MEET THE EXPERT
Since 2008, Martijn Dekkers, 42, has written for European angling magazines using photographic support from his friend Bram Bokkers. In 2015 he started a sport fishing company, Dutch Fishing Stuff, providing workshops for shore and boat angling. Away from angling he runs his own painting business.
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What is your angling background? MD: Until I was 20, I was mainly active in freshwater fishing but for the last 20 years I have focused more on saltwater, but I still regularly fish in freshwater. I can be found on any type of fishery. What’s your favourite type of fishing? MD: Although shark and bass fishing are my favourites, I consciously choose a species and fish for it in a targeted manner. I decide which technique is most effective and what I enjoy most. I fish with my friends in search of special fish and we prefer the larger species, such as big smoothhounds, tope, stingrays and big bass, but I enjoy the smaller species too. Every year I set myself two or three goals, which can consist of a fish species as well as a technique. I delve into all the information I can find, such as biology, bait, fish behaviour, fishing techniques and catch reports. No time or effort is spared to achieve these goals. If a goal is not achieved it will be carried forward to the following year.Every year we have trips abroad, such as to Ireland and Norway, to fish for other and larger species. I like to experiment with new techniques and tackle. I love to combine techniques and tackle intended for freshwater with those for saltwater and vice versa. I have achieved some surprising results doing this.
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What tackle do you like to use when fishing? MD: In all these years I have seen and used a lot of fishing tackle. Now I am involved with both Cinnetic Fishing and Cox & Rawle. I know what I want and what I expect from a fishing rod, reel and other items. Testing and giving feedback on new products is something I love to do. Good and solid products and materials are a must for me. For this, I search a lot on the internet and regularly order products in other countries that are not available in the Netherlands. I make my own rigs so I know for they are really reliable.