All Episodes

Nick Hancock invites six would-be anglers to the Highlands of Scotland to learn the art of wild game fishing. The novice fishermen are forced to endure a remote and rugged environment as well as getting to know the ropes - and each other.

Nick has his hands full as, after just a day's training, the novices tackle the hardest fighting fish in the country - the salmon.

The would-be anglers contend with the elements as they once again seek out salmon under the guidance of expert Jon Beer. The remote location, the rain and the cold combine to hamper the improvement of the students, who are beginning to realise that river fishing is not as easy as it first seems.

The aspiring anglers are challenged to complete a gruelling climb that will take them to one of the Highlands' most beautiful and isolated lochs. Nick and local ghillie Mac Stephenson look on as the students discover stamina is needed as well as skill in the rugged terrain.

The students' sea legs are tested as the aspiring anglers head out to the Atlantic Ocean for a day on the Nimrod. The novices must adapt to a very different type of fishing as Nick and skipper Jimmy Mac challenge them to catch the biggest fish of the day.

The students are split into two groups to fulfil a series of tasks designed to show what the course has taught them. Each set chooses a captain and the day culminates in an intensive 'fish-off' - but individual competitive streaks threaten the spoil the team spirit.

The presenter tests the stamina of the would-be anglers, who have a choice between fishing at a remote loch or remaining at the roadside. With two of the students opting for the harder choice, Jon begins an orienteering expedition across rough terrain, while Nick remains by the road to test.

Day eight of the angling challenge sees the students learning a different type of fly-fishing as they do their best to catch rainbow trout at a fishery near Inverness. They also spend time in peace and solitude by each taking a rowing boat out on to the loch.

The students face a four-mile trek to a remote group of Sutherland lochs on the penultimate day of the angling challenge. Some choose to go the distance, hoping the experience will be worthwhile, others take the easy option of a roadside lake they have already been to.

The students fish a loch of their choice as they mull over their experiences on the angling challenge and say farewell to the Sutherland highlands. Nick Hancock talks to expert Jon Beer about the progress they have all made.