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Our podcast has already hosted many anglers, but we've never had a guest quite like this. Kuba Kowalewski is an 11-year-old who catches bigger fish than most adult anglers in Poland.
We talked to Kuba and his dad, Daniel Kowalewski, about how this fishing adventure began and why the young man chose catfish specifically. This is a story about passion passed down from generation to generation and how childlike curiosity can turn into true mastery.
Get ready for a fascinating story about Poland's youngest expert in catfish angling.
The beginning of the fishing adventure
The beginnings were, in our opinion, similar to those of many anglers (e.g., it was the same for us!), Kuba started fishing as a child.
"About four, five years old, I think," Kuba replied when asked about his first fishing experiences. Apparently, Kuba used to take his fishing rod even when he went on holiday with his mum!
This shows how naturally this passion developed. There was no coercion or special plans – simply a child imitating his dad, who himself admits to loving fishing.
His first catches were classic roach caught with a worm at his grandma's. Nothing extraordinary, a normal start for any young angler. But even then, it was clear that this wouldn't be an average fishing story. From the beginning, Kuba was taken on real expeditions, not just quiet fishing by the shore.
Catfish as first love
What we find best about this story is that the eleven-year-old says he most enjoys catching catfish because "they are hard to catch." Most adult anglers avoid difficult fish, difficult fishing methods, generally people avoid difficult decisions, but here we have a kid who deliberately chooses them.
"I like catching them most. Firstly, because they are hard to catch, plus the atmosphere," Kuba explained his motivation, and it's no accident – his dad took him on the boat from the beginning and let him reel in real fish.
His father honestly admitted that his son's love for catfishing is thanks to him, as he himself dedicates most of his attention to these fish.
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This is the difference between an average approach and one that has created a champion. Instead of keeping the child away from difficult situations, the father immediately threw him into the deep end - literally. The result? An eleven-year-old who feels confident with catfish at the end of his line.
Amazing action with poppers
And here's the moment that totally surprised us. We saw a video of Kuba catching catfish on surface poppers – it was incredible.
His dad told the whole story of how they were heading to a previously scouted spot, but on the way, they noticed a catfish rising on the water. They stopped immediately…
It turned out to be a whole school of catfish feeding on the surface. Dozens, perhaps hundreds of fish collecting insects or mayflies from the water's surface. And that's where Kuba showed his class – without hesitation, he switched to fishing with poppers and started pulling in fish.
It wasn't shallow water, as we might have thought. It was a deep spot where the catfish simply came to the surface to feed. Such a situation happens once in a very long time, but you have to know how to take advantage of it. Kuba took advantage of it perfectly.
Playing hooky. What we all loved most!
Honestly? We envied Kuba his schedule. When asked about playing hooky, he answered bluntly: "Definitely a lot, because tomorrow I have 'another day off'."
From our experience, we know how difficult it is to balance work with fishing trips. Kuba is lucky enough to participate in expeditions all over Poland and Europe. His dad tries to plan trips so that they interfere with school as little as possible, but the priority is the conditions on the water.
"The first priority is always the water conditions and so on, and the second is whether there are free days, some windows," Kuba's father explained. This is a professional approach – first the water conditions, then everything else.
Twice a year they organize week-long expeditions, plus shorter trips within the country. This gives Kuba experience that most anglers gain over years. The result? What can I say... an eleven-year-old with the skills of an adult expert.
The loneliness of a young master
A crucial thing we noticed – Kuba is alone in his passion among his peers. No one in his class fishes; he only has one friend from the neighborhood who goes carp and spinning fishing with him.
This shows how rare such a passion is among young people, which is a bit sad. While his peers are glued to computers, Kuba spends his time on the water, perfecting his skills in catching the most difficult freshwater fish.
We don't know what his classmates' reactions are to his fishing successes, but we can guess that few people his age understand this passion.
This can be both his strength and his challenge. On one hand, the lack of distractions allows him to focus on developing his skills. On the other hand, every passion needs a community that understands and supports it. We strongly hope that this will change in the coming years. We are already seeing a large number of new, very young anglers. In our opinion, this is partly due to young internet creators, for example, Tuszol, who, through his work on developing his fishing channel, contributes significantly to promoting fishing, because a large number of people watching his channel are young.
Future prospects
Looking at Kuba, we see the future of Polish catfish angling. At 11 years old, he already has experience that most anglers gain over decades. Moreover, he possesses something invaluable – natural intuition and a lack of fear of big fish.
His dad supports him wisely – he doesn't restrict him but also doesn't push him. He allows him to develop at his own pace, while also providing access to the best fishing spots and equipment. It's an ideal combination.
If Kuba continues to develop at this pace, in a few years he could become one of the best catfish anglers not only in Poland but also in Europe. He has everything it takes – talent, passion, family support, and access to great fishing grounds.
We will follow his career with great interest, keep our fingers crossed, and look forward to more videos from his expeditions! Maybe one day he will be the one teaching the next generations how to catch Europe's largest freshwater predators.
FAQ
At what age did Kuba start fishing?
Kuba started fishing around the age of 4-5, first imitating his dad, and then consciously developing his skills.
Why did Kuba choose catfish specifically?
It's his dad's influence, who is himself a catfish enthusiast. From a young age, Kuba was taken on the boat and could reel in real, big fish.
Does Kuba have fishing friends his age?
In his class, there's no one who fishes. He only has one friend from the neighborhood with whom he goes carp and spinning fishing.
How often does Kuba go on fishing trips?
Twice a year for week-long trips plus shorter outings. The dates are adjusted to the water conditions, and only then to the school calendar.
Sources
Wild Fish Stories Podcast, episode with Kuba Kowalewski and his dad
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