Hi my name is dooly and although i have been living in Switzerland for almost 8 years i was born and raised in Mombasa,Kenya. (am citizen of both countries thank to parents ) I began fishing with my dad and friends dads in kenya at the age of 9 starting with hand lines from boats with a weight, a hook and some prawn on. bream and baby GTs were the targets. after a few years i was able to do some deep sea trolling for sailfish, wahoo and tuna but then i hit puberty and the only "fishy" thing that interested me was to be found amongst the girls after turning 18 i started hand lining again until i moved to switzerland when i was 20.
I think i tried to catch a fish for about 3 years before i succeeded in catching a roach or 2 ( 30 lb handlines didnt seem to work so well from the shores of swiss lakes!) and they didnt taste good and i didnt even know the meaning of catch and release.
Well about 3 years ago my school friend from kenya who works in germany came down and we went on a fishing trip for Largemouth Bass and as he was very experienced he had ALOT of tackle. was a bit confusing for me but i got the hang of the spinning rods and using hard and soft baits. after the first bass (52cm)i was completely and utterly hooked on this new style of fishing and not eating it!
After teaching me to catch perch in the same way i started buying rods, reels, lines, lures anything i could get my hands on. a Pike fishing trip to denmark with him in late 2009 sealed the deal, never a pike before then 5 pike between 75-98 cm within 3 days. and i knew i would never ever stop fishing again!
where i live doesnt have the best fishing but i usualy go after Perch and chub or any other predatory fish that crosses my path. i strictly use only artificial lures and spinning/baitcasting equipment. i also do not use barbed hooks on my lures unless for big fish and in other countries (wouldnt be allowed in switzerland anyway). also i completely support catch and release which, for some crazy reasons, is illegal in Switzerland. Lastly but not least even though i support catch and release i love eating fish and so once in a while a trout or perch accompanies me home.
i am also a collector, and of course user, of Japanese and American high end tackle to my girldfriends dismay
the reason i am joining this board is to find out how you guys catch your fish and as i visit the UK once in a while, it would be a bit of a shame if i didnt throw a lure in when i am there right now i am looking for good places in London but thats another post for another time!