Matt Hayes, widely regarded as one of the best all-round anglers in Britain, and Mick Brown, a predatory angler with an excellent knowledge of UK fishing sites, take up the challenge to catch every species of freshwater fish found in Britain at different locations. 35 fish in 30 days.
With less than a day to catch each fish, Matt faces an uphill struggle. Some fish, such as the ferox trout, stone loach and wild carp are virtually impossible to find let alone to catch. Some of the fish are so small - like the bullhead or miller's thumb - that anglers would not normally attempt to catch them. Plus there are foreign, big fish like wels catfish, ancient fish such as eels and tiny fish including sticklebacks. To catch each species Matt uses diverse styles of angling, from fly-casting for trout and salmon to legering with modern paste baits for carp. He demonstrates classic styles such as free-lining and trotting with floats, plus he uses cut-down tackle for the mini-species, such as loach and sticklebacks. Matt and Mick make their journey around the UK in a custom-fitted van complete with bunk beds, a small stove for cooking and special storage for their tackle. The van itself is a state-of-the-art fisherman's haven, fitted with rod racks, trays, compartments and even a fridge-freezer for bait.
Matt and Mick start their challenge fishing for trout and salmon in the beautiful Irish Lake, Lough Corrib. On Day3, after early successes, they are forced to move on without the incredibly elusive arctic char they so desperately crave. Day 5 finds them at the Willow Bank Fishery, Scunthorpe where they stay up for 48 hours and fish through two nights. Moving down to Devon, Matt fishes in the only known tench-shaped lake in the country and, as guests of Angler's Paradise, they continue their quest fishing for catfish, golden and blue orfe.
We use cookies to help you navigate our website and to keep track of our promotional efforts. Some cookies are necessary for the site to operate normally while others are optional. To find out what cookies we are using please visit Cookies Policy.