Imagine the thrill of landing trophy-sized zander, perch, and Northern pike against the picturesque backdrop of Amsterdam’s canals and lakes during the winter months. That’s right—winter fishing in the capital of The Netherlands is red-hot, offering an unforgettable experience for anglers looking to catch monster-sized fish in a unique European setting. Stay Warm and Focus […]

Did you know that Dutch zander, perch, and Northern pike are not only bigger but also stronger than their American relatives? Zander outgrow walleye, perch outsize yellow perch, and our pike are among the largest in the world. Don’t take my word for it—ask any of the American anglers who’ve been predator fishing in Amsterdam […]

Over the past 15 years as a fishing guide in Amsterdam, I’ve had the privilege of welcoming hundreds of guests from the United States. Many come to target zander, the larger cousin of the walleye. Others have the European Northern pike on their bucket list. This fish is known for its impressive size, strength, and […]

I’m proud to say that I have joined UFX, a team of dedicated fishing guides in The Netherlands with only one goal: make you fish like a pro. We are five born and bred Dutch anglers with a passion for predatory fish. And we love to share this passion with you. No matter where you want to […]

Dropping water temperatures have a major influence on the zander in Amsterdam. They are rapidly becoming much more passive and increasingly ignore lures that were very successful until recently. Aggressively fished vib lures are completely ignored. Also, the number of bites on soft baits decreases rapidly. At the same time, you can see the fish […]

Few colorways are as popular as the “fire tiger”: green back, chartreuse flanks and an orange belly. To top it off, there is often also a black tiger print on the back. Pike and zander are particularly fond of this pattern, but why? While researching for my book, I came across the secret and suddenly […]

Just a short but very practical tip for the pike fishermen among us. Forget the swivel and use the FG knot instead to tie your fluo carbon hooklink to the braided mainline. I list the benefits for you: The FG knot is much more refined than a swivel and is, therefore, less noticeable. Because the […]

I don’t dare to say with certainty exactly, but vib lures result in excellent zander catches after sunset. I was introduced to these rattling hard baits by predatory fish expert Michel Dekker. He showed them to me during a river fishing masterclass for my book (see pages 273-282 in ‘Denken als een vis‘ – only […]

Traditionally, vertical fishing and dropshotting are the most popular ways to catch zander in Amsterdam. In recent years I have found that casting with softbaits (also known as ‘diagonal fishing’) is at least as effective in many cases. Not only in terms of numbers, but also the size of the fish you will catch is […]

In recent weeks, pike has clearly started bunkering. They are working on their fat reserves by eating a lot of fish to get through the long cold winter. We notice this in the beautiful catches of many and large pike. The great thing is that they are a bit heavier every week. We have been […]