Hello François, could you introduce yourself to Fishing.news readers?
My name is François Blanchard, I'm 33, I live in the Vendée and I'm an ambassador for the Bricoleurre company. I've been fishing for predators and salmonids with lures in freshwater and at sea for the past twenty years.
Can you tell us about your early days in fishing?
I started fishing with my older brother at the age of 5, first with jigging, then with livebait and lures. I was lucky enough to be able to fish regularly in several ponds not far from home. I also benefited from the experience of some very good anglers through the "La perche du bocage" fishing school, and the many encounters I had at the water's edge. After that, I spent a few years competing as an amateur angler. With my studies, spearfishing became more difficult and I gradually specialized in lure fishing.
When, how and why did you agree to become a Pro-Staff?
After meeting the current managers of the Bricoleurre company in 2015, I started making and creating my own lures with their products in 2016. We became friends over the years and spent many hours on the water, sharing our passion for fishing and creating. In 2021, they asked me to join the Bricoleurre team as an ambassador to continue developing this great company, which I accepted.
What does being an ambassador mean to you?
In my opinion, the notion of ambassador is a question of sharing a passion through a brand that I use, and which carries values that correspond to me. Of course, it's about promoting and developing this brand to make it grow, but just like competition, it's a challenge that pushes me to constantly improve and progress.
What's your fondest memory or anecdote from your time as a Pro-Staff?
One of my fondest memories is of a fishing trip this autumn during which I had some young anglers catch several nice pike-perch and perch on lures I had thought up and created. This afternoon of sharing my passion for creation under the Bricoleurre colors was worth more to me than a competitive victory!
What do you think of fishing in France?
Fishing, whether in France or around the world, is facing one and the same problem: declining fish densities. As a leisure activity, we need to react and face up to this problem. All anglers' associations and federations play an active role in preserving the environments that are home to these fish populations. As ambassadors, we also have an important role to play in associating ourselves with these structures and communicating on all the issues facing fishing in France. Quite simply, the future of our passion depends on it.
Any advice for anglers who want to join a Pro-Staff team one day?
My advice is simple: if you have time, spend it on the water, and share your experiences as much as possible. The world of competition and associations will help you progress and open doors which, as you meet new people, may lead to you joining a team. But this shouldn't be an end in itself, and never to the detriment of your passion.
