Hello Romain, can you introduce yourself to Fishing.news readers?
Hi everyone, I'm Romain Caron, @sealake_fisher on social networks, 24 years old. I'm originally from the south of France, near Nice, and I'm currently Pro-Staff for the FishXplorer brand. I fish in both sea and freshwater in search of new species! I love traveling and varying my fishing techniques to discover new things, but my two favorite kinds of fishing are small valley trout and black bass!
Can you tell us about your early days in fishing?
I started fishing when I was very young, but I really had a revelation 5 years ago for this passion that now accompanies me on a daily basis! Like many people, I started out sea fishing with a cork and a piece of bread, then I became increasingly interested in lure fishing. By watching videos and talking to other anglers on the net, I learned a lot and started to get good results. I moved on to freshwater lakes, where I quickly caught my first fish. Then on rivers, where it took me a little longer to catch my first trout, but that's what made me love this type of fishing. Very technical fishing with magnificent fish, where exploration in the wilderness is often the key to success, true happiness!
When, how and why did you agree to become a Pro-Staff?
When I started out on Instagram almost 4 years ago, I followed FishXplorer on this social network, because I really liked their presence on the networks as well as the products they distributed, which really stood out from what can be found on the current fishing market. What's more, I could identify perfectly with their brand image: fishing for exploration! So I contacted Florian, the brand's manager directly on Instagram, who replied positively, telling me that my profile was interesting. And now it's been just over two years since I joined the FishXplorer adventure!
I started out as an ambassador and moved up to Pro-Staff the following year, because I really liked the brand's values, the atmosphere of the in-house team, the products, and I really wanted to contribute to its evolution.
What does being an ambassador mean to you?
For me, being a brand ambassador simply means representing its image, supporting it and contributing to its development. We test products distributed by the brand to provide feedback, both positive and negative, in order to offer customers the best possible experience. It also means sharing our personal experience of fishing, and advising new enthusiasts of this wonderful passion.
Your fondest memory, or an anecdote, as a Pro-Staff to share with our readers readers?
My fondest memory? There are so many... Each session leaves me with a flood of memories, but I'd have to say my trip to Norway. It's such a magnificent fishing destination, a country where nature is still preserved and fish are abundant. My best fishing trip to date! I really went into exploration mode, and it paid off: I caught some magnificent fish in breathtaking scenery. It's a destination I'd recommend to all my readers, to whom I'll be happy to reply for information.
What do you think of fishing in France?
Fishing in France has come a long way in recent years, which is encouraging, with more and more anglers practicing no-kill. A practice which, in my opinion, is one of the only ways of preserving our hobby for years to come.
Stricter regulations on mesh sizes would also be a good thing, and I encourage all French federations to follow suit so that we can maintain a healthy fish population in both freshwater and marine waters.
Social networks have really breathed new life into fishing by reaching people of all generations, especially the younger ones, whom I strongly encourage to go fishing, respecting good practices, because you are the future of our beautiful passion!
Every country has different values when it comes to fishing, and I find it very interesting and enriching to explore new countries and discover their fishing culture. You learn something new every day, and that's what I like about fishing too.
I believe that every angler, whether a brand ambassador or not, will always have something to contribute to another, and must remain respectful of other brand ambassadors as well as people with less knowledge. Networking isn't about competition, it's about sharing our fishing moments with other enthusiasts.
Any advice for anglers who want to join a Pro-Staff team one day?
If I have one piece of advice to give you so that you can one day join a Pro-Staff team, it's quite simply: be yourself! Find a style that stands out from the crowd, while remaining natural, to evolve on social networks, and brands will take notice of you. Stand out from the crowd by taking beautiful, original photos, and be active on the networks to create your own community. Brands are looking for profiles that meet their brand image criteria.
If a brand appeals to you and you recognize yourself in its image, don't hesitate to test their products, make up your own mind and then post with them on the networks, identifying them so you get noticed.
Thank you all for reading, and if you have any further questions, I'll be happy to answer them.
Let's explore and fish!
