Sylvain Garza, fishing guide instructor in the Lot

Discover the portrait of Sylvain Garza, fishing guide instructor in the Lot and specialist in predator fishing.

Hello Sylvain, could you first briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello My name is Sylvain Garza, I am 31 years old, specialist in fishing on the lot and fishing guide for 2 years. I am a multicarnassier fisherman. I follow the seasons and the species to pretty much always catch what's dead and what's cool to do depending on the moment.

Where did your passion for fishing come from?

It came by itself. When I was little, I was already passionate about fish and water. As I grew up a lot by the Lot River and by a stream which is right next to it and flows into the river, I had both trout fishing on one side, fish white and carnivorous on the other. So I was able to continue to satisfy my passion.

And then afterwards I made some fishing buddies and it was gone for life.

Can you tell us about your journey?

Like I said, I was very fond of fishing as a kid. When I was a teenager I continued to the fullest and then when I arrived as a young adult I started competing a bit with quite a few results, including the French team.

I had sponsors, started working for several media, be it video, TV or also writing. And now I decided to make it my job. For that, I simply turned to guidance. I continue the competition a little bit but I eased off a bit. I have indeed launched fully into guiding, that is to say, I take people and I teach them to fish, which I like a lot.

You are very involved in the associative world, can you tell us a little more?

There are two associations that are particularly close to my heart.

The first is black bass France. Black-bass is a fish that I adore and BBF is an association where I have been a member for a very long time. I learned a lot of things there, met people who themselves taught me in return. I'm still a member today and I'm really active when it comes to black bass in my area.

The second is the fishing association in my sector, AAPPMA de Cajarc, of which I am the president. I take care of all that is carnivorous within the AAPPMA. We have a big course on the LOT with almost 30km of river.

I take care of the management of everything that is carna with the management of no-kill courses, the introduction of pike, black bass, pike-perch, the organization of a big float-tube competition , kayak, which in the past was a boat competition. Finally, lots of things to make things happen within AAPPMA and in my corner.

What is your view on the management of fishing in France?

Complicated question! Difficult to respond quickly.

Fishing in France has an associative functioning which has a limit in the sense that the people who find themselves managing the environment are not necessarily experts in the aquatic environment and in fisheries management. So I think it could be much more efficient.

We still have a great territory in France with many rivers in particular. But afterwards there are things that happen and some great deeds. I'm the first to shake things up in my corner and I think I'm not the only one.

It's up to the new generation to get involved and make things happen.

Why did you choose to do this job?

I chose to work as a guide because I really wanted to make fishing my job.

I started by working in particular in the fishing trade. I'm still doing it part time now but I wanted to change and put my skills to good use. I wanted to spend more time on the water and this is the perfect job for that.

For the moment I am enjoying myself and I am happy to share my passion with people every day on my river or on other spots.

What do you like most about guiding?

What I like most about guiding are the meetings. Every fisherman who gets on the boat is different. Every expectation is different and so are the levels. There is always a small challenge to adapt and meet the needs of these people.

That's what I like most, it's those little magical moments of seeing someone catch a beautiful fish or breaking a record. It is not always an exceptional fish, but for this person it becomes very quickly and that is what I find really nice.

What training did you go through?

Basically, I studied economics and management so nothing to do with fishing even if it is useful to me today. Being a fishing guide is also managing your small business.

But today, if you want to do this job, what is important is to pass the BPJEPS. It is a youth and sport diploma that allows you to exercise the profession of fishing guide instructor. For that, there are several centers of instructor guide of fishing in France which allow to pass it. You just need to have the BAC level to be able to register.

This training lasts about a year and allows you to acquire skills in pedagogy, knowledge of people and risks, ecology, fishing, ... And also fishing techniques since it is necessary to master 9 in order to pass your diploma.

You are also involved in the training of fishing guides, right?

Yes indeed. I was asked to return to the place where I was trained as a predator fishing specialist. When the trainees are trained in lure fishing, I work for a week with several guides, like Gael Even who is a little bit the one who gives the themes and who does most of the content. For my part, I work mainly on the water.

What are the main qualities for you to be a good guide?

To be a good guide, you have to be ultra-passionate. In the end, we spend a hell of a lot of time at the water's edge and you have to really love it very much to be able to make it come to life.

I think you also need to have a very deep knowledge of your fishing industry. Knowing how to fish and knowing the spots that did well last year is not enough. I think you have to have a lot of perspective to get a good handle on your subject and never be caught out. Every customer has expectations and you have to be able to meet them on a day-to-day basis even if the river has changed from the day before and even if the conditions are not great.

We have to adapt every day and find solutions every day.

How could Rodmaps help you in your activity?

The great thing about Rodmaps is that it opens up people to discovering destinations. It makes you want to fish by highlighting destinations, services, fishing guides or accommodation.

It allows a person who is quietly at home to wonder what they could do for their vacation, to be able to see great destinations thanks to Rodmaps and to choose something that they will like for their vacation.

Do you have a favorite fish?

My favorite fish is the black bass. What I like about this fish is that it is extremely curious. We have the impression that there is always a way to catch it and with an infinity of lures.

It is really the fish that attacks from the surface to the bottom of the piles of different lures. It's a poison that's capable of a lot of things and there is always a way to catch a black bass. You just have to find it. And that's what's cool.

In fact, there is not this impression unlike a pike which ate not long ago, which is off and at worst will flee at the sight of our lure.

With black bass, there is always a head movement. He will always have this follow-up, this gaze, this movement on the lure and sometimes this little mistake of wanting to taste the lure and that's what I love about this fish.

An anecdote to tell us?

Not long ago, we were guiding around the fishing spot where there were buoys. And then suddenly we saw a buoy which started to move. We approached it and in fact it was a catfish which was attacking the buoy which was a bit shaped like a balloon and which had its jaw stuck on it. He was completely stuck and he couldn't come undone. So we had to save him.

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