Lars Lundberg – One of the best Kayak anglers in Sweden

This post is the second in our series where we meet some of the most avid kayak anglers in Sweden. This time we have met with Lars Lundberg, who is one of Sweden’s most accomplished kayak fishermen. Let’s start with a few quick questions:

Age:

59 years old.

How long have you been kayak fishing for?

The first kayak I fished from was when I was 11 years old. It was a homemade kayak that we named Rangelkajak (Wobble kayak). To this day we still keep it at Ornö but it is no longer sea-worthy. I bought my first Hobie in 2005 and since then I have had 12 Hobie kayaks and I have also owned and tested out a few other brands.

Favourite fish?

Perch

Favourite fishing technique?

I use a lot of different techniques depending on what species I am fishing and depending on time of year and weather.

Which kayak do you use? And which ones have you had before?

I have a Hobie Outback and a Hobie Lynx. I have been using Hobie outback since the beginning, it is not a coincidence that the outback is the most sold fishing kayak in the world. It is one of the most versatile kayaks and it can handle most types of waters and conditions. My favourite all-round kayak is the outback from 2015 through 2018. I have also had a lot of other kayaks like the Johnny bass which was a cool hybrid and Point 65 which did not really suit me.

You have been fishing a lot before starting kayak fishing. What kind of fishing have you practised before and how come you started kayak fishing?

I have been fishing a lot since I was 4 years old. I followed my grandfather on fishing adventures and I have also been competing in fishing since I was 11 years old. I have competed in sea fishing, ice fishing, coarse fishing and coastal fishing. Most disciplines except fly fishing really.

How many fishing sessions do you have in a year?

I have not really counted but I always go fishing if I have the opportunity. A good year with a mild winter I probably do about 100 sessions.

What is the best part about kayak fishing according to you?

The freedom to be able to go out and fish all types of water. Enjoying the silence and nature without the noise of an engine and smell of gasoline. To be able to sneak up on areas that are not easily accessible by an ordinary boat.

How would you describe your tactics in a kayak fishing competition?

I go hard and keep on going from there. Jokes aside, I like to chase down the fish alone, and try to get away from my competition. Preferably quite far away so I can fish the area at my own pace when I get there.

I think that you are an incredible perch angler. You are great at locating fish but you also always get them to bite. What is your secret?

I fish actively at different depths, I try to locate single individuals, preferably big ones. I never use side-scan, only down-scan and my maps. I rarely fish bigger schools of fish.

Which three competitions are your most memorable ones?

That is a hard question but I have a lot of great memories from abroad. I managed to grab a top position at Chinese open, my world cup qualifiers in England are also fond memories. Australia was also an awesome experience, but my favourite memory was in 2023 when I won the Swedish championship and managed to fool everyone during the blackout period.

What is the best catch from your kayak?

There has been a lot of cool catches throughout the years. I have caught halibut, rooster fish, Jack crevalle, black tip shark, big arctic char, a lot of nice pike, but my favourite catch is a nurse shark I caught in Costa Rica. It was close to 200 kg and 3 meters long, it was a fight that took hours!

What is your best advice to someone who is about to start kayak fishing?

Try different kayaks before buying your own kayak and maybe start with buying a used kayak. Stick with the well-known brands, the Americans know what they are doing and most American brands are of good quality. They are also easier to sell at a good price if you decide that kayak fishing is not your thing. Buy a kayak that suits your fishing and not what others tell you is the best option. Less is more when it comes to kayak fishing and often 10 baits is better than 20 lure boxes.

What would you like to say to someone that is curious about kayak fishing competitions but have not yet joined in one?

Just tag along. It is about having fun with other kayak anglers. You will get a lot of advice and learn a lot. We are all in it because it is fun!