Whether you just want a day's fishing, or to go
out every day for two weeks, many areas of France offer
interesting fishing. For fly-fishing for trout or
grayling, try the river La Sorgues in Provence, the
upper reaches of the Dordogne River, or the lovely
mountain rivers of the Pyrenées Atlantiques. You can
also fly-fish for Black Bass in the river Lot, and Shad
on the western part of the River Dordogne and the River
Charente. Coarse fishing offers some of the best fishing
in France and is available in most departments of
France, but especially in the Dordogne, Charente
Maritime, Landes and Lot, where Catfish, Pike, Carp etc
are plentiful. There are also opportunities to go sea
fishing off the coast of Charente Maritime, Landes and
Pyrenées Atlantiques.
Fishing Permits
Remember to
check the fishing seasons for the fish in which you are
interested and don't forget to buy a fishing permit or
'Carte de Pêche'. Rivers and ponds in France are divided
into 1st and 2nd Category (1er et 2eme Categorie)
waters. The principal distinction is that on 1st
Category waters you need to have an extra stamp on your
permit, mainly in order to fish for trout and the other
salmonides. This distinction is rendered irrelevant by
the holiday fishing permit (Carte de Pêche de Vacances),
which covers all types of fish and both categories of
water. Rivers are patrolled by gendarmes and by
guardians de pêche to ensure that anglers have one.
The Carte de Pêche de Vacances covers you for 15
consecutive days and currently costs about 28 euros and
can be used between 1st June and 30th November.
After 30th November and before 1st June an annual
fishing permit is obligatory. This currently costs about
60 euros though prices vary from department to
department. It may be used for the whole year but only
in one department. You can add another 45 departments,
effectively covering all the areas we cover in
continental France by purchasing a stamp currently
costing about 16 euros. This is the stamp of the Club
Halieutique. Please note that fishing seasons change
slightly every year. For all fresh water fishing you
will need a fishing permit. Fishing is allowed during
the season from half an hour before dawn to half an hour
after sunset.
Fishing in Charente
Maritime
Charente Maritime is a large
department and offers many different sorts of fishing.
Those keen on river fishing will be attracted to the
channels and tributaries which drain the Charente
wetlands into the large Charente river, and where
fishing is almost always authorised. A fishing permit is
required. La Sèvre Niortaise, in the north of the
department is the main river, winding through the Marais
Poitevin, also called Venise Verte. It is a slow, deep
river, known for its eel, white fish and carnivores. In
the centre of the Charente Maritime, the River Charente
is tidal for some distance inland and is a good habitat
for large specimens of carps, pike and perch. There are
also bream, roach and bleak. Mullet come in from the
sea. In May and June shad swim up river to breed.
The River Boutonne, close by St Jean d'Angély is
classified as a 1st category river, and provides good
fishing in the spring but not is not recommended in
summer. On the west side of the department, on the River
Seudre and the many canals of the coastal wetlands of
Rochefort, Marennes and the Gironde estuary there are
many ideal places for fishing, especially for crayfish.
In the south of the department the river is very clear
and is well known for its pike and the beauty of its
confluence with the Charente. You do not need a permit
for sea fishing. The sea fishing off La Rochelle, Ile de
Ré, Ile d'Oléron, and is excellent. You can go fishing
at night, even during the summer months to catch bass
off the Ile de Ré or Royan, and conger and skate off La
Rochelle. Ile Madame is the best place for
mussels.
Fishing seasons in
Charente Maritime
Please note that
fishing seasons change slightly every year. For all
fresh water fishing you will need a fishing permit.
Fishing is allowed during the season from half an hour
before dawn to half an hour after sunset. Carp may be
fished 24 hours a day but at night only on specially
prepared and precisely delineated boats. The other
exception to this rule is for eel being fished without a
hook but on what the French call a boul de verre, in
which case you may fish for eel until midnight.
- Pike: The season for pike is from the 1st January
to the last Sunday of
- January and from the 3rd Saturday in April till
the first 31 December. Pike less than 50 cms have to
be returned to the water alive.
- Shad: The season for shad is from 1st February to
30 June inclusive. In practical terms they are most
likely to be in the rivers during May and June. Shad
less than 30 cms have to be returned to the water
alive.
- Trout: On the Sèvre Niortaise, Charente, Boutonne
and Seudre the season for trout is from the 2nd
Saturday in March to the 3rd Sunday in September
inclusive. Trout less than 25 cms have to be returned
to the river alive. The limit of the take home catch
is 6 trout per person per day all other fish have to
be returned to the water alive.
- All other fish: Provided that you have a fishing
permit, all other fish can be fished year round. Black
Bass less than 23 cms have to be returned to the water
alive. Zander less than 40 cms have to be returned to
the water alive. Sea
- Lampreys less than 40cms have to be returned to
the water alive. River Lampreys less than 20cms have
to be returned to the water alive. Mullet less than 20
cms have to be returned to the water alive.
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Fishing on the River Dordogne
From
Argentat to Beaulieu the river is cleanest, and is
particularly interesting because you can fish for
grayling, though there are also trout in this part of
the river. Fishing is most often done from the bank or
by wading. From Beaulieu to Limeuil the river is also
clean, fast flowing, and except in spate, relatively
shallow. This is a good part of the river for trout,
though fishing is usually done in the evening when there
is less activity on the river. You usually fish from the
bank or by wading. From Limeuil westwards the
hydroelectric barrage at Lalinde slows the river down.
It becomes much shallower again then deeper once it
passes Bergerac, after which there is good pike and carp
fishing. Shad also comes up the river Dordogne as far as
Bergerac. The river Lisle at Monpon Monesterol has a
variety of mostly coarse fish.
Fishing Seasons on the
River Dordogne
Please note that
fishing seasons change slightly every year. You can fish
from half an hour before to sunrise to half an hour
after sunset. In practical terms, for most of June,
July, August and September it will be best to fish from
the late afternoon onwards.
- Grayling: The grayling season is from 13th March
to 21st November inclusive.
- Pike: The Pike season is from the 3rd Saturday in
April to the last Sunday in January. Pike under 50cms
are to be returned to the river.
- Salmon: Salmon fishing is not allowed on the
Dordogne.
- Sea Trout: Sea Trout fishing is not allowed on the
Dordogne
- Shad: From mid May to Mid June.
- Trout: The season opens on the 2nd Saturday of
March and closes on the 3rd Sunday of September. Fish
under 25 cms must be returned to the water alive. You
have the right to take 6 fish per person per day but
fish stocks of the wild fish are unsustainable at this
level so a policy of no kill is encouraged and
appreciated.
- Zander: The season is from the 2nd Saturday in May
to the 3rd Saturday in January.
Fishing on the River
Lot
East of Capdenac down to
Villeneuve sur Lot the river the water is slow and deep
making it an ideal habitat for pike, carp, black bass,
the European catfish (silure) which can reach
significant weights, as well as other coarse fish.
Catfish of up to 10 or 11 kgs are not uncommon and much
larger ones have been reported. Because the banks of
river are often steep and covered in undergrowth a boat
is the best place to fish from on the river Lot. If you
have an your own boat you can use it, though you should
bear in mind that motors over a certain power require a
permit and that there is a speed limit on most of the
River Lot.
- Carp is plentiful, especially around the 10 kg
range, though there are known to be some as large as
30kg.
- Trout: River Dordogne within the Lot Department:
the season opens on 13th of March and closes on 19th
September inclusive.
- Grayling: River Dordogne within the Lot Department
: the season opens on 13th March and closes on 21st
November inclusive.
- Perch, Black Bass, Pike and Zander: The season
opens on 8th May and closes on 31st December
inclusive. On the river Dordogne in the department of
the Lot, trout of less than 25 cms, and on other
streams trout of 23 cms, must be returned to the river
alive.
- All other fish may be fished for on any day of the
year provided that you have a permit. Fishing is from
half an hour before dawn to half an hour after sunset
except for carp for which it is possible to fish at
night.
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Fishing in the
Landes
The Landes offer more than
11 000 hectares of lakes and ponds, 6000 km of 2nd
category courses, 1650 kms of 1st category river or
little streams, many of which fall within the Parc
Naturel Régional, as well as 100 kms of coast from which
to fish. In the south of the department the River Adour
flows south west to wards the sea and the border with
the department of the Pyrenées Atlantiques and close to
the excellent little trout rivers flowing down from the
mountains. You will need a fishing permit. Lakes, Ponds
and streams: There are a huge number of ponds and lakes
in les Landes. Each lake or pond seems to have its own
colour. The large coastal lakes from Seignosse to
Biscarosse are unique. You can fish either from the bank
or from boats with small motors for carp, perch, tench,
pike, black bass or pikeperch.
Sea Fishing: You
can go out in a boat with a local fishing guide to fish
for tuna. Off season, when the beaches are less busy you
can fish for sea bream or bass, surf casting. Surf
casting is becoming increasingly popular in this part of
France.
Fishing
Seasons in the Landes
- Grayling: The season for grayling is 15th May to
19th September on 1st category water and 15th May to
31st September on 2nd category water.
Grayling under 30cms must be returned to the water.
- Perch : The season for Perch on 1st Category
wateris from 13th March to 19th September inclusive
and on 2nd Category water from 1st January to 25th
January and from 17th April to the 31st December.
- Pike: The season for pike on 1st Category water is
13th March to 19th September inclusive and on 2nd
Category water from 1st January to 25th January
inclusive and from 17th April to 31st December
inclusive Pike under 50cms must be returned to the
water.
- Salmon: The season is from 3rd April to 31 July
inclusive. Salmon under 50cms must be returned to the
water. From the 1st of July salmon are only to be
fished on a fly.
- Shad : The season for Shad on 1st category water
is 13th March to 19th September inclusive and from 1st
January to 31st December on 2nd category water. Shad
under 30cms must be returned to the water alive.
- Sea Trout: The season for sea trout is from 3rd
April to 31 July inclusive. Sea Trout under 35cms must
be returned to the water.
- Trout: The season for trout is 13th March to 19th
September. Trout under 23 cms must be returned to the
water.
- Zander: The season for Perch on 1st Category water
is from 13th March to 19th September inclusive and on
2nd Category water from 1st January to 25th January
and from 17th April to the 31st December. Zander under
40 cms must be returned to the water.
- All other fish: The season for all other fish is
from 13th March to 19th September on first Category
waters and all year on second category water.
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Fishing in
Provence
River fishing in the
Vaucluse area of Provence
One of the best trout
rivers is La Sorgues, in the Vaucluse region, between
Isle sur Sorues and Fontaine de Vaucluse. It is also one
of the most beautiful rivers in France. The water gushes
out of a deep fissure at Fontaine de Vaucluse. Whereas
the flow of the other rivers of the region is variable,
La Sorgues is always at a constant level and
temperature. These exceptional characteristics encourage
the fish to grow quickly. It is not unusual to catch a 4
to 5 kg fish. Several trout of over 10kg have been
caught between Fontaine de Vaucluse and Isle sur
Sorgues. 20 kms of La Sorgues is classified as 1st
category. Main species are brown trout and grayling. You
fish from the bank, or wade once the grayling season has
opened.
Fishing seasons on La Sorgues,
Provence
- Grayling: The grayling season on the La Sorgues is
from the second Saturday of May to the second Saturday
of September inclusive. Grayling under 30cms are to be
returned to the river alive.
- Trout: The trout season on the la Sorgues is from
the first Saturday of April to the 2nd Saturday of
September inclusive. Trout under 25cms are to be
returned to the river alive. Please note that wading
is not allowed until the grayling season has opened.
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Fishing on the Southern
Atlantic Coast and Pyrenees Atlantique (Bearn and The
Pays Basque)
The southern part of
Atlantic Coast and the Landes department down to the
Béarn and Adour River, offer a wide range of fishing.
Trout, salmon and grayling fishing is concentrated
largely in the Béarn and Pays Basque, in the rivers
flowing down from the western Pyrenees. Remember you'll
need a fishing permit and that seasons vary from
department to department so check the fishing seasons
before you go. The river system drains the northern
watershed of the Pyrenees, the rivers flowing north
along the valleys eventually joining the Gave de Pau,
which flows into the Adour, which are the two main
arteries of the region. If you are renting a house in
the Pays Basque or the southern part of the Landes and
are interested in fly fishing for trout or grayling we
particularly recommend travelling up these valleys to
the bright, clear mountain streams. They are very
accessible and provide great sport and the scenery is
particularly beautiful. For example from Biarritz to
Bidarray, where the Bastan flows into the Nive is only
30 kms, half an hour at the most.
The Adour
rises to the south of Tarbes and swings around in a wide
curve to the north through the Gers and into the Landes
before flowing south west to Dax and then west of
Peyrehorade is joined by Les Gaves Réunis. From
Peyrehorade to the sea the river forms the border
between the department of Les Landes and the Pyrenées
Atlantiques. It contains a wide range of fish: mullet,
trout, shad, sea trout, carp, eels, pike, the European
cat fish, and lampreys.
The following rivers are
all recommended for trout, sea trout and grayling on a
fly: the Laurhibar, the Orion, and the Petite Nive join
the Nive, which is principally a trout river, at the
Picturesque town of St Jean Pied de Port before flowing
north through the mountains to Biaritz. The Nivelle
rises south of the pretty Basque villages of Sare and
Aihoa and flows north to St Jean de Luz. The Gave
d´Oloron is a confluence of the rivers flowing into it
which join at Ste Marie d´Oloron. It is the site of the
world salmon fishing championships held in May. The Gave
de Pau is a confluence of the mountain streams flowing
down the valleys to the south of Lourdes. From Lourdes
flows northwest to join the Adour as Les Gaves
Réunis.
Fishing
Seasons In The Pyrenees Atlantique (Pays Basque And
Bearn)
- Trout: The trout season is from 13th March to 19th
September inclusive. Fish under 35 cms must be
returned to the river alive. You can keep a maximum of
10 fish. All others must be returned to the water
alive.
- Grayling: The grayling season is from 15th May to
19th September inclusive. Grayling under 20cms must be
returned to the water alive. You can keep a maximum of
10 fish.
- Shad: The season for shad is from 13th March to
19th September with the best months probably being May
and June. Shad under 30cms must be returned to the
water.
- Pike: The season for pike is 13th March to
19th September. Pike under 50 cms must be
returned to the river.
- Salmon: The season for salmon is from 27th June to
30th July in 2004. Normally the season is longer. The
salmon are really only found further east on the Gave
d'Oloron. Salmon under 50cms must be returned to the
river
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