Babs Kijewski about her passion for fishing

You document your fishing experiences on your social media channels. There we can see you pulling a 2.5-metre catfish out of the water. How does that feel?

Babs Kijewski: "That was a giant fish! That night I wasn't expecting it, as he had nibbled very early in the morning. The fight lasted quite a while and was physically exhausting. But then I put the whopper back in the water. When it was all over, I was speechless, fascinated and completely drained. Where I live now there are even 2.7-metre catfish. But I don't know if I’ll ever have the strength to land such a big fish."

What has been your best catch so far?

Babs Kijewski: "A marlin and a roosterfish in Costa Rica, a huchen in Mongolia, a halibut in northern Norway and so on... I always associate the experience and a beautiful trip with a special catch."

You’re now renowned as a pro angler not only in Germany, but also worldwide. And that in a sport traditionally dominated by men. Was it difficult to assert yourself as a woman in the angling world?

Babs Kijewski: "In the beginning, yes. At the beginning, 25 years ago, I would dress like a boy to avoid attracting attention. A few years later, people thought I was a marketing stunt by the fishing industry. At fairs, men would ask me fishing questions to test my knowledge and authenticity. It took me years and some good catches to make a name for myself in the sport. Now I motivate more and more women to fish and the quota of women has risen from 0.5 to almost 7 percent. That makes me insanely proud!"

Babs Kijewski: "To all ladies who would like to try the hobby, I can only recommend going fishing with an experienced angler. Just ask, they won’t say no. Lots of guys would like it if their girlfriends went along more often – so don't be shy! It's a good way to try fishing on for size. And if you like it, you can get your fishing licence and then go out on your own after passing the exam."

What kind of fish do you like to angle and why?

Babs Kijewski: "For me, fishing for perch with fine tackle is the most fun! Probably also because the first fish I caught in my life was a perch."

Do you have any tips on where to fish for perch?

Babs Kijewski: "Perch can be found almost everywhere. The best way to search the water is with spintails (= metal lures that create vibrations). As soon as you get a bite, you can change your fishing technique and try slow lures. Perch are usually found in groups, with the biggest fish one tier deeper. The trick is to pluck out the fat one. And that’s not so easy, because perch are very clever fish."

You’re always looking for special fishing experiences. What makes a fishing experience special for you?

Babs Kijewski: "I can only ever say that after a trip ends. Sometimes it's a particular species of fish, sometimes it's the experience or the journey to the fish. I still have a few fish on my bucket list. For example, I’d love to catch a peacock bass one day. That's a type of perch that lives in the Amazon and is very colourful."

You travel the world with your fishing rod. Where will you go next and what projects are you planning?

Babs Kijewski: "One particular destination is French Polynesia, which I plan to visit in early 2023. Until then, I'm exploring my new home in France. Other projects include live streaming from the water, which I’ve been doing more often lately, as a way to take my fans with me."

You’ve also been to boot Düsseldorf. What do you associate with this trade fair?

"The fair is exciting because it’s not only about fishing, but presents all kinds of watersports. There’s a lot to see and you can try out new things. And there are professionals on site who give you good advice – and the boat manufacturers. I also think the marketplace for used boats is very cool!"

Thank you very much for the interview, Babs!