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Hello Alain and Nicolas, could you introduce yourselves to Fishing.news readers?
Alain Marragou, 68, from Rodez (dept 12) and Nicolas Delebarre, 48, from La Canourgue (dept 48).
Our sponsors are Daiwa and Navico (Lowrance). We don't have a preferred technique, nor a preferred species; we're jacks-of-all-trades, the better to adapt.
Can you tell us about your early days in fishing?
Alain : no one in my family fished, and from an early age I was drawn to trout fishing at first, then later to carp and predators... Today, it's wolf fishing on the Mediterranean that drives me.
Nico: i was introduced to fishing by my father. All my vacations were devoted to fishing, all kinds of fishing. Then I perfected my skills with my brother, and as I met new people on the water today, I devote most of my time to carnivorous fish.
When, how and why did you decide to take up competitive fishing?
Alain began competing in 1992 on the first date organized in Aveyron, and won the competition. This was followed by fifteen years of competition with Patrick Chardenoux in the Henri Hermet interdepartmental challenge, with several podium finishes. Then they continued with the AFCPL for a while.
Nicolas replaced Patrick in 2010. A few years with AFCPL, then GN Carla and finally FFPS.
We won the Challenge in 2012 and the World Cup in Romania in 2015, then the French Championship and the FFPS French Cup in 2018.
Competitive fishing has always attracted us, because it allows us to evolve and challenge ourselves. It allows us to discover new waters and associated techniques. Of course, it also allows us to meet people who are just as passionate as we are, and that's the spirit of fishing!
What do you think of competition in general?
Over the past 30 years, competitive fishing has evolved considerably. Circuits have multiplied and diversified, making it possible to offer all anglers the competition that suits them best.
However, this also divides them, and it's regrettable that we don't have a common circuit that would federate all these competitive anglers. This would give the sport more clout and means to evolve.
What did taking part in the first Mercury Fishing Cup mean to you?
Today, the MFC is THE championship of France. We've always taken part, and it seemed only natural to continue. We were also attracted by the venue, which we knew well, and we were delighted to be able to meet up again with our regular friends. We were also motivated by the high number of entrants.
We always have the same ambition when taking part in a competition, which is to win it, but our tactical choice was not the right one this time...
What do you think of this first edition?
On our return from this date, we were pleasantly surprised by the excellent atmosphere and the seriousness of the organization by the FFPS and Mercury France, which made for an enjoyable weekend.
In terms of techniques, given the flow of the Seine, we mainly practised vertical and linear, mainly with the DFIN Daiwa between 20 and 30 grams.
We opted for a micro zone where nobody was fishing, so as to be able to fish serenely and not get caught up in the scrum of the majority of anglers who had gathered in the same areas. Be that as it may, the fish weren't active all the time on this zone, and you had to be patient to get a bite.
We finished a long way from the podium, but once again we learned a lot from this date.
Your fondest memory, or anecdote, from the Mercury Fishing Cup?
On both days, we caught fish in the last minutes of both heats and we had to be efficient and lucid at those moments!!!!
Will you be attending the second edition on Lac de Vassivière?
For the same reasons, we'll be present at Vassivière (big event, nice site, multi-species, reunion...). It's a dam lake date, and we appreciate this type of environment, which is more like what we have close to home.
Any advice for anglers hoping to take part in the Mercury Fishing Cup one day?
Be prepared to accept a certain rigor in the rules and their application, as this is necessary for the smooth running of any competition.
And don't forget to sign up early for your chance to take part!
