Hello Axel, could you first introduce yourself to the readers of Fishing.news?
Axel Mugnier -Hello, I'm 32 years old and I live in Haute-Savoie near Chamonix, where I was born. Fishing has always been a passion of mine, even though I don't come from a family of fishermen, but rather of skiers! After studying aquaculture and business, I ended up working through the seasons like many of my friends (winter on the ski slopes, summer in public works), taking advantage of my off-seasons to travel as much as possible, mainly for fishing. It was at the age of 27 that I decided to take the plunge and get my BPJEPS diploma and embark on my guiding adventure!
Why did you become a fishing guide?
Axel Mugnier -I wanted to do something related to my passion, and what better way than to pass it on by becoming a fishing guide! After all, I figured I had nothing to lose by giving it a try and getting my diploma. It was a combination of circumstances that led me to become a guide in Haute-Savoie, because at the start, my idea was to get my guide diploma and then go abroad for several years to gain experience (New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Argentina via Working Holiday visas).
During my training at Naucelle in Aveyron, I was lucky enough to meet a lot of people and passionate professionals. Some of my colleagues and I then got involved in a fishing show that introduced us to even more people (Fishing In France web-series). All this gave me a really good introduction to the world of fishing in France, and a guide from Guadeloupe, Julien Audonet, asked me to guide the winter seasons for him there. An offer I couldn't refuse!
So I finally set up my own company and at the same time started guiding trout fishing in Haute-Savoie from March to October. Now I no longer spend winters in Guadeloupe, and devote myself exclusively to my activity in Haute-Savoie and elsewhere...
What kind of guidance products do you offer?
Axel Mugnier -My main activity in the Haute-Savoie region is trout guiding in rivers and mountain lakes, using flies, natural baits, lures or toc/nymphe, from beginners to advanced levels for experienced anglers. The Alps, and Haute-Savoie in particular, are a veritable paradise for trout fishing at the foot of Europe's highest mountains! Places that I always enjoy helping people discover.
I also recently set up the Mont Blanc fishing school for youngsters aged 7 to 13. And every year, I organize fishing trips abroad in conjunction with a local travel agency (Swedish Lapland, Dolomites, Iceland).
What does being a fishing guide mean to you?
Axel Mugnier -Being a fishing guide means, first and foremost, sharing and learning. We need to have a thorough knowledge of our fishing areas, be good technicians (without necessarily being world fishing champions) and, above all, know how to adapt to our anglers, their levels and their desires, because the aim is to pass on our knowledge while having a good time on the water.
Guiding isn't just about learning a fishing technique, it's about the whole package, a beautiful place, a good atmosphere, all brought together to learn while filling your memory box with good times. I believe that a "good guide" simply has to love what he does, be himself and always have fun at the water's edge with his anglers.
Do you fish or not when you're guiding?
Axel Mugnier -In general, no, it's my anglers who fish. I'm there to help them, correct them, show them the right spots, get them to make the right moves, and clearly that's not possible if I'm fishing alongside them. It's always important to differentiate between guiding and fishing.
Nevertheless, it's not uncommon for a fisherman, once he's mastered the technique, to want me to fish with him too, and it's a great pleasure for us to fish together. There's nothing set in stone about guiding, it all depends on who you're taking along, but in any case, it's always a great time that creates memories, for them as well as for me.
What do you do when you're not guiding?
Axel Mugnier -I fish !!!! On a more serious note, if we're talking about guiding, when I'm not guiding, I'm doing paperwork: e-mail, telephone, various forms of paperwork, communication etc... It's an extremely time-consuming job, which represents a good 50% of a guide's job.
I also have a lot of other passions besides fishing, sports of all kinds and especially hiking, trails and treks. So when I'm not guiding I'm in the mountains! I also like to travel a lot during my vacations. With all this, I also manage to find time for the person who shares my life.
How do you see guiding in France?
Axel Mugnier -Clearly, I think guiding in France has a bright future! Fishing is a growing leisure activity in France. Since the covid, I've personally seen a real return to nature in my region. I come from a region where it's perfectly normal to hire a ski instructor to go skiing. The same goes for fishing. Fishing and nature-related leisure activities will continue to evolve, and I think that as long as there's water and fish to be caught, our profession has a bright future ahead of it!
What advice would you give to people who want to embark on this adventure?
Axel Mugnier -So if you want to start out as a guide, I'd advise you to take advantage of your year of training to draw up a real business plan, ask yourself the right questions and really create a model of what your business is going to be: potential clientele in the area, tourist potential, investment, guiding possibilities (rain or shine). Does guiding fit in with my lifestyle? We guide every weekend, during school vacations, and we never stop working. You can be in contact with customers at any time, and you need to be able to respond to them.
In short, don't do it just because you enjoy fishing. If you really want to make a living from it, run your business like a company, doing what you're best at (e.g. guiding, creating entertainment) and delegating what you're least good at (e.g. website, communication, social networks etc.). To give you an example, many guides are not very good in communication, this does not take anything away from their talent as guides, but they lose a huge work potential. If your business plan is viable, then go for it and don't hesitate to invest and take risks. It won't always be easy, but clearly it is possible with hard work and investment.
Personally, I'd never do any other job than fishing guide!
As a fisherman, what's your dream?
Axel Mugnier -Wow, I have so many! In general, when I dream of something, I try to make it come true quickly. I like to live life at 200%, and making my fishing dreams come true is one of them. To name just one: I love traveling, fishing and trekking, so a backpacking trip of several months across New Zealand or Patagonia while fishing is a dream that's close to my heart and that I hope to be able to realize quickly in the years to come.
