Hi Arnaud, can you introduce yourself to Fishing.news readers?
Hi Fishing.news team, my name is Arnaud Rizzi Anderson, I'm 36 and I've lived in the Bordeaux region since my early teens.
I fish the great lakes of the West of France and I travel all over France, Spain and other countries to stalk predators. My favorite fish is black bass, and has been since I first started lure fishing. I followed a lot of competitions in the USA and was lucky enough to travel at a very young age.
I'm part of the Berkley/Abu Garcia team. In 2022, I joined the Lowrance France team. I regularly take part in the Fishing Club show, both on set and during FC Fight competitions. I've done a lot of competitions in France and a few abroad. A few years ago, I wrote several articles for Predators magazine.
Along with one of my best friends, I run a music store in Bordeaux and play guitar in a French rock band called Nolens Volens. Music is a big part of my life. I started playing guitar at the age of 5, when I entered the preparatory classes at the Antibes Conservatoire. Then it was at secondary school that I became interested in electric guitar and rock. Thousands of rehearsals and hundreds of concerts later, I'm still hooked. I've worked hard to develop my own guitar sound, which I use to support my band. I couldn't live without music.
I did everything I could to make a living from my two passions and, in a way, I succeeded.
Can you tell us about your early days in fishing?
To tell the truth, none of my family fishes. When I was a kid, I lived on the Côte d'Azur, and I used to ask my parents to take me to the water's edge.
I remember my first fishing rod, which my father and I made from a children's magazine. A simple piece of bamboo with a line, a cork and a hook. As I remember it, I used to catch small sars and breams with a mixture of sandwich bread and cheese.
The mother of a friend of mine at the time had a boat. They regularly invited me out for sessions at sea. I was able to catch my first wrasse and mackerel.
Then, as I grew older, I became interested in lure fishing.
Ever since I moved to Bordeaux at the age of 13, I've had a strong preference for black-bass fishing. It was after meeting Patrick Lamarque that it all started. It was he who introduced me to the Bordeaux black-bass fishing community. I remember it like it was yesterday.
At the time, I was fishing on the edge of a small lake heavily laden with grass. I was getting very hung up and struggling to fish properly. Then I saw a guy wearing a nice shirt with some logos on it, a weird fishing rod with the reel on top (at the time, I had no idea what a casting set was)... He'd throw a soft lure into the grass without holding on and catch fish after fish (I think it was a Gary Yamamoto senko or a Slug). We got to talking and he kindly offered to give me one of his lures and explain how to use it, on condition that I release the fish I was going to catch. That's when it all started.
I was guided by some of the great names in French fishing, such as Lionel Grou, David Dubreuil, Ryusuke Hayashi, Tanguy Marlin and Sylvain Legendre. They all taught me a lot and were very generous with me. Given my young age, it was difficult to have the finances to buy equipment, which at the time was scarce in the stores. We were starting to see a few soft lures for black bass, a few hardbaits...
I remember pestering David and Lionel every weekend to go fishing, poor things! I was really lucky to grow up with them. It was a great time.
Over time, I became interested in pike, then other species of carnivorous fish. Meeting Sylvain Legendre was very important for me. He taught me how to fish pike with shads on the big Alpine lakes. This technique was not as well known as it is today. In fact, Sylvain was almost the only one fishing these lakes at the time, and I used my vacations at my grandmother's in Haute-Savoie to fish and learn with him.
Every summer, I went on an intensive black-bass fishing course with Ryusuke Hayashi on the Lot. He taught me a lot and had a lot of patience. It was incredible to have him as a teacher. You could say I was well looked after.
I took part in my first float-tube competitions on the Charente when I was about fifteen. Back then, they were organized by Patrick Bertry. It was very friendly and fun. I'll never forget those experiences.
When, how and why did you agree to become a Pro-Staff?
I joined the Lowrance France team at the beginning of 2022. I needed to write a new page, after 12 years with a competitor. I was seduced by the project, the atmosphere in the team and of course the equipment, which is excellent! I was contacted by the Lowrance marketing manager.
And how did the brand spot you?
I don't know, you'd have to ask them (smile). On a more serious note, we all know each other in this business. I guess it's through my networks and word of mouth. The fact that I've had sponsors for a long time and that I make videos gives me a lot of visibility.
What does being an ambassador mean to you?
Being a brand ambassador is something not to be taken lightly.
First of all, it's a privilege and a source of pride to represent such a great institution in marine electronics. Many US pros, of whom I'm a fan, are sponsored by Lowrance, like Mike Iaconelli, Jordan Lee or Skeet Reese for example. Lowrance was also the first brand to offer a fishfinder to the general public, back in 1957.
Representation means knowing the equipment and communicating well via social networks, videos and, of course, at the water's edge with anglers. Of course, you also have to answer any questions anglers may have.
It goes without saying that you should treat your equipment with the utmost care.
Your fondest memory, or an anecdote, as a Pro-Staff to share with our readers
readers?
I'll mention two.
The first is our second-place finish at the Soner Euro Cup, in 2019, with my historic teammate Matthias Lothy! Our buddy Bastien Nicolay and the great American star Mike Iaconelli won this competition.
We've all worked very hard to succeed together, with many days of prefishing, of hard times, of questioning and preparation... But that's what competition is all about.
Lowrance was a partner of the event. By the way, there's a great video summarizing the competition on Youtube.
Taking part in Europe's biggest black-bass fishing competition, among friends and with one of our fishing heroes, was truly an adventure I'll never forget.
There are also simple moments of leisure fishing, shared with friends. I'm thinking in particular of a session with Remi Seigler and Yvan Tang last summer. That day, Remi caught my record-breaking pike-perch with the live "Active Target" probe. It was my first touch and my first live fish; 93.5 cm! Some crazy action!
A beautiful day, pleasant weather, a magnificent lake, friends, laughter and fish! What an incredible memory!
What do you think of fishing in France?
Frankly, I'm very concerned about the management of our fish heritage and the legislation that's "supposed" to protect it. I don't think it's a question of financial means, given the cost of a fishing pass. There's a real management problem in France!
It's not for nothing that many anglers, myself included, go fishing abroad.
At the same time, there are some very active Aappma who fight for our passion. Take, for example, the Communauté Communes Mimizan Aappma, with its president Christophe Hugues, who does an enormous amount. This includes fish stocking, clean-ups, events to raise public awareness and a fishing school. In fact, this Aappma is very active with young people, who are the future of our passion. In my opinion, this is the kind of association we need to help and support to keep hope alive. Of course, I'm also thinking of the Black Bass France association, of which I've been a member for over 20 years!
I don't presume to say what should be done, but to sum up, getting involved in an active Aappma is a good way of adding your grain of sand to the edifice.
It's a tougher environment than it looks from the outside. I'd say it's as beautiful as it is fearsome.
You have to accept criticism and move on. I don't pretend to believe myself or to say that I'm an excellent fisherman. I have two time-consuming passions and I devote as much time to each as I want. Maybe if I'd given up music for fishing, I'd be better, but that's not my objective. It's a question of balance, and I'm happy as I am. I'm already very happy with my competition record and all the enriching experiences that fishing gives me. I think that's quite a contrast in a world where everyone wants to be the best.
Fortunately, there are plenty of wonderful people in this milieu, some of whom I'm proud to say are my friends.
After that, you have to put it into perspective: it's still fishing. And it's the sport that makes it exciting, not the actors.
It's an exciting business with so many products and technological innovations. Every time we think there's nothing left to invent, or that we've done it all, someone comes up with something new. But it's increasingly rare and difficult.
Any advice for anglers who want to join a Pro-Staff team one day?
First of all, you have to go fishing, enjoy yourself and share time with your friends on the water. You have to insist, devote time and energy, and learn from your failures, because fishing is not an exact science. So many anglers think they know, when in fact it's the fish that decide! Perseverance is one of the keys, in my opinion. Just like those record hunters who, 5 times out of 6, land a 120 cm pike. I get the impression that everyone wants to be sponsored by a brand, and places are becoming increasingly scarce.
Catching fish, taking beautiful photos, trying to communicate well on your networks, with as few spelling mistakes as possible. Digital communication is the sinews of war for brands. If you master today's tools, you have a good chance of finding a partnership. If you have a little something extra to offer, even better!
Obviously, we need to get closer to the brands and products we love... Not find a sponsor just to find one.
A final word of advice: stand tall and stay away from polemics!
