My first memories of fishing go back to running around small pools with a little bamboo pole, fishing for perch and roach while my dad and his brother fished for trout.

When I was around 11 years old, I got my hands on the Rini Groothuis – Karper book, and from that point on, I wanted to catch one of these magnificent fish.

I started fishing with floating bread at a very small farm pond and caught my first impressive mirror carp, weighing in at 6lb. From that moment on, I quickly moved on to fishing a local canal, and that canal virus has stayed with me ever since, growing stronger with every passing year.

I enjoy fishing both small and large canals, but charming little lakes and big, deep lakes are equally my thing — most of them open to the public!

I prefer fishing alone most of the time. I don’t follow the crowd, meaning I do my own thing when it comes to rigs and how I approach carp.

It was around 2012 when I first came into contact with Chris Vandenhaute. I was already using Gardner Tackle and couldn’t imagine using anything else — I have 100% confidence in everything they make. When it comes to bait and tackle, I have no need to overthink things and have no worries whatsoever.

At the end of 2023, I received the news that my job as a car technician would be coming to an end after 26 years with the same small company. Almost immediately, I was given the opportunity to join a large company of the same car brand — and with it came the news that I could finally join a syndicate close to my new workplace, after waiting 12 years for the chance.

After 34 years of carp fishing, I still have the drive and enjoy it as much as ever. A 33lb carp is still a big fish to me, and chasing specimen fish is not my ultimate goal. I love catching big ones, of course, but it’s not all about that. Being out in nature, being present in the moment, and piecing all parts of the puzzle together — that is what I enjoy most.