The Arundell Arms is a 300 year old Coaching Inn set in West Devon that is at the heart of the West Country Fly Fishing Scene. The Arundell has a rich fishing history and has hosted many influential anglers and gifted literary scholars during its history as one of England’s precious country hotels.
On the evening of February 28th Pauline and I joined with friends to listen to a talk by the well known angling author John Bailey who is also the lead angling consultant in the popular BBC Two series, Mortimer & Whitehouse : Gone Fishing.
I have many of John Baileys angling books and my favourite is ‘Travels with a Two Piece’ published in 1985. The book takes the reader on a journey around the UK with John and his trusty vintage split cane fly rod. Within the pages of this delightful book are stories of fishing in the West Country with particular relevance to the Tamar and its tributaries. The magic of night fishing for the wily sea trout of the Lyd are encapsulated in this pleasing prose from the book. “ The pool lies under the gloom and disorder of Gathered Wood. There is a silence there, enough to hear the small brown trout moving on the shallows, so silent you fancy you hear the moon above slowly spin in the sky, the owl float in the air or the mists actually rise from the meadow dips. There is a magic in the very earth this night.”
In the forty odd years since these words were written much has changed in this world and yet the rivers still flow and anglers still fish these waters hoping to connect with the wild fish that swim within.
In 2025 John revisited these waters as part of the Gone Fishing Team and his talk described in detail the processes involved in the production of this highly popular program its vital human element and the dynamics between its three main characters, Bob, Paul and Ted the dog. The entertaining and informative talk was delivered with a liberal sprinkling of humour. The genuine warmth and honesty of the show emphasised throughout.
There are many who watch Gone Fishing who are not anglers and yet they are entranced by the adventures of Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse as they cast their lines into waters across the UK and beyond. The program focuses on wild fish from wild waters a factor that is undoubtedly a reflection of John’s passion for such waters.
I expressed to John my belief that one aspect that makes the show so popular is that it relays the joys of companionship at the water’s edge and doesn’t actually take the fishing too seriously. For whilst John is a dedicated angler like myself many non- anglers would fail to grasp the depth and passion involved.
Wild rivers their value and the value of wild fish was discussed in depth along with the complex links between angling the community and the environment.
The impact of a changing society upon angling for young people was debated at length. I’m sure that many in the audience related to a time when children would fish alone and learn for themselves. Both John and myself could relate to a childhood spent at the water’s edge wandering free without fear in what is now a distant age. Few of today’s youth are likely to enjoy such freedoms.
The Arundell is a special place steeped in history and a tranquil oasis from the troubled world in which we live. After a delicious meal my wife and I retreated to the reading room its shelves abounding with angling and countryside titles in keeping with the hotels essence. There have undoubtedly been many interesting conversations within the timeless comfort of this room.
Below future dates for the diary :-
