Dave Smalley

I’ve been fishing since I was seven years old, starting out on the local canals, sitting behind my uncle and learning the ropes. In my early years I caught anything that swam, joined a local club, and even competed in team matches against other clubs.

One memory that will stay with me forever was my very first overnighter back in 1995. I was 12 years old, dropped off at the lake with a mate in mid-March. We lasted the night with nothing more than a thin rubber camping mat and a wafer-thin sleeping bag. The temperature dropped below zero, and by morning we were frozen stiff—but I’ll never forget that experience!

These days, all of my angling is focused on Europe. I love everything about it: the adventure, the planning, the long drives, the missions, and of course the rewards at the end. With carp to over 30kg under my belt and recent captures pushing past 60lb from waters in France and Holland, I’m eager to explore even more countries and new venues.

I’ve always believed that every peg holds a bite—you just need to figure out how to unlock it.