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Hi Jean-Baptiste, can you first introduce yourself to the readers of Pêche.com Magazine?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal - Hello, my name is Jean-Baptiste Vidal, I am almost 46 years old and I am based in Finistère since 2000 after having lived in Paris and in the south of France. I have been fishing since I was 4 years old. I started by fishing with the blow, then with the throw at 12 years old and at 15 years old I started with the fly by meeting a passionate person who taught me this technique on the Vicdessos in Ariège.
I am a fishing guide instructor since 2006. I guided 8 years abroad where I was doing seasons (between 7 to 9 months a year on both hemispheres) for Atlantic salmon in Russia on the mythical Ponoi River, as well as in Iceland on several rivers, pike in Ireland, giant sea trout in Tierra del Fuego on the famous Rio Grande âeuros Argentina, and the golden dorado in Argentina and Bolivia. Since 2014, I set up as a Fishing Guide Instructor in Brittany, exclusively for fly fishing where I offer different services throughout the year.
Why did you become a fishing guide?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal - Fishing has always been a part of my life and has become more and more important over the years. It is more than a passion. It is a way of life. I studied in aquaculture and environment and obtained two BTS, then worked 5 years in the Departmental Federation of Fishing and Protection of the Aquatic Environment of Finistère. In 2003, I passed the BP JEPS " Pêche de Loisir " to continue my missions of fishing animation within the FD.
In 2005, during my vacations, I go to Iceland to discover the job of guide for a local agency. I discovered a real vocation and met an Argentinean manager who changed my life. At the end of 2005, I left for Argentina to guide in the Dorado. Since then, I am a full time guide. This job-passion allows me to be very often at the water's edge, to share my passion, my know-how and my knowledge with other passionate people while making them aware of the environment protection.
What kind of guidance products do you offer?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal - I teach fly fishing exclusively, from beginners to advanced and expert anglers.
Brittany has an exceptionally dense and diversified river network. For trout, I take my clients on a wide selection of beautiful wild rivers in southern Brittany. It is possible to fish with all the techniques offered by PALM and very early in the dry season. In the back season, I also guide in reservoir which allows you to continue to practice your passion, and work on your casting techniques, approaches...
An emblematic fish of Brittany is the Atlantic salmon. I have therefore immediately focused my guides on this fabulous and exciting species following my international experiences. I take my clients on the best rivers of Brittany which are the Ellé, the Scorff, the Léguer, the Aven, the Elorn. I move according to the season to take my trainees to the right place at the right time.
Less known and sought after, I also guide for the large shad which is an exciting migratory fish, very combative and easier to catch than the salmon. They offer guaranteed sensations!
Since 2018, I have also been guiding in saltwater after fishing extensively in exotics for bonefish, permit and tarpon on the flats. Fishing for sea bass was an obvious choice. It is also an emblematic fish of Brittany.
I propose a new service in France. The fishing in estuary of very big sea bass in sight of the edge with the fly always. A 100% sight fishing where we track bass from 2 to more than 5 kg in less than a meter of water like flats fishing. A really exciting fishing, very technical. The ultimate challenge!
I also guide by boat, thanks to my Carolina Skiff, equipped with an electric motor at the front which allows me to make discreet approaches, to realize beautiful drifts and to fish in little water. We practice a very interesting and technical streamer and surface fly fishing in sublime estuaries, rias, and on the coast between Quimperlé and Quimper.
In autumn, I also offer pike fishing from the shore or on my boat, which is very practical for tracking pretty pikes in little water.
All year round, I also offer introductory and advanced courses in casting for two-handed, switch and one-handed rods.
What is it to be fishing guide for you?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal -Being a fishing guide, as I said above, is to transmit his passion, his know-how, his knowledge and skills concerning fishing, but also fish and their ecosystem. Adapting to each trainee to bring them what they are looking for in terms of fishing and casting techniques, not to mention the catch which is the icing on the cake. It is also sharing good moments, experiences, fishing stories and travels.
Being a guide is a job in itself, because when you are not on the water, you have to manage your business. Marketing, communication, exhibition, mailing, social networks, accounting, etc..
Do you fish or not fish when you are guiding?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal - No, I never fish while guiding, as I am 100% dedicated to my trainees. I can give demonstrations or sometimes take a rod for a few moments to find the fish (especially in boats), but it is rare.
You can't handle these trainees well if you're in fishing action, especially in freshwater. At sea, in a boat, it's different. But a guide should not be fishing.
What do you do when you are not guiding?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal - I go fishing! Indeed, the guides do not fish much. So as soon as we have the opportunity, we have to go. But often, it is also as part of the work to prospect new areas, test products, flies. Take pictures for social networks and media, but also in my case for the future writing of articles.
In addition to my work, I write articles for various magazines, run my business, and spend time with my family.
What is your view on guiding in France?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal - In France, guiding is developing more and more, because it meets a demand. The French are beginning to trust guides more and to use their services. This was not the case 10/15 years ago. More and more fishermen realize that we save time by taking a guide. Either to learn faster, or to be in the right place at the right time with the right techniques and flies.
Since COVID, there has been a growing desire for people to engage in outdoor activities and to be in nature.
Concerning our profession, it deserves to be better structured, organized and should be even more professionalized to have identical levels of services regardless of the technique practiced. Rates adapted to our skills and abilities, but also to our responsibilities, and our working time.
The FFMGP is doing a lot of work to professionalize our profession so that it is better understood and taken into account by the institutions. Concerning the training centers for the BP JEPS "Pêche de Loisir" training, I think that there are too many or at least that too many guides are produced each year. The environment is quickly saturated and the demand remains relatively low. The diploma should also be higher and/or divided into several levels (leader, guide, trainer) or techniques (lure, fly, shot,...).
There is still progress to be made to make it a nationally recognized and reliable profession.
Fishing tourism should also develop and guides should be an integral part of the local tourist economy. Some AAPPMA and Federations are going in this direction, but the road is still long.
What advice would you give to people who would like to start this adventure?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal - It is important to make sure that you know what you are doing before you start. It is a profession in its own right that requires many skills, not only fishing skills. You have to know how to manage your business, do marketing, communication, accounting, know where and how to find your customers, etc. It takes a lot of time to be self-employed, and requires an important commitment sometimes to the detriment of family life.
Being a fishing guide is a very nice job, but on the other hand you fish much less. A guide does not have to fish while guiding and this can be frustrating. Being a fishing guide means accompanying and training new fishermen (beginners) and helping experienced fishermen to perfect their skills. It is necessary to have already "rolled his hump" and to be ready to put himself behind his trainee and not to fish anymore, or to fish by proxy I should say. Having a lot of patience is one of the greatest qualities. Knowing how to adapt to your "clients", knowing how to transmit what you know with pedagogy. If you are ready to do that, then you should start.
As a fisherman what is your dream?
Jean-Baptiste Vidal - I have always had many dreams. That's what motivates you and makes you want to surpass yourself. I have accomplished a number of them, but I still have some to realize. For me, it is always to discover new species and destinations.
After having fished in 20 countries around the world, fly rod in hand, I still have some fish I would like to catch and therefore also countries and cultures to discover. On my "bucket list" as the Americans say, I have in 1st place the steelhead in British Columbia, in 2nd place the peacock bass in the Amazon, in 3rd place a GT in the Seychelles, but others like the taimen in Mongolia or the striped bass in the US. It would take several lifetimes to do it all!
Thank you Jean-Baptiste, we wish you to accomplish all your dreams.
