News

A museum is to be set up at Rapala VMC’s French base honouring Hubert Guillois, who played a key role in the French fishing tackle market in the 1970s and 1980s and the Ragot family.

The news was announced on what would have been Hubert’s 85^th birthday in March. Sadly, he passed away a year ago but his legacy lives on.

Hubert and the Ragot family made an extraordinary contribution to the world of angling, leaving behind a legacy built on innovation, passion, and almost 100 years of great inventions.

In memory of this remarkable history, a museum will be established at Rapala VMC, Morvillars, France, the company that proudly took over the business and continues to honour and preserve its legacy.

After spending time abroad, he returned to France to help his father-in-law, André, manage the company he had founded. As an avid angler himself, it was a perfect fit for Ragot Mouche – a small but highly esteemed fishing tackle business.

In no time, Hubert transformed the business from a freshwater fly-fishing company into a major import/export enterprise, introducing numerous prestigious brands to the French market, including Rapala, Cortland, Plano and Shimano while also becoming a renowned manufacturer.

Among his creations was the iconic Raglou in 1971 and he went on to develop many more alongside Victor Borlandelli, Ange Porteux, Jean-Marc Lanchier, and many others.

After selling the company to Rapala in 1991, Hubert and wife Dominique set sail, embarking on new adventures, many of which were contained in his recently published memoirs.

His mantle is also being carried forward by Hubert’s daughter, Marianne Guillois Honey, and her husband, Ross Honey, through a UK-based community boat project called Angling Spirit, ensuring that this proud heritage continues to inspire future generations.

Ross said: “This museum will stand as a tribute not only to Hubert, but to the many great inventions and achievements of the Ragot family over nearly a century.”