Celebrity adventurer Ben Fogle has praised the skills of all those who spend their time in the water with their fly fishing rods after he attempted to learn the art for his new television show.
The 41-year-old is presenting Earth’s Wildest Waters: The Big Fish, which sees seven amateur anglers test their fishing skills across four continents in a bid to win the competition, with expert Matt Hayes judging their talents.
Speaking with The Express about the new programme, which sees anglers sent home after vote-offs, Fogle said the show had taught him a number of new skills, particularly how to fly fish.
“Fly fishing is a very beautiful art. You have to get in the mind of the fish and think about where you’re going to put the fly on the water. It’s like chess and it takes a lot of skill,” the TV star said.
He went on to say he used his fish with his grandfather when he was young, admitting his skills were “very basic”. However, the BBC show has reignited his interest in fishing.
This isn’t the first adventure programme Fogle has done, and he has made a name for himself by travelling to extreme locations around the globe to take part in demanding physical challenges.
These include leading expeditions across Papua New Guinea, swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco, taking part in the South Pole Race, and spending 49 days at sea in the 2005 Atlantic Rowing Race.