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Hi Augustin, could you first introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello, my name is Augustin Beirnaert, I'm 30 years old. After a lot of traveling, I settled in Bolivia in 2022. I've been fishing since I was a kid, catching my first fish while still in diapers. Like a lot of fishermen, I started out with spearfishing, then moved on to toc fishing, carp fishing, surfcasting, lures...
I discovered fly fishing through pike. At the time, I was living in Brittany. After learning how to fly-fish for pike, I started stalking sea bass in estuaries, but also trout in streams, carp in small ponds, mullet in harbours... In short, I tried to catch anything with fins with a fly rod. I've even managed to streamer lees from the shore!
Of course, I'm still fly-fishing here in Bolivia. And I've had the pleasure of catching trout on the Altiplano (obviously), but also dorados, peacock bass, arapaimas, pacus...
Why did you become a fishing guide?
In 2020, while working as a shellfish farmer in Brittany, I had an accident at work. My foot was crushed under a forklift truck. I suffered several open fractures, numerous operations, and it took me several months to recover.
I'd been thinking about a career change for some time, and this accident was the catalyst. As a lifelong fishing enthusiast, I was determined to stay in touch with the sport. Guiding was the obvious choice, and I have no regrets about it.
What types of guidance do you offer?
In Bolivia, you can fish in a wide variety of environments, each home to specific species: trout on the Altiplano, dorados in the mountain jungles, arapaimas in the Amazon plains... In general, fishing takes place in rather remote areas, with few comforts. Itinerant camps are organized on the banks of rivers or on the shores of lakes.
I always try to adapt to my customers' needs. I guide with flies, lures or even natural bait for certain species. Generally speaking, I only take small groups, two or three anglers maximum. I like to spend time with each of my customers and offer them the best possible service.
I'm also trying to develop a project with indigenous communities. Every year, their territories shrink in the face of deforestation, mainly linked to cattle farming. Sport fishing projects can represent an opportunity to help protect these territories.
What does being a fishing guide mean to you?
Being a guide means meeting new people, enjoying the company of others, and spending time together on the water. But it's also a lot of knowledge, learning and work. Indeed, a fisherman who takes on a guide expects a certain technical performance, or a certain knowledge of the ecosystem being fished. You have to know your target species and the ecosystem in which it evolves. You also need to enjoy watching others fish and catch fish.
Do you fish or not when you're guiding?
Guiding and fishing are two very different things. I don't think you can guide properly if you're fishing for yourself. I sometimes take the rod to explain a technique or try to find the "trick" that will unblock a situation. Other than that, I don't fish.
What do you do when you're not guiding?
Guiding is not yet my main activity, so I work alongside the guiding sessions. I also take the opportunity to explore new areas, prepare for future guiding sessions, maintain the equipment... Above all, I try to fish as much as possible.
How do you see guiding in France?
Having never guided in France and living in South America, I don't really have any feedback on the question. But I think that making a living from guiding in France is very difficult. Indeed, French anglers (myself included) are not used to using guides to learn a new technique or discover a new environment.
What advice would you give to people who want to embark on this adventure?
I think the first piece of advice is that loving fishing isn't enough. When you're guiding, you're not fishing, so it's important to keep things separate. It's also essential to master your subject perfectly, and to be able to pass on your knowledge. Very often, being a guide is like being a teacher.
As a fisherman, what's your dream?
I still have many dreams to realize, and I think they're all travel-related. I'd love to go pike fishing in Siberia, taimen fishing in Mongolia... These two environments, almost totally wild, have always been a dream of mine. I'd also love to attend the great salmon gatherings in Canada. I'd also like to fish for rarer species, such as amago in Japan or yellowfish in Lesotho. In short, I still have a lot of dreams, and I hope to make them come true one by one.
