Hello Fred, can you introduce yourself to the readers of Fishing.news ?
Frédéric Jullian - Hello, I am 54 years old and I live in the Côtes d'Armor. I am a Breton by adoption, but I keep my accent.
I have contracted partnerships with various brands: Adventer & fishing, Suzuki, Navicom, Deeper, BSR, Plano, and Abu Garcia.
I fish only with lure in sea or fresh water. Even if I am most of the time in fresh water. In the past, I have done a lot of fly fishing. But with time, I switched to the dark side of lure fishing.
Can you tell us about your early days in fishing?
Frédéric Jullian - Fishing came early in my life, first as a natural attraction to outdoor activities rather than a passion. It was a lonely process at first since no one in my family was a fisherman. My real attraction was to nature, fishing was a logical connection. And I think the reason I chose to fish instead of hunt was because I could decide to catch the fish and release when I needed to.
I mention hunting because as a predator fisherman, I consider stalking fish to be a type of hunting but without the mandatory kill. You have to know the fish, and their biotope before you can catch them. Even though I still spend two months a year fishing in the sea in Norway, I consider myself a freshwater fisherman. And the fish I like the most is the one that will bite today. No matter what species it is, it will bring me joy!
When, how and why did you agree to be a Pro-Staff?
Frédéric Jullian - Originally, more than 15 years ago, I became Pro-Staff because the brand had spotted my field work. As a fisherman, but also as a competition organizer. It was the beginning of the sponsorship, but I had in mind to create the conditions of its development not only for me, but for the whole community of fishermen.
That's why, with a reduced team, I managed the street fishing competitions in France and in Europe. We also structured the float-tube competition and launched the circuit which later became the official French championship with the creation of the sports federation. Then I made it my job.
Some partnerships like Navicom and Deeper have been around for a long time. Others are younger like Suzuki marine France (5 years already) or Adventer & fishing clothes even more recently. All of them have in common a confidence in the quality of the services, the proposed equipment and an excellent human relationship between us.
What does being an ambassador mean to you?
Frédéric Jullian - Being an ambassador means freely given rights and duties. I emphasize this because it means a lot to me, I choose my sponsors and their products as much as they choose me. In other words, it is a sharing between us fishermen, a brand and an audience. This allows me to remain authentic in my advice.
What is your best memory, or anecdote, as a Pro-Staff to share with our readers?
Frédéric Jullian - Fishing is a quest where in the end the fish decides when it will bite. So you must be prepared to spend endless hours on the water to get the bite you want. The time you spend on the water is fish!
It brings back memories of a pike winning its battle. It was one of those days of flat calm with a too nice weather and without touches. Then a thunderstorm moved in, the activity slowly picked up. And after many following pike, I saw this huge head come out of the tree swallowing my spinnerbait. Immediately, you know you've just hitched up with an experienced old fish. I remember my brain reviewing my gear as the fish came slowly towards us. All was well except for my buddy who panicked when he looked at the size of "this huge pike, bigger than the biggest Irishman" he was talking to instead of using the landing net.
One look at us was enough for this old warrior to start the fight of his life. You know immediately that he is in control of his territory as he takes you back to that tree where you first saw his head. Any attempt to stop him was useless, he knew so well where to go, to cut that line to free himself again. That day we both fight a battle, his intelligence and knowledge outweighs mine. But I'm glad because it's for those intense moments that I fish, for all the excitement the fish give us, for all the people I meet, for all the places I visit. The water is where I feel at home.
How do you see the fishing industry in France?
Frédéric Jullian - The situation of fishing in France is very contrasted depending on the place. The good management of the environment often depends on the determination and good will of individuals or small groups and not on the work of the FNPF. We are paying for 25 years of inaction, which has resulted in an unprecedented weakening of our influence as users and defenders of our environment.
But on the contrary of this immobility, there is precisely the youth of this new movement with the sponsored and the influencers who cushion the fall of our sport and renew the practice by generating a new craze. There is thus an undeniable dynamism carried by the young generation which contrasts with the timorous management of our national authority.
Any advice for anglers who want to join a Pro-Staff team one day?
Frédéric Jullian - Go fishing, that's the first tip. Learn to master all the techniques and don't be exclusive, this will increase your chances to follow brand strategies. Be curious about everything, never ask for a sponsorship if you don't already use the products. Be prepared to lose "friends" who will be jealous of your position. Start "local" by soliciting local partners who will be your guarantor when it comes to evolving if you wish. And above all, share and enjoy yourself!
