Tributes paid to French industry visionary
Hubert Guillois, credited with helping shape the French fishing tackle market in the 1970s and 1980s, has passed away aged 84, leaving a legacy defined by passion, innovation, and dedication to the angling community.
Born on March 18th, 1940 in Mauron, Hubert passed away on January 14th in Cartagena de los Indias in Colombia but will be remembered for his role in building a major tackle firm, Ragot Mouche, and his legacy looks set to live on in the FreeSpirit initiative.
After achieving an honourable 2nd place at L’École Hôtelière de Paris, Hubert embarked on a remarkable three-year tenure at the Pentagon, although much of it remains a secret – before travelling the world, escaping both the Vietcong army and a man-eating tribe in Papua New Guinea, among others.
Briefly returning to France, Hubert married his sweetheart, Dominique, before setting off once more to explore the world – this time applying his hotel management expertise in Africa and Argentina.
When his father-in-law, André, asked for help managing the company he had founded, Hubert immediately returned to France. Being 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 Ragot Mouche from a primarily fly-fishing and fresh water company into a major import/export enterprise. He introduced 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 Dominique set sail, embarking on new adventures, many of which were contained in his recently published memoirs.
Sharing his vast knowledge on a wide array of topics was not only one of his greatest passions but could also be described as a deep-seated need, especially when it came to passing it on to younger generations.
To honour his memory, the family invites you to take your loved ones, especially the younger ones, on a fishing/crabbing trip and combine it with a litter-picking activity. Share those precious moments using the hashtag #HubertGuilloisLegacy, so the family can see and respond.
Honouring Hubert's passion for the environment, the future of angling, well-being on or around the water and youth, his family have asked people to consider donating to the FreeSpirit initiative, which he helped to conceive.
FreeSpirit initiative is a boat being built specially to enable people of all ages and abilities to enjoy the well-being benefits of the ocean and recreational activities like fishing, while engaging in sustainable practices.
The boat will be based in The Solent, UK along the south coast, directed by his eldest daughter Marianne and son-in-law Ross, lovingly supported by family from Belgium to Colombia.
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