A lone fly fisherman casting on a misty river at dawn
UnHooked

Fly fishing · Recovery · Reconnection

Step into the river.
Leave the noise behind.

UnHooked is a sanctuary on the water — guided fly fishing days for those recovering from addiction and mental health challenges.

Plan your dayOur mission

01 — Why we exist

A trout doesn't care who you used to be.
It only asks that you show up, and pay attention.

UnHooked was built for the moments after the storm — for people walking the long road of recovery from addiction, anxiety, burnout, or grief. Fly fishing is our medicine: rhythmic, patient, and quietly demanding. It pulls you out of your head and into your hands.

No pressure. No performance. Just running water, a rod in your hand, and a guide who has walked it too.

02 — Experiences

Three ways to meet the water.

Every day on the river is shaped around the person standing in it. Tell us where you are, we'll meet you there.

A man wading in a river fly fishing
Half day01

The Quiet Cast

Three hours on a chalkstream with a guide. Learn to cast, learn to breathe. Built for first-timers and anyone who needs a soft entry back into the world.

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A wild brown trout being released
Full day02

River Days

Sunrise to dusk on private water. Tackle, lunch and waders provided. A full day to lose track of time and remember what stillness feels like.

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Hand-tied fishing flies on a wooden bench
Retreat03

The Long Reset

Three nights, four days. Riverside lodging, guided sessions, fly-tying evenings, and quiet conversation. Designed in collaboration with recovery practitioners.

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A solitary fly fisher in a green valley at golden hour

03 — Our story

How did this start?

UnHooked began on a rainy bank in the Midlands, the morning after a hard year. One rod, one friend, one fish. It was the first hour in months that the noise had gone quiet.

James Alexander works with therapists, recovery coaches, and some of the finest fly fishing guides in the country to build days that hold space for whatever you're carrying — and gently put it down.

Guests
240+
Rivers
17
Years
8
"I came here trying to catch a fish. I left having caught a piece of myself I thought was gone."

Daniel · 18 months sober

05 — Meet the founder

JA

James Alexander

James spent fifteen years in the pressure-cooker of London finance before addiction brought everything to a halt. His recovery began on a rain-soaked Midlands riverbank with an old split-cane rod and a patient friend. Today he pairs that lived experience with professional training in peer-support mentoring to guide others back to themselves — one quiet cast at a time.

Founder & Head Guide

04 — Get in touch

When you're ready, we are too.

Tell us a little about yourself. There's no script. We'll reply personally within 48 hours.

Telephone
+44 07811 207274
Based
Midlands · Travelling rivers UK-wide