Hello Goulven, can you introduce yourself to Fishing.news readers?
Goulven Geffroy -My name is Goulven Geffroy, I'm 25 and I'm lucky enough to live close to a region that's very popular with sea bass fishermen, the Bréhat archipelago. I work as a river technician on the Léguer, which means I'm very close to my passion!
Today, I'm most passionate about lure fishing for sea bass. The region lends itself so well to it, with its many islets, current veins, sandbars...
I generally practice from the shore, an approach that fascinates me because of its technical nature and difficulty. I also have a kayak and occasionally go boating.
Whatever happens, I'm ALWAYS accompanied by my faithful setter, who never misses a beat... Even in a kayak!
Can you tell us about your early days in fishing?
Goulven Geffroy -At the age of 5, my grandfather gave me a fishing rod, but I had never fished before. The idea of fishing was in the back of my mind for a few years, and 6 years later, I started to look for trout in streams. I had to learn everything on my own, as my parents didn't fish and my grandfather had left. The beginnings were tricky, but each trout was satisfying.
As time went by and I heard everyone talking about this fish, I became interested in sea bass. My first soft lure was a Fiiish Black Minnow 120 khaki bought at the Décathlon in Brest when it first came out. I still remember the craze surrounding this revolutionary lure at the time, which left a deep impression on me. Little did I know that ten years later, I'd be joining Team Fiiish...
When, how and why did you agree to become a Pro-Staff?
Goulven Geffroy -Before I thought about becoming a brand ambassador, I spent a lot of time at the water's edge. I practised for days on end, with varying degrees of success. I always wanted to understand and learn while sharing good times with my friends.
I then turned to social networks to share fishing content on my outings. I started to identify the brand on my publications, then over time to exchange with the Fiiish community manager, as well as getting results in competitions...
I joined the Fiiish team in 2019, and for someone as passionate about the brand as I am, it's been a real source of satisfaction. The brand is from Brittany, the products are very high quality, it's a really cool little company. It really fitted in with my philosophy and my way of looking at fishing.
What does being an ambassador mean to you?
Goulven Geffroy -In my opinion, being an ambassador encompasses many adjectives at once. I'll start with the strongest: sharing.
Before communicating on products, my aim is to share and exchange information on fishing sessions, and to advise those who contact me so that they can succeed in our passion. For my part, I also solicited some Pro-Staff at the time, and I must return the favor today. I have to admit, there's nothing more satisfying than advising someone and then getting feedback that their session was a success thanks in part to your advice.
Despite our status, you shouldn't be afraid to ask us for advice - quite the contrary! It's always a pleasure to answer everyone's questions. We're simple fishermen, just like the rest of you.
Being part of Team Fiiish also gives me the opportunity to exchange ideas with ambassadors from all over the world. We regularly invite each other to share sessions together, which is so enriching.
Of course, one of my favorite parts is communicating about the brand's products. I set myself the goal of only fishing with our lures to get to know them even better and refine my approach. We also talk a lot with the R&D team to share our feedback on certain projects, and so on.
What's important to me is to give everything I can to the brand, to try in my own small way to help it progress. I love Fiiish, I adhere 100% to its values and I'll continue to do what I can to help the team.
What's your fondest memory or anecdote from your time as a Pro-Staff?
Goulven Geffroy -My fondest memory, it's hard to say, they're all different and all with equally important values.
First of all, the trade shows. I was lucky enough to visit Nantes and Clermont-Ferrand under the brand's colors, and the moments of exchange were exceptional, as were the encounters.
One memory that stuck with me and moved me a little was during a session near a port. I was approached by a young fisherman and his father, who were real fans of the brand and the content I shared on social networks. We took a photo together and I gave him some lures from my box. I saw the joy and happiness in his eyes, and that's one of my favorite things about being an ambassador.
There's also a victory in the Trophée Fish kayak fishing competition on the bill. This is one of the biggest no-kill kayak bass fishing competitions in France. Our first participation with my best friend and partner Florent. As the youngest team in the competition and a victory close to home, it was a memorable experience.
I'm also exceptionally lucky to fish with my other half and my faithful English setter Prodige, which makes for incredible moments of sharing and gives us a different perspective on our passion.
What do you think of fishing in France?
Goulven Geffroy -Fishing, like many passions, is evolving. In my opinion, communication on social networks, newspapers and news reports have helped to highlight good fishing practices. The moratorium on sea bass, although not sufficiently effective in my view, is proof that the authorities are aware of the problem of declining aquatic species and can put management measures in place.
Now, my view of freshwater policy is more mixed. We're way behind in terms of fisheries management, and the objectives are obsolete. My job has made me realize that the priorities set out are not necessarily all the right ones, and that the fishing lobbies are confronting us with numerous inconsistencies. Tomorrow's fishing industry will have to be built together, and with major changes.
Any advice for anglers who want to join a Pro-Staff team one day?
Goulven Geffroy -I don't think it's a good idea to set the goal of becoming a Pro-Staff angler. You have to enjoy your passion and keep learning with each session. A motivated person with good values and quality content will have every chance of being approached by brands to represent them.
In my opinion, the right ingredients for a Pro-Staff are: sharing, passion, availability, humility, technical skills and the ability to constantly challenge oneself.
