For The Sharper Carper...

Arjen Uitbiejerse Interview

We catch up with one of of Europe’s most prolific big-carp anglers, Solar Tackle team member Arjen Uitbiejerse.

When did you start carp fishing and how did you get into it?
AU: I started carp fishing at the back of my parent’s house when I was young. I find it difficult to say an exact age because I always fishing for little roach and bream when I was very young and when I was able I started float fishing for carp.
 
When and how did you start working in the fishing trade?
Au: When I was around twelve I started working at a local fishing shop at the weekends and during holidays. After that I wasn’t in the trade for a while when I was at the university, but about 11 years ago we started with Spiegel Magazine (a carp magazine in The Benelux).
 
You are well known for catching huge carp, but when did you first start concentrating on the really big fish?
AU: I think you just find a way what suits youre fishing best. Funny enough some years ago I struggled to get the bigger ones out of the lake. Most of the time I had to catch them all before I got the big ones. This was also true on Rainbow, but in the last years it has got more easy to catch the bigguns, but there’s probably a lot of luck in it too.
 
Your big fish record is impressive, can you list all the fish over 80lb that you have landed.
AU: I had a few but 36.3kg is equal to 80lb (I think). Obviously we work in kilos out here on the Continent, but the fish I’ve landed over 35kg are:
 
Scar at 41,2 kilo
The Brown Fish at 39,6 kilo
Perfect Common at 38,2 kilo
Island Common at 36,8 kilo
Perfect Common at 36,6 kilo
Island Common at 36,2 kilo
Ten Scale at 35,9 kilo
Ten Scale at 35,6 kilo
Kojak at 35,6 kilo
Scarface at 35,2 kilo
The Briggs Fish 2 times just under 35kg
 
How have you noticed that fishing has changed since you started carp fishing?
AU: A lot. Even in the last years it has changed so much. For example in the Benelux the people who fish every weekend has dropped a lot. Many of them now have families and only fish in France a few times a year and mainly on commercial lakes.
 
What's the most challenging lake that you have fished so far, and why?
AU: Rainbow by far, but also some lakes in Holland in the past. I fished a lot on the big lakes in France as well in 2000 to 2004, but I did not find them so difficult.
 
What's your favourite venue that you have fished?
AU: Rainbow. I also like Graviers and a few other waters a lot too.
 
Do you have a most memorable capture, if so what is it?
AU: It would not be fair to pick one because all of them are great. I had a 27,8kg common in Holland in early 2000, which is a capture that I would not have liked to miss, but also captures from all other lakes are special to me as well.
 
How do you approach your fishing? Do you concentrate a lot on rigs, or bait, or the venue and learning its history so that you can fish it at its most productive times?
AU: I think you can not have one approach on the big fish venues. Even on one lake different circumstances ask for differnet things, so it’s crucial tob e adaptable.
 
What would you like to achieve in your fishing in the next 10 years?
AU: To have fun. I am in the position where we have built a unique group of friends were we fish on some very special lakes, and I hope we continue to do this.
 
What's your goal in your fishing for 2018?
Au: I am not so crazy anymore about getting target fish above others, but why would you not try when you are there? On Rainbow there are three big commons that I would like to catch. Those fish come from certain areas of the lake and so I will try to go there and add those to my tally in 2018.
I’ve also got some trips planned tos ome new lakes, which will be an exciting adventure too.
 
You use a lot of bait, compared to many anglers. Is this simply because you are fishing more often, or do you use a lot of bait specifically when targeting big carp?
AU: I do use a lot of bait when I catch fish. I think it is because of some of the lakes and swims were I fish, in that the stock, size of the carp and the venue often calls for lots of bait. Of course, I also have situations were I only use very limited amounts of bait as well.
 
What piece of advice would you give to anglers that want to catch bigger carp?
AU: Good question! I think to find out as much as you can about the fish you want to catch, when you have found a specific big fish that you want to target. In partiular, previous captures and what areas of the lake at which times of year it is usually caught from.
 
What's the biggest mistake you often see or hear of anglers making?
AU: Many, but somethimes they still work, so the thing is that you never must gets stressed when you do not catch. For example on pay lakes in France people stress when they do not catch the first days of the week. They keep changing things and in doing so destroy their chances for the rest of the week as well.
 
What's the most common question that you get asked by other anglers?
AU: Every day for the last years I get people asking for a swim on Rainbow. Unfortunately even though the lake can hold 24 anglers a week, it is not possible to get everyone on!
 
You regularly fish at Rainbow. What is it that keeps drawing you back there?
AU: With Rainbow it is everything, but the diversity of the lake and every corner being different makes it special. Also the other anglers. Another great thing about Rainbow is that there are some many different big fish in i tand just when you think you’ve caught them all you can start over again as a few new ones have shown up.
 
When and where did you first meet Martin Locke?
AU: I cannot remember exactly, but it’s likely to be one of the fishing shows years back. We’ve remained friends ever since, and now of course I’m back as part of the Solar Tackle team.


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