Some catches are truly special — and even more so when they happen with the youth!
For this unforgettable memory, we go back to the 2023 World Championship: the World Predator Classic Cup. What makes this World Predator Classic so beautiful is that, for the very first time, there was also a competition day dedicated to juniors! On this day, the Pro-Anglers are not allowed to fish — only the junior may handle a rod! Fishing on the regular competition course is not permitted either, but they may fish on two rivers and on… the Volkerak, my home turf! A perfect match for me, and I had prepared a very detailed tactical plan for my junior. But fate had other plans: due to strong winds, the second day of the Pro-Anglers was moved to the Juniors’ day. It was going to be an exhausting day: we started at 06:00 in the morning, and after 15:00 — after our own competition day — we had to head out again with the juniors. On top of that, the Junior Day was shortened to just a few evening hours instead of a full day, so sailing to the Volkerak was no longer an option — far too far! During the draw, I got Daantje and his father Koen (as guardian) in my boat. Both already passionate anglers, so that was promising. I gave Daantje an ‘AnyWareFishing cap with LEDs’ as a gift and explained PLAN B: A new tactic due to the changed circumstances: just like the other boats, we would head to the nearest river to avoid losing time, but we would focus on zander, because that would give us the most points in the short time we had: 3 zanders of 42 cm (the minimum size) would give us 126 points — achievable, and certainly a much better chance than catching a meter pike on a river.“Hold on tight!”
When the starting signal sounds, we take off like crazy.
I try to stay ahead of the other competition boats, which is not easy: some of those bass boats are incredibly fast with 250 HP or more.
Spot after spot is taken, but we keep going — I have a location in mind where I once caught good zander many years ago.
But again, luck is not on our side: I don’t recognize the spot and end up at the end of the river instead.
A moment of frustration, but we quickly regroup because I also know a good zander spot here from years ago.
But alas — bad luck again. The current is so strong that even with a 30‑gram jighead and the boat drifting with the current, Daantje can’t reach the bottom. This won’t work!
Time to switch quickly again — a quick look at Google Maps to find a better clue to my original spot.
At full speed we scan the riverbank for a landmark, and suddenly — yes — I recognize the spot!
"Jesus, no luck today: another competition boat is already anchored on it!"
We have to switch again — we’ve already lost more than 45 minutes and still no fish in the boat!
About 100 meters before the spot are two large red buoys, and I anchor the boat just behind the first one.
‘With this current, there must be a zander behind the buoy,’ I explain — and indeed, barely has Daantje lowered his shad when… WHACK!!!
First fish! Cheers all around. But the measuring board brings us back to reality: 39 cm — too small!
But then suddenly luck turns our way.
The cheering and commotion caught the attention of the competing boat. They left their spot to try the same behind the second red buoy.
So now we saw our chance and immediately set up a drift, with the current, over the intended spot.
On the very first drift we score a 45 cm zander, and every drift brings bites!
A beautiful 43 cm perch also comes aboard, and I see us steadily climbing in the live ranking.
But time is running out, and most zanders are the same small size and often undersized.
So I decide to make a drift closer to the bank and just outside the main current… no bites… until at the very end of the drift — a MEGA STRIKE!
A massive river zander shows us what it can do in the current. But Daantje stays remarkably calm and fights it flawlessly.
After several tense minutes, the relief comes — once on the measuring board we know:
Exactly 90 cm — and of course a personal record for Daantje.
This fish catapulted Daantje straight into third place, and now the tension was sky‑high: only 6 cm behind first place!
With fifteen minutes to go, hope was high: just one more fish — any fish above minimum size — could potentially give Daantje the overall victory.
But unfortunately, two more fish came… and both came off :-(
It didn’t spoil the joy: later at the award ceremony, Daantje beamed like never before, thanked his ‘mentor’ during the interview, and we shared fries to end this unforgettable day.
A particularly heartwarming detail: a week later, Daantje called me — he wanted to visit me at home with a ‘small gift’ to thank me.
How happy and touched I was when I saw he had made a full photo collage and had it professionally printed and framed.
Tears came to my eyes, and now this beautiful framed collage hangs in the Volkerak Lodges, so I can share this story with every visitor.
WHAT A CASTLE OF A ZANDER: THE BIGGEST OF THE ENTIRE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
When you don’t give up and keep giving your very best, no matter how tough it gets — what a reward!
Unforgettable memories.