FishingRomantis

The Associated Press

Published: September 10, 2007

 MOSCOW: After catching a striped bass during a visit to the summer home of U.S. President George W. Bush's father, Russia's Vladimir Putin seems to have become hooked on fishing.

Since reeling in that bass in Maine in July, Putin has taken Prince Albert II of Monaco fishing in Siberia and invited Bush to try his luck in Russian waters.

The Russian president repeated his invitation Monday, saying he was waiting for Bush to pick a time and place.

"If such contacts did not bring me pleasure, I would not make such offers," Putin said during a visit to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in comments shown on Russian television.

While relations between Moscow and Washington have sunk to a post-Cold War low during their presidencies, Putin and Bush regularly stress their warm personal ties.

 "The U.S. president and I have very good, friendly relations. I'm glad to spend my free time with him," Putin said. "And such meetings, of course, do not pass without consequences from a business point of view."

Putin first made the invitation Friday when he and Bush met in Sydney, Australia, during the APEC summit. "We agreed that we would go fishing not only in the United States but somewhere on Siberian rivers," the Russian president said at their joint news conference.

On Monday, he said Russia has many beautiful spots for fishing, not only in Siberia, and it was up to the American president to choose. "George loves fishing and I think he'll find it enjoyable," Putin said.

While fishing may be a sport many take up in retirement, Putin said he had no intention of slowing down before he left office, which he is constitutionally required to do when his second term ends in the spring.

To make his point, he chose a more aggressive, fast-moving sport.

"Ice hockey is one of the most beloved sports in our country. We know how real pros play. They play until the very last second," he said.

Putin's new interest in fishing was on full display after his trip with Prince Albert II in August when the Kremlin distributed photographs of him casting his line while stripped to the waist.