Mathieu Romain, fishing guide instructor in Alsace
Discover the portrait of Mathieu Romain, fishing guide instructor in Alsace and specialist in predator and salmonid fishing.
Expert in aquatic environments and fish management, Mathieu Romain is fishing professional since 2010 and Fishing Guide Instructor diploma of the National House of Water and Fishing in Ornans. It is this experience, this love of water, fish and fishing, that he shares more than 200 days a year during his fishing trips and trips.
Hello Mathieu, traditional stage of our interview, could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Good morning all,
My name is Mathieu ROMAIN, almost 31 years old and I have been a Fishing Instructor and Guide for almost 6 years. I have the chance to exercise this profession full time, which was far from being won at the launch of the project and I now enjoy the chance to guide my students throughout the year.
I am based in Alsace, near Colmar and my guide routes in this sector are mainly the Rhine and the bodies of water connected to it for hunting predators, as well as the pretty little rivers of the Vosges mountains when it s it is about fishing for trout.
I also offer tours abroad, in Holland for example, Croatia, Slovenia, Czech Republic ...
Where does your passion for fishing come from?
It's a family story, my father has always been passionate about it and he passed it on to me!
What does fishing mean to you today?
It is an important part of my life, my passion and my work. Therefore, she takes up a huge space and luckily I have understanding friends, family and wife!
I spend more than 200 days a year on or by the water and I will have a hard time doing without.
Do you have a favorite fish?
No, I like fishing and everything that comes close to it. On this same principle I like a lot of fish and types of fishing. Precisely, when we spend a lot of time fishing, it is the diversity of the stalking that keeps us motivated and passionate!
Huchons, pike, catfish, trout, grayling, perch, pikeperch, a nice tench here and there, roaches with orange fins, that's what I like.
What fishing techniques do you offer and in which regions in particular?
I offer all the predator and salmonid fishing techniques, as long as it is lure or fly fishing! I like the artificial (lures / flies) because I find it all the more fun to lure a fish with what it shouldn't eat.
My favorite region is Alsace, where I exercise the majority of my activity, but also the bordering departments of Lorraine and some very pleasant countries for fishing such as Holland (pikeperch and other predators) or Croatia (Danube salmon , trout and grayling), Slovenia (trout), the Czech Republic (especially common grayling).
For those who have never fished in Alsace, could you tell us a little more about your region and what makes it so special?
It is a very diversified region which makes it possible to fish for predators in the plains and to track trout a few kilometers away on the Vosges mountains.
Alsace, the plain, is a paradise for predators and especially pike and catfish. Here we have the remains of the old bed of the Rhine which, although developed today, concentrate among the most beautiful populations of predators in France. The densities of pike are incredible (Plobsheim lake for example) and some reach enormous sizes. My record is 1m26 but some friends have already exceeded 1m30… Something to fantasize about for a few more years!
In addition, our climate is exceptional and it is often very beautiful and hot in summer (winter is another story). And we have landscapes and gastronomy that it is no longer necessary to advertise. Good living what!
Why did you choose to do this job?
Precisely out of passion, for fishing but above all for rivers and fish. Nature has always animated me and I could not conform to working away from it. After studying ecology / biology, I started my career as a project manager in a fishing federation. It was a good start but too frustrating for me, observing that our country was not yet ready to make the necessary efforts to improve the quality of our rivers. So I wanted to work as close as possible to fishermen to have, without pretension, the possibility of transmitting the love of rivers and the desire to protect them.
What appeals to you the most today in your job as a fishing guide?
It is precisely to be able to transmit my passion, the technique of course, but not only. Being a fisherman is also understand what's going on under and around water and love it, understand fragility and do everything to ensure that it lasts.
And to see the sincere smile of my students when they are successful in fishing, that is priceless!
How do you see the profession of fishing guide guide evolving?
The fact of using the services of a guide seems to be democratizing from year to year. At the same time the guides are becoming more professional and the training courses are more and more exemplary. I hope it will last because that is what will offer a bright future to our profession.
At the same time, it's a complicated job even if the public face (guiding) is rather nice.
Physically on the one hand (my young back already shows too often), getting up early, carrying / pushing heavy loads (boat, motor, etc.), little time off (if any) during the high season, walking tens of kilometers, stand for hours on a boat in waves, rain, heatwaves, etc.
On the other hand, having to be multi-card while managing a real company, finding customers, retaining them, managing your equipment, accounting ... It is a real job which often seems invisible but which must be done in addition to guidance. Especially since the guides, as in my case, often work alone.
And then we are subject to the vagaries of fishing, sometimes it bites, sometimes not at all even when giving everything we can, it can be morally complicated in these cases.
Many have already thrown in the towel because of this but I personally think that the game is worth the candle!
What is your type of clientele? What are they looking for behind your offers?
I have a very diverse clientele, which I prefer to call my students. Of all ages too. Some come to learn technically, others to understand fish. Sometimes it's just to spend a nice day fishing, for some the opportunity to make a fish they have dreamed of for a long time, to use top-of-the-range equipment.
In any case, I'm really lucky to have students with whom we always spend superb days, whether it bites or not for that matter.
How do these people hear about you?
Social networks, my website (www.prestapeche.com) and now that the activity has been going on for a few years, a lot of word of mouth. The best advertising in our field!
You take care of your communication yourself, don't you? Is it at the expense of something else?
Yes, I prefer to take care of it myself because it is in my opinion difficult to convey the message that you want if it is translated by someone else. It is to the detriment of my free time especially. For example, it takes a lot of time to take photos, sort them, choose the right times to publish them, etc.
What qualities do you think are required to be a good guide?
The patience and the rigor are in my opinion the two main qualities of a good guide.
You have to love people too! We spend our time with fishermen (or future fishermen), whom we sometimes do not know at all (this changes over the years because the faithful students often come back) and it is therefore essential to enjoy communicating with them. I don't think you can learn it, it's a character trait you have to have.
And of course, you have to master your area of expertise: fishing and fish.
Do you have any future projects you would like to tell us about?
For the moment my activity is developing well with new techniques such as catfish tracking, trips to Holland in the fall and I rent fully equipped boats to fish on the Plobsheim lake, the largest lake in the region. region. We will see what the future holds 🙂
What is your fondest fishing memory?
I have a lot of them and really it would be difficult to give just one. Rather than the big fish, my fondest memories are those of days of fishing where everything goes well, laughs, we take fish, the aperitif is good and the meal too. Not too hot, not too cold, with friends or with family, that's what I like. Take for example, the last time with my father on a boat. A fine rain but a good 20 ° C, pike that hit well for 30 minutes on large lures, the excitement of fishing and the pleasure of being together… the best!
What is also your fondest memory as a guide?
There too there are a few and to reveal only one would be a shame. So not to talk only about fishing, let's say that it is the day when I had, years ago, my first reservation. A real moment of pleasure where the adventure finally began.
A message to pass on to those who would like to discover fishing in Alsace and the Vosges or elsewhere?
Do not hesitate to contact me, I am sure that we can have a good day of stalking together!
To the pleasure, Mathieu ROMAIN
Discover Mathieu Romain's guiding offers:
Predator fishing course in Alsace with Mathieu Romain
Recognized throughout Europe for its impressive pike population, the Plobsheim lake and its 700 ha of habitats favorable to predators, are one of my favorite playgrounds for large pike fishing!
Fly fishing course in the Alsatian foothills with Mathieu Romain
The Alsatian Piedmont has an exceptional wild brown trout population and a multitude of facies, each more interesting than the next. Each section brings its share of new veins of water to prospect and trout to fish.
Useful links to get to know Mathieu Romain and his profession better:
About The Author
Rodmaps
Rodmaps is above all the story of Nicolas and Matthieu, two friends passionate about fishing. Since our childhood, our passion drives us to travel through France and to travel around the world in search of adventure and trophy fish. Through Rodmaps, we want to share our passion for fishing with as many people as possible and make people discover the joys of this sport around us, because yes, fishing is a sport!