Louis Tchertoff was born in Oxford, UK and brought up in Paris, France. He has been a passionate fisherman since the age of four. Following his studies at the University of St Andrews he started his career as Product Manager and Marketing Director for Daiwa France. He then went on to manage the Rapala-Normark-Ragot group of companies. He presently manages his own business: Nomad Limited, a Hong Kong company. Louis has two sons, Nicolas 21 & Laurent 19 and lives with his Thai partner Tammy. He was the President of EFTTA and EFTTEX from 1999 to 2004 and has 20 years of international experience in the Fishing Tackle Trade. Louis caught his first fish at the age of 4, taught fishing by his father Robin, also a passionate fisherman.
Youth school holidays spent fishing and hunting in Britany, France.
Fresh water float fishing, coastal sea fishing.
Made his own tackle, fishing rods and lures.
Fishing trip to the West Coast of Ireland with his father in the summer of 1978 following his success at the Baccalaureat in Paris. Fly fishing for brown trout and sea trout.
In 1978, whilst on a stay at the Aberdeen Marine Laboratory, he discovers trout fishing in the wild lochs of the West of Scotland.
During his studies at St Andrew’s University in Scotland, he becomes a member of the University Fishing Club and is taught Upstream Dry Fly Trout Fishing by his friend Ian Macmaster, a great Scottish Fly Fisherman.
Fishing the Eden river, the Tay, the Esk, the Don, the Dee and many wild mountain lochs on fishing and camping expeditions to the mountains of Scotland.
Back to France in 1986, re-discovering fishing in Britany for Pollack, Sea Bass, Mackerel, specializing in Coastal Sea Spinning.
In 1987, starts working for Daiwa France S.A. as a salesman and part-time product manager.
Promoted to Product Manager in 1988, in charge of the development of the specialized fishing tackle range for the French market.
Experiences Competition Fresh Water Float Fishing in the Normandy rivers and lakes.
Experiences Carp fishing with the Mahin Brothers, Surf Casting for Cod with Paul Kerry on the east coast of England.
Discovers Big Game Fishing during two trips to Dakar, Senegal catching Sailfish and Dorados at the Homme No1, Concours de Peche a l’Espadon.
Experiences Dead Bait Pike fishing with Jacques Chavanne.
These experiences lead to his development of the Samurai and Shogun range of Daiwa fishing rods, two legendary fishing rod classes of the Daiwa brand in Europe.
In 1992, he moves to the Algarve and starts fishing the cliffs of Carapateira and Sagres, Bottom Fishing of the coast, Surf Casting on the beaches, Bass Fishing in the great lakes.
Starts teaching fishing to his two sons, Nicolas and Laurent.
He successfully invents and launches the Hiro Brand of fishing tackle in Portugal.
In 1994, he moves to Brittany to manage the Normark-Rapala Group in France, managing Ragot, S.A., manufacturing lures exported to 44 countries and distributing Shimano Tackle in France.
Fishing regularly for Sea Bass with Ange Porteux, Bernard Dorso and Jean Claude Nicolle, also fishing for Salmon, Trout and Pike.
Fishing trip to the Canary Islands for Amberjack.
He takes his management team to Guinea-Bissau for Light Tackle Surface Lure Sea Spinning catching Jack Crevalle, Barracuda, Red Snapper, Pompano and a 240Kg Bull Shark.
In 1997 he moves back to the Algarve, continuing the development of the Propesca group, catches his first Algarve White Marlin in 1998; a pro-active participant in all the Big Game Fishing Tournaments of the Algarve from that day.
Main Sponsor, Tavira-Shimano Trophy 1999.
Winning team, 1st day, Tavira-Shimano Trophy 1999.
In 2000, he travels to the Namibian jungle, Mozambique and South Africa for the EFFTA TV program: The Sportfishing Challenge 2000, catching Tigerfish, and Giant Trevally.
He also travels to Costa Rica hooking Rooster Fish, Kubera Snapper, Dorado, Jack Crevalle and Tarpon.
Fishing trip to Graciosa, Canary Islands with his two sons, spring 2001.
2nd place, Tavira-Shimano Trophy 2001,
Main Sponsor, The Rapala Trophy, G.N. Olhao 2001.
Big Game Fishing consultancy trip together with Capt. Helder Ferreira to the Ilha das Rolas, Sao Tome and Principe, autumn 2001.
Commissions and launches together with Capt. Helder Ferreira the wonderful MV Jose Batista: A revolutionary Charter Sportfishing Vessel especially conceived for the year round exploration of multiple Sea Fishing techniques, based in Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal.
1st Place, Mustad Zuca Sesimbra Shark Fishing Tournament, summer 2002
Official Sponsor, World Freshwater Fishing Championships, Coimbra autumn 2002
Fishing Trip, Cabo-Verde Islands, autumn 2002
November 12th 2002: Presentation to the Committee on Fisheries of the European Parliament
1st Place, Mustad Zuca Sesimbra Shark Fishing Tournament, summer 2003
Founder and Vice-President of AGUA SELVAGEM, Associacao da Pesca Desportiva in Portugal.
2004: Hiro exhibits at EFTTEX in London
2005: The Hiro brand is launched on the European market.,
Louis catches a 262 Kg Blue Marlin off the coast of the Algarve.
2006: Hiro exhibits at EFTTEX in Warsaw
Sales are established and growing in 12 European countries
Second trip to Guinea-Bissau for Field testing of Hiro products.
Filming, photos, all used for future promotion of the Hiro brand.
The Hiro brand becomes World Boat Angling CIPS champion 2006-2007 with Rui Gomes, who uses 100% Hiro tackle.
October 2006, Hiro voted Best New Product at UK Tackle and Guns show
2007: Hiro is exported to 14 countries and enters Middle East and South American markets.
Algarve Blue Marlin, 275Kg, caught by his son Laurent, 16.
Louis now manages his own business: Nomad Limited, a Hong Kong sourcing and design company.
Find out more at: http://nomadhk.wordpress.com/
