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Hello Jérémy, can you introduce yourself?
Hello Alexandre, and thank you for giving me the floor. My name is Jérémy Vienne, I'm 28 years old. I live in the Côte-d'Or not far from the Saône. I'm a soldier and the proud father of a 2-year-old daughter. I've been fishing since the age of 5 and have been a Westin pro staff for a few years.
Can you tell us about your early days in fishing?
As I said, I started fishing at the age of 5. I was lucky enough to grow up near the Saône and to have both my grandfathers fishing. So I was taken to the water's edge at a very early age. Of course, they practised traditional fishing techniques: jigging to catch live fish and a rod or two to hope to catch a predator.
As I grew up, I was also able to accompany them to the banks of first-class rivers to fish for trout with spoons. Things quickly evolved and I became addicted to lure fishing. At 15, I had my own float tube, which I carried in the trailer of my scooter! Then, when I was 18 and had my license, I quickly installed a trailer hitch on my car to go and get my first boat, an Armor 320!
When, how and why did you agree to be pro-staff?
So I returned to Westin in 2020. But the story with the brand goes back much further. It began with a meeting on the water with Philippe Baran. He was running a blog at the time and I already knew him virtually. We hit it off and he gave me a Westin lure, a Ricky the roach. This lure won me over straight away and I caught a lot of pike with it. So I got interested in the brand's other lures, fished with them and liked them a lot. I shared a few photos, but nothing more.
Then came an in-store meeting with Rémi Seigler, a Westin salesman. I was about to leave for a week of fishing in Ireland and he kindly gave me a lure, a Westin Swim 120 perch color, telling me to take it with me in my boxes for my stay. The results were excellent, so much so that I kept the lure as a souvenir. After that, I kept in touch with Rémi and received an offer to be an ambassador for the brand. I liked and fished with Westin lures, I had an affinity with Rémi, and I liked the brand's serious image. When I was given the opportunity to represent the brand, I was naturally delighted to accept.
What does being an ambassador mean to you?
It means a lot, representing the image of a brand. I have to know the products in the range inside out. And, of course, to give of my time. Whether at in-store events or at the water's edge, I take the time to talk to people. I try to respond as best I can to requests, while being as honest as possible. We don't have everything in the range, so if I can't meet a specific request with Westin products, I'll say so rather than disappoint an angler with a product that isn't perfectly suited to his needs.
What's your fondest memory, or an anecdote from your time as a pro staffer, to share with our readers?
I have many, but if I had to remember one it would be shooting a video for a new decoy Westin with Rémi (the jerkbite). It was an exceptional day, everything came together. The satisfaction of having been able to shoot great images, a superb day's fishing with playful fish and a real moment of sharing with Rémi.
What do you think of fishing in France?
I find that everything is moving very fast in lure fishing. Fishing is being "Americanized", so to speak. Big boats, big screens, big fish... In the end, we're sidelining the vast majority of traditional anglers. Many anglers now take up lure fishing without ever having caught a bleak or a gudgeon. I think we're getting ahead of ourselves.
I'm trying to take a step back from it all, and sometimes I really enjoy simply fishing for perch from the shore with a single rod and a few lures. I appreciate and never forget the simple joys that this passion can bring.
Any advice for anglers who might one day want to join a pro staff team?
The advice I'd give is not to skip any steps. You have to learn to love a brand, its image and its products. Above all, don't race and be ready to do anything for a contract. You also have to be prepared to make certain efforts, to play the game. And above all, you have to be honest with yourself.
Thanks for your time Jérémy, it's been a real pleasure talking to you. I wish you an excellent end of season. All the best.
