Who's Holger?

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Who's Holger?

Author: josh

Published on Thursday, 03 December 2009 07:20

Written by Josh

Holger joined the Yakabout crew earlier this year and in that time he's contributed quite a bit of content for us to devour. Since coming aboard his yak fishing game has evolved from having mastered the art of yak fishing from a Revo, then an Adventure and now an Adventure Island. He doesn't muck about. Hollgi is an enigmatic bloke to many, so I thought it might be a good idea to run him through the interview machine to see what comes out.

Josh: Thanks for taking time out of your hectic hands-rubbing over the acquisition of the Dune Adventure Island. Tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live, where you've come from and what do you do for a crust?

Holger: No problem- I grew up around Nuernberg in Germany. In January 2006 I moved with my Australian wife and my 2 Kids to Australia, and after 14 months travelling along the coast we settled in Brunswick Heads on the far North Coast. I work as a Maintenance Mechanic and for the NSW Fire Brigade to make our living.

Josh: You're a bit of an Adventure lover. Give us a bit of a background on some of the other outdoor adventuring exploits you've been involved with

Holger: I always loved to travel and to be outdoors. Growing up close to the European Alps I spent many years climbing, caving, mountaineering and mountain biking, as well as canoeing and kayaking. For many years I spent every weekend sleeping outside, summer & winter. I travelled to more than 50 countries, cycled from Germany to Spain, Hungary and through Iceland, travelled the Sahara in a 4WD and so on. I like the Nomadic lifestyle and to have nature around me. No TV-show will ever beat a night by a camp fire!

Josh: What was it that attracted you to the sport of kayak fishing and when did you first take to it?

Holger: Well I loved kayaking, fishing, camping and this was the perfect way to combine all of them.
I started 2006 to fish out of my Klepper folding kayak, 2008 I bought my first Hobie, a Revolution, and I haven't looked back since.

Josh: Someone walks up to you and asks you for one piece of sage advice to help guide them on a path of kayak fishing nirvana. What do you tell them?

Holger: If you can find someone with a bit of experience, make a day of it and get them to show the ropes - it's a good way to get some of your questions answered. Apart from that, do your homework, stay safe and just give it a go – it's fun and easy!

Josh: What's your favourite style of kayak fishing, your #1 target species and favourite recipe for said species?

Holger: My favourite style of fishing is trolling around, I just like to move around, and the Mirage Drive is perfectly suited for that task. I actually don't have a favourite species. It depends where and why I am fishing, as well as the season. With the kids in the river I normally target flathead, big fish when I am off shore... I do favour fishing with hard body's and soft plastics though. As far as eating goes, flathead fillets in beer batter, or Jewfish from the barbie I find hard to beat.

Josh: Having owned a Hobie Revo, an Adventure and now and AI, obviously a bit of a Hobie kayak fan. Why do you like using them for kayak fishing?

Holger: There are many good fishing kayaks around, but for me personally Hobies are the best fishing kayaks. They are well designed, and the Mirage Drive is so much more efficient than paddles, it makes trolling easy, keeps my hands free for fishing, and allows me to hold position even in a strong currant. They just fit my needs and do everything I want as a fishing kayak.

Josh: Would you be kind enough to briefly explain the reasons for your upgrade path from the Revo through to the AI?

Holger: I first got the Revo because I was mainly fishing in my local river system. My focus soon changed more to the open water and I wanted to be able to move fast between one fishing spot and another. So I upgraded to the Adventure. The upgrade to an AI was a no-brainer and just a question of time (and money). The AI is surely the most versatile Kayak out there. The option to use it as sea kayak (hull only), in polinesian style for more stability, with both outriggers & tramps as kid- mover, or as sailing machine simply puts the AI in a league of its own.

Josh: Now that you have the AI, what do you plan of achieving from it?

Holger: Well, I think the AI will open new possibility's for me. I plan to make some several -day -long fishing/ camping trips along the coast with it, and I want to see at least one big jewfish and a big tuna over 100cm on my trampolines within the next 12 month. Actually a big GT or spanish mackerel on our Fraser trip would make another dream come true.
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Josh: What's the kayak fishing scene like in Germany? Is there one?

Holger: There is. It is still relatively small, but growing steadily. They are definitely starting to get the hang of it.

Josh: If you had a chance to go kayak fishing anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Holger: I think my ultimate dream would be to travel in a 4WD motor home around the world in order to find the ultimate Kayak fishing destination. But I wouldn't mind some spots / islands in the Coral Sea or around north west Australia either. For now I am really looking forward to our Fraser Island trip in November, and a couple of other several-day trips I've got planned for this season.