THE BIG INTERVIEW: RAPALA’S MARK FISHER FIELD OF DREAMS
Chris L: Mark, it’s been a long while since I first met you on a Rapala trip to Finland, I remember we didn’t do very well with fishing, but did OK on the beer front. How did you get to work for the World’s biggest lure fishing company?
MArK: Classically, the right place at the right time. Tom Mackin President of Rapala USA, has been a longtime friend. In his previous position as VP of Marketing,
he one day asked if I would be interested in coming to work for Rapala… I responded by asking how soon I could get started! 15 years later we’re still good friends and having the time of our lives.
Chris L: I guess many people think you have a dream job, not only do you get to sell Rapala lures, you get to use them too, you’re a regular competitor in tournaments in the USA, do you think that deep understanding makes a difference to selling fishing tackle?
MArK: In my current role at Rapala, I actually assist with the development of lures. Certainly time on the water and talking with fellow anglers has made a big difference in how you approach the challenges fishing offers, whether you are trying to catch them or trying to develop a new lure concept. Good days on the water as well as the
frustrating days are all meaningful… you just have to stay focused and solve the puzzle.
Chris L: As a matter of interest, just how many Rapala lures are sold in the USA? Is there a spread right across all of the states, or are there hot spots for certain lures, say Florida or Hawaii for sea fishing lures?
MArK: It’s hard to say exactly how many here in the USA, however, we typically use 20 million lures sold worldwide as our benchmark. The USA has a mix of freshwater fishing in
lakes, rivers and streams, including saltwater inshore and offshore. Certainly, a wide variety of species create a need for many types of lures designed for specific uses, time of year and chosen methods whether casting or trolling, it’s what makes developing new lures such a good fun and challenging occupation.
Chris L: Most of us who have been fishing lures for a long time in Europe, still think we have a lot to learn from the USA, do you see the skill gap in lure fishing tackle and techniques shortening?
MArK: Great question Chris. I have fished with some very good anglers in Europe and they, like us in the USA are driven by three things… passion, willingness to learn more and to simply have fun enjoying the outdoors. Techniques are learned and skills need
time on the water to be developed. I think the spirit in anglers creates the need for finding new ways to catch fish. No, I really don’t see much of a gap any longer. I do see the modern angler of today becoming exposed to more opportunities than ever before, in terms of venues and species.
CHRIS LEIBBRANDT
Chris has been a predator and lure fishing angler since the age of seven and that’s longer than he cares to admit! Best known for pike and lure fishing, although a bit of an angling all rounder, Chris is a former General Secretary of the Pike Anglers’ Club of Great Britain, and the Lure Anglers’ Society where he is a life Vice President. With over twenty years in the tackle trade, Chris describes himself as a marketeer, designer, writer, angler, sage, raconteur and wit.
Chris L:Lures fishing has gone crazy in the last ten years, probably because more people are trying it and finding out just how much fun it can be, catching more and trying harder, success breeds success, but do you see other factors that have caused this growth?
MArK: Absolutely, anglers are more demanding today and have become better informed about what’s out there and what really works. They want to catch fish and they want to feel good about what lure, line, rod and reel they chose to fish with. Lures in general or those created for specific needs, must function correctly and catch fish. That’s our real mission: to make that
angler feel good about our products and have confidence using them. Which in nearly every case is about quality and quality control, something Rapala has in its DNA.
Chris L: The inaugural World Predator Classic had as a main prize, a fabulous Nitro Z6 fishing boat with a 115hp Mercury engine and a host of Navionics and Raymarine technology. To most of us in Europe, owning a boat like that is a dream, but it’s an essential part of USA competition angling. Owning boats like this, is it the biggest leap forward we can make to compete?
MArK: What a great prize package! These respected brands are no strangers to competitive fishing. They totally understand what it means to the competing anglers by showing their support to the WPC. Certainly, having a quality boat package is
critical not only for the performance aspects at these type of events, but for safety of the anglers, care of the fish and the dependability of returning at the end of the day.
Chris L: It seems to me that many of the big competitions are held on enormous (well, for a Englishman, anyway) waters. Does fishing these vast expanses successfully rely a different set of rules on say, weather, barometric pressure, water temperature and topography?
MArK: I think most anglers enjoy the challenges that a ‘big water’ offer. One end of the system can fish entirely
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Fishing is the easiest part of being a professional angler .. Professional tournament anglers are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet
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WORLDPREDATORCLASSIC.COM
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