Predator Fishing on Hollands Diep with Lure Fishing Guide
When you fish with Lure Fishing Guide, you step aboard with someone who knows Hollands Diep inside out and understands exactly how to target zander on big, dynamic water.
Welcome to Lure Fishing Guide. Hollands Diep is one of the most challenging and productive predator fisheries in the Netherlands. Deep drop‑offs, hard bottoms, current, structure and constantly moving baitfish make this water a true test of skill. Anglers who fish here without a plan simply miss opportunities.
With Thom Prüst, you fish with a guide who spends countless days a year on this system and knows how zander behave under changing conditions. No aimless drifting, no guessing — every drift and every presentation has a purpose. You fish where the chances are real, with techniques that work on this water.
Whether you’re an experienced angler or new to lure fishing, you’ll get clear instruction, direct feedback and a focused approach that makes you a stronger angler from the first hour onward. You fish with proven techniques, on productive zones, with guidance that keeps you sharp and maximises your chances.
The goal is simple: you fish where the zander are, when they are active — with the best possible chance of real results.
Why Choose Hollands Diep
Hollands Diep is a large, powerful stretch of water where depth, current and structure come together in a way that creates exceptional predator fishing. Positioned between the Haringvliet and the Dordtsche Kil, this system is constantly fed by moving water and baitfish. The busy shipping lanes keep the water naturally murky — and that’s exactly what makes it such a reliable hunting ground for zander, perch and other predators.
This is not a simple lake. Hollands Diep has everything: hard bottoms, mussel beds, deep edges, plateaus, channels and wide feeding zones where baitfish gather. That combination produces one of the strongest predator populations in Europe. For anglers who want to target zander or perch with real chances of quality fish — and who appreciate the possibility of pike, asp or even catfish — Hollands Diep is simply one of the best waters you can choose.
It’s a system that rewards precision, timing and technique. And with the right approach, it’s a place where you can experience truly memorable sessions.
A Haven for Predator Anglers
Zander Fishing with Lures
Hollands Diep is known across Europe for its exceptional zander fishing. The combination of murky water, strong structure and an endless supply of baitfish creates a system where zander stay active year‑round. This is water where lure fishing truly matters: precision, timing and presentation make the difference between a slow day and a session you’ll remember.
Zander here hunt by sight and lateral line, which makes softbaits incredibly effective — provided you fish them with the right speed, angle and contact. That’s where guided fishing on this water becomes a real advantage. You’re not just casting; you’re fishing with purpose.
During a session, the focus is simple: create chances and capitalise on them. Sometimes that means numbers, sometimes that means hunting for a big, heavy fish. Thom Prüst takes you to zones where zander gather under the day’s conditions and shows you how to fish them efficiently. You’ll be using high‑end gear such as St. Croix rods with fast or extra‑fast actions, giving you maximum control and the sensitivity needed to feel every detail on the bottom.
Softbaits remain the number‑one choice here — not because they’re trendy, but because they consistently produce fish on this system. Clean action, tight bottom contact and a presentation zander simply can’t ignore.
This is zander fishing the way it’s meant to be: technical, focused and with real potential for results.
Perch Fishing on Mussel Beds
Perch fishing on Hollands Diep is fast, aggressive and highly addictive. This system produces big, powerful perch — fish over 50 cm are caught here every year — and they thrive around the mussel beds, hard structure and depth changes that define this water. When perch are active on these zones, the takes can be brutal; when they are cautious, precision and clean presentation make all the difference.
The mussel beds are key feeding areas where baitfish gather, and that’s exactly where perch position themselves. Our approach focuses on covering depth efficiently with softbaits, keeping tight contact with the bottom and triggering strikes from fish holding close to structure. It’s a style of fishing that rewards accuracy, tempo and the ability to read what’s happening under the boat.
You’ll be fishing with high‑end St. Croix rods that let you feel every vibration — essential when perch switch between smashing takes and subtle taps. The fast or extra‑fast action gives you the control needed for sharp, responsive retrieves that perch react to instantly. When fish move higher in the water column or need more stimulus, we switch to Spro hardbaits to add speed, sound and a different type of trigger.
Perch fishing on Hollands Diep is all about rhythm, precision and understanding how these fish use structure. With the right approach, it’s one of the most exciting predator fisheries you can experience
Bonus Targets: Pike, Asp & Catfish
Although zander and perch are the main focus on Hollands Diep, this system always offers the possibility of something far bigger. Pike over 120 cm are not unusual here. They thrive on the endless supply of baitfish and the variety of structure, and when one of these fish hits — especially on lighter zander gear — it delivers the kind of raw power you don’t forget.
Asp add another level of intensity. Their explosive strikes and long, fast runs can turn a routine cast into a full‑adrenaline moment. They often hunt high in the water column and can appear out of nowhere, which makes every drift and every cast count.
And then there’s catfish. We don’t target them specifically, but Hollands Diep holds giants well over two metres. They are rare encounters, but when they happen, they redefine your idea of what a “big fish” really is. In a system with this much food and structure, the possibility is always there.
Hollands Diep is simply a water where you never know what the next take will bring — and that unpredictability is part of what makes it so special.
Fishing Guide Thom Prüst - Your Expert on the Water
Thom Prüst is not a guide who occasionally fishes Hollands Diep — he spends countless days a year on this system and knows exactly how predators behave under changing conditions. Reading structure, understanding current, recognising bait patterns and knowing when zander switch zones: this is knowledge built on years of experience, not guesswork. When you step aboard, you fish with someone who understands this water at a level that makes a real difference.
Whether you’re an experienced angler or just starting out, Thom adjusts his coaching to your level. Clear, direct and practical. No unnecessary talk — just the information you need to fish more effectively from the very first drift. You learn techniques that matter, and you fish in areas that have genuine potential under the day’s conditions.
Every guided trip is tailored to your goals. Want to refine your technique, focus purely on zander, or mix it up with perch and the chance of something big? The session is built around that. You fish with high‑end equipment — St. Croix rods, Shimano reels and proven lures — so your gear matches the demands of this water and the fish that live here.
If you want to see how this same approach works on even deeper, harder and more technical water, take a look at my guide to fishing the Volkerak.
Book Your Fishing Trip on Hollands Diep
If you want to experience Hollands Diep the way it should be fished — focused, technical and with real chances of quality fish — then book your guided trip with Lure Fishing Guide. Whether your goal is to target big zander, hunt for powerful perch or keep the door open for a true giant like a metre‑plus pike or even a massive catfish, this water offers possibilities that few places in Europe can match.
With Thom Prüst, you fish with a guide who understands this system at a professional level. You get clear instruction, proven techniques and a structured approach that puts you in the best possible position for success. Every drift, every presentation and every decision on the water is made with purpose.
This is your opportunity to fish Hollands Diep with confidence — sharp, efficient and with genuine potential for memorable catches.
“With the right technique and guidance, zander fishing becomes a serious thrill. I’ll show you how to fish fast and precisely on big water — right where the zander are.”
— Thom Prüst, Fishing Guide at Lure Fishing Guide
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