the depth of the water, and what to look for when the float dipped.

Together, we caught a small rudd.

Then, boom... I caught a roach all by myself.

I was ridiculously pleased.

And then came the best bit…

Releasing the fish back into the river and proudly declaring... “And away…”

Would I Go Fishing Again?

Even though it was a grey, damp, slightly miserable sort of day, I had a genuinely lovely time.

A couple of hours by the water, with fresh air, good conversation and a small but satisfying sense of achievement.

Will I take up fishing as a full-time hobby?

Probably not. 

But I would absolutely do it again and would love to take my little boy next time.

Because whether you catch anything or not, there’s something special about slowing down and simply sitting beside the water.

Trying Fishing For the First Time Was a Brilliant Thing to Do at 40

Because taught me something important.

Sometimes the things we think we would hate turn out to be surprisingly enjoyable.

And sometimes the value of an experience isn’t really about the activity itself.

It’s about…

• Trying something new

• Spending time in nature

• Meeting interesting people

• Slowing down

• Having space to think

  
  

And occasionally catching a fish.

Not bad for something I once thought I’d never do.

And that’s another item ticked off my 40 Things To Do at 40 list.

And away… 🎣