From the Archive: For Fishing Prague – 10th Edition
You choose your gear. But the people you meet – they choose you.
Foreword by Specimen Hunter
Not every journey leads to the water. And not every expo delivers what you hope for.
This report was written before Specimen Hunter even existed. But its tone, questions, and emotion — they were already part of our DNA. It’s the story of someone who went out looking for gear… and found a piece of himself along the way. Amid the crowds, blurry autofocus, and the ever-present selling, there was still space for a few honest moments — the kind that stay with you.
Looking back, it might not have been the best year of For Fishing. But it was one of those that changed something.
And that’s exactly why, years later, we’re opening it again today.
Not every waste of time is truly wasted.
You might wonder why I’m publishing this piece about For Fishing a week after the event ended. But I have my reasons. This year, I was genuinely excited. I looked forward to new releases from my favorite brands, to finally getting hands-on with the gear I’ve been planning to buy, to presentations of new bait setups, and of course, to meeting familiar faces — both local and international. But when Saturday ended and I found myself back in the car after walking miles through the halls, filled more with questions than inspiration, I felt disappointment. A strange sense of disconnect. Some of you might not agree with this take — and that’s okay. Many probably enjoyed the show. But I also know there are others, like me, who expected more from the tenth edition of For Fishing — one of the biggest fishing expos in Europe. Either way, let’s take a closer look at what actually happened.
I have to admit — the promotion for this year’s For Fishing was on a whole different level. At least compared to previous editions. Social media, banners, online ads — it was everywhere. And brands were fighting hard for attention, launching giveaways and competitions tied to the event. I take part in those contests every year. And honestly? I’ve never paid for a ticket. Every single year I’ve managed to win one. Sometimes even some extra gear. Either I’m incredibly lucky — or not many of you are entering.
So, once again, tickets secured — and as usual, Saturday was the chosen day. That’s the day I go every year. In my experience, it’s always the most dynamic part of the whole event. Top talks. Top attendance. And with that comes the most engaged brands and exhibitors. Two clear positives. And one unavoidable downside — way, way too many people.
Untraditionally, with a New Companion
This year’s edition was unique for another reason – for the first time ever, I swapped my usual fishing mates for my wife. She wanted to find out what makes For Fishing so special to me and, at the same time, show her support for everything I do and for my passion as a whole.
A small detour – even if my wife hadn’t joined me at For Fishing, her support in this journey is total. And something truly rare. Fishing at the level I’m aiming for isn’t just a passion – it’s an investment. Of money, time, and energy. And let’s be honest – even when I’m not at the water, my mind often is. Gear, videos, articles, books, the work on this platform – it’s a 24/7 story. And she’s with me through all of it. Every day. Every hour. Every minute. That’s something you don’t take for granted. I wouldn’t trade her for anything. Oh – and yes, she joins me on most of my trips too. But let’s get back to the expo…
From Perfect Plans to Raw Reality
For the past few months – maybe a year – I’ve been working through the following:
A new brolly, another boat, new options for rig materials, some bait, rods for river fishing, new casting rods, new reels, a cooler box for food… and the list goes on.
When it comes to brolly systems, I’ve narrowed it down to three finalists: the Nash Titan, Aqua Pioneer, and Trakker Tempest. Boat? Either Fox or Raptor. Terminal tackle? Fox. Bait? CC Moore and Nash. Reels? Daiwa Tournament S 5000. And I’ll definitely be checking out the new releases from all the mentioned brands.
My first stop was the Raptor boat stand. I have to admit, even the smaller models offer impressive interior space and the price is very reasonable. When you add the amount of accessories available, it becomes a perfect solution. But I’m here just to scout and compare for now — so let’s move on to the Fox booth.
And here I’m left speechless – the new Fox boats are something else. It was love at first sight. I was originally considering the 290 with a high-pressure floor, but now I’m not so sure. The new 240 has an incredible internal space and is simply stunning.
Here, my decision is clear. And while I’m at it, I take a look at the latest releases – some small accessories and the new luggage range. But here’s where things shift: I start to feel a bit let down. The carp section at FOX had probably the smallest setup I’ve ever seen at For Fishing. Aside from the boats, a few bivvies, a table and a standard rod pod – there was nothing. Except for the new luggage.
Sure, I could head over to Jet Fish or the TB Baits stand to see more. But honestly? I’d much rather have seen everything in one place. A proper central booth, with rig presentations and more involvement from the team. FOX Rage and Matrix had massive spaces – clearly, they were the focus. But my fishing direction is clear. And in that direction, I left disappointed.
Of course, this is just my personal view – someone else might have been thrilled.
When it comes to luggage, I was once again reminded that my FX series is still the best thing Fox has ever made. And I hope it’ll last me for many more seasons. The design Fox is currently releasing doesn’t speak to me at all. We’ll see what the future brings.
What’s next? Let’s head over to Mikbaits and check out the new stuff from CC Moore.
This year, the range of products imported to our market is expected to expand – and it’s about time. Right now, not even half of it is available here. However, I only spent around 15 seconds at the stand, and my frustration kept growing. After a dead-end conversation with a representative who seemed to be leaning on the shelf of this English brand more by accident than intention – and clearly had no clue what he was talking about – I simply stopped mid-sentence and walked away.
I’m starting to feel a bit fed up and wondering where to go next.
I still have the exhibition areas of Nash, Karel Nikl, Solar, Aqua, and Trakker ahead of me. I quickly run through Hall 3 — planning to come back to Karel later between the talks — and head over to Nash, where I’m mostly interested in the baits.
I’ve been loyal to CC Moore for several years, even though every year I seriously question this choice — mainly due to the brand’s availability and distribution in our country. Maybe that’s why I’ve decided to start mixing things up this year and try products from another brand. I chose Nash — it’ll also help with materials for some upcoming projects.
So I head over to Hall 2. At that moment, I had no idea that something else was about to happen along the way — something that would take my motivation down another notch.
I don’t know how you perceive For Fishing, but I’ve always believed that one of the biggest fishing expos of the year should primarily be about showcasing brands, presenting new products, building connections, and meeting familiar faces and friends. It should be a celebration for all anglers — not a predator’s arena for vendors trying to squeeze out every cent.
At some stands, I felt like I was at a flea market full of expired goods. At one booth, my conversation with the exhibitor about their rods was interrupted by the owner himself — once he figured out I probably wasn’t going to buy, he redirected the guy to focus on sales instead.
Alright. One last stop – boilies at Nash. Then we’re out of here. I’ve had enough. This was my worst show ever.
I’m not in the mood to spend any more time here. I’m disappointed by what my beloved passion is slowly turning into.
When I reach the Nash booth, I head straight for the pile of bags scattered on the floor. This year, Nash has come up with a competition – a chance to fish at Church Lake in England. All you have to do is find a golden ticket in your pack. I don’t buy boilies because of the prize, but it would be a nice bonus. I let my wife pick the pack and head to the checkout.
While waiting, I noticed, just a short distance away, the face of Nash Tackle – the great carp angler and true enthusiast, Alan Blair. I watched him for a moment as he darted around the stand, cheerfully chatting with customers, drumming on a bag of boilies, and getting up to all sorts of mischief.
This man caught my attention. In that moment, I switched from being frustrated to feeling neutral—and just let myself be entertained. I knew I wanted to meet him. The energy he radiated was incredible. I’ve met a lot of people in my life—but no one quite like him.
Within moments and just a few words exchanged, I was in a better mood than I’d been in for a long time. I asked Alan for a photo together, my wife snapped a few shots, and I—like a new man—went off to check out the Nash Titan.
I handed the camera to my wife so I could keep my hands free and she could take a few shots. Right after she took the first photo and checked the screen, I saw a horrified look on her face – and instantly felt the same myself. It hit me immediately: everything was blurry. Including the pictures with Alan.
My mistake – I had set the focus to thumb control and forgot to pass that crucial detail on to my wife.
And now what? Let it go, or go back to Alan and ask for another photo?
My wife made the call. She said she’d explain it.
Alan was once again incredibly positive and friendly, and agreed without hesitation. When my wife explained she hadn’t focused the camera properly, Alan tried switching it to auto mode for her. I jumped in, explaining that’s definitely not the way to go – I always shoot in aperture priority.
After a brief tug-of-war over the camera and some clumsy communication in broken English, the three of us burst out laughing. And just like that, the whole day turned around.
It turns out I probably got even more relaxed photos than the first ones. We had a great laugh – and to my surprise, Alan now wanted to take a picture with my wife. This amazing guy completely turned around my mood and saved the whole exhibition for me. I truly hope I’ll have the chance to meet him again. During the rest of the fair, we bumped into Alan several more times – and every time he waved at us with a big smile.
After a quick lunch, we headed early toward the congress hall for the premiere of Karel Nikl’s film “68”. We were really looking forward to it – and we knew it wouldn’t disappoint. All of Karel’s films in recent years have been top-notch: well-produced, with beautiful cinematography and real, raw emotion that Karel pours into every project. Big applause goes to him, as well as to the video creators and the composer.
I highly recommend watching it to all of you. And if you haven’t seen Karel’s previous projects, be sure to look them up – they’re freely available on social media.
While we’re on the topic of Karel Nikl – after the screening of his film, we headed to his part of the exhibition floor. I had already checked out the Titan, so now it was time for the Pioneer and Tempest. I walked through the entire exhibition area and checked out nearly all the products from Trakker and Aqua – a true feast for the eyes. If I ever move away from the “fox” gear, I know exactly where I’m going. I’ve never seen more beautiful luggage and brollies than those from Aqua – real gems. The brolly is perfect, maybe a bit smaller, but absolutely stunning. Still, it doesn’t move higher in my personal ranking.
I’ve owned the Fox Supa Brolly System for quite a few years now, and overall, I’m extremely satisfied with it – except for a few key details that are becoming increasingly important to me.
Weight, setup speed, and transport dimensions – and Aqua Pioneer has the same drawbacks. So the final decision comes down to the Titan and the Tempest. In the end, the Tempest wins – it feels more premium to me and has a better-designed front panel connection.
One of the reasons I’m even looking for something new is versatility. When I go on a trip with my wife, I take two shelters: one bivvy for both of us, and one brolly. The Tempest ticks both boxes – thanks to the extension option. So at least I’ve resolved a few things. Even though I accomplished barely half of what I planned, I was still satisfied.
Now one final talk awaits us – the highlight of the entire expo. The storyteller this time? None other than Steve Briggs himself – a carp fishing legend and one of the most renowned anglers in the world.
We’ve got a few minutes before the talk begins, so we take our chances and head back to the Nash booth. Last time we stopped by, Steve was busy – and I really want to get a photo with this legend. Steve turns out to be incredibly friendly – and I end up with one of my most treasured photos. It will have a place of honor on the wall in my workspace.
From the booth, we rush back to the conference hall to grab better seats.
It’s working out!
After a few minutes, we’re already seated in the front row, listening to Steve share his adventures of carp fishing across Europe. His storytelling is incredible – you could listen to him for hours. Many in the room realize just how lucky Steve is to have experienced so much. Or maybe it’s not luck at all – but the reward for the incredible dedication and effort he’s poured into carp angling. All that’s left for us is to dream. And quietly envy him. Because even in a hundred lifetimes, we couldn’t achieve what he has in just one.
As I’ve already said: A true angler. Hats off.
The exhibition is over for this year. The entrance gates stand empty, everything has quieted down, and we slowly make our way to the car as I begin to reflect in my mind.
My feelings about For Fishing were quite mixed right after the event, and my thoughts conflicted. But with time, I now look back at For Fishing 2019 as one of the best – not because of brand presentations or new products. This year, it was about the people. People like Alan Blair, Steve Briggs, and our top Czech angler Karel Nikl.
Now you know why I took my time writing this article. I needed to let it sink in. To step back, reflect, and only now do I feel ready to pass it on. We all have our own perspective, our own emotions, and we draw our own conclusions. This was the tenth edition — through my eyes. And how was yours?
Post scriptum
I didn’t win the trip to England, of course. But maybe I gained something more valuable at this expo.
Most of the gear I considered back then I’ve gradually ended up buying – some choices proved right from the start, others had to stand the test of time. You’ll read about all that in upcoming articles.
Because choosing your gear isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a process. Just like every fishing trip.
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