Just a cosy show in which two old friends go out fishing and talk about life, few would have expected Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing to surge as it has done. A gem of BBC programming, since 2018, they’ve pumped out six six-episode series and, recognising the demand, expanded Series 7 to seven episodes with a Christmas special.
Another entry is expected in 2025, following the so-far uninterrupted run of releasing annually. However, it’s missed its usual summer or September release. So, to appease any local fans with a rod and reel in Gelding and further afield in Nottinghamshire, we’re reliving the glorious Series 7 episode that visited our area.
Coming to the Midlands for the Midway Mark
Source: Unsplash
Having fished for tench in Norfolk, salmon in Ireland, and brown trout in East Riding of Yorkshire, Mortimer and Whitehouse made their way to the wide River Trent in Nottinghamshire. For this episode, the 44th of the show overall, the duo set out to try to catch some barbel.
Helping them out at a particularly scenic spot was their trusty terrier, Ted. Once they set up by the River Trent, they sensed that a hefty barbel was nearby, and so, they tried to catch one. Without spoiling the episode for anyone who’s yet to see it, it’d be fair to say that catching a barbel isn’t an easy feat.
A lot of patience is required as you can’t just force in these muscular fish. You tend to need to give a lot to gain a little before eventually landing. This distinct method of catching a barbel only adds to the entertainment value for viewers, just as landing the right catch does wherever fishing is deployed as the focus.
Naturally, this is much of the appeal of Gone Fishing as well as the many more extreme fishing shows that came before. It’s also the central appeal of the oceans of fishing online casino games that have risen to the fore of late. Exclusive games like 10,000 Bass 10K ways, Big Catch Even Bigger Catch 3, and Big Bass Splash headline the popular new wave of fishing slots. In each, the big wins come from collecting the biggest, highest-paying fish in features.
Getting to the River Trent for a Spot of Barbel Fishing
Source: Pixabay
It’s lucky that Mortimer and Whitehouse got to the banks of the River Trent when they did. Over the summer, many of the angling associations chose to shut down vast stretches and popular fishing spots on the river. This was because of the very low oxygen levels recorded in the early summer months.
A lack of rain and high temperatures contributed to the low oxygen, which in turn makes it much more difficult for fish to recover from being caught once put back in the river. Local anglers were widely supportive of the measure, staying away throughout the warmest months of the year.
Now, many stretches of the River Trent are open again, and it’s even produced a surprise catch already. At the end of September, one lucky angler thought he’s reeled in a personal best chub, but instead, he’d actually caught an ide. Mighty barbel, chib, and even the odd hefty sturgeon are known here, but not ide around here.
So, while you can take to the River Trent to replicate the mission seen in Series 7 of Gone Fishing, there’s a chance that you might not battle a barbel and instead hook something quite unique indeed.
