Fly Fishing in France

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Nice Brooky - Club Mouche November 1998

The Rules License Requirements Fly Fishing Oppourtunities Sure Bets Fly Shops

One of our favorite fly fishing destinations in France is the Club Mouche. Located just south of Verdun the Club Mouche du Domaine de Sommedieue offers great year round fishing, atmosphere, and fun in the French countryside (very private). With 10 acres of lakes and 3.5 kilometers of stream stocked with rainbow and brown trout and char, and on site facilities that include a club house, hotel, and restaurant, this is an all inclusive destination. Typical trips include all meals and lodging. Well, you pay for beverages and any other extras.

The Rules. There are really no public trout or salmon fishing waters in France. Public waters do exist, but they are usually canals or navigable rivers with the rougher fish such as Pike, Walleye, and Catfish. Either an individual or group owns the fishing rights to every really good trout or salmon stream, river, lake, or pond. In addition to buying a French fishing license, you must pay that individual or group for a daily, weekly, or monthly permit to fish. A daily permit can be obtained directly from the water rights holders and information can usually be found at the local tourist office.

Trout season generally opens around the first of May and ends in October. Some fishing rights holders adjust dates based on when the fish begin to spawn. There are a few areas that are open year round to include the Club Mouche near Verdun. Although there are national and state guidelines on seasons and limits, the individual water rights holder has the ability to set his or her own rules based on the their fish. Catch and release fishing is getting more and more common, but night fishing is not allowed.

License Requirements. You need a license to fish public and most private waters in France. There are some private destinations that do not require a license at all. More good news! There is no testing requirement in France. A French license will cost around 100 EUROs ($ 60 depending on the exchange rate) and can bought at the regional fishing office.   The local French Tourist Office can and will provide assistance in locating the nearest office where you can purchase your license. If you want to fish for Salmon the price of a license will more than double. A single day or week license will be little cheaper, but who knows you may want to come back.

Finding Fly-Fishing Opportunities. There are both public and private rivers, streams, and lakes that can be fished.    Rivers and streams are generally categorized as either type 1 or 2. Category 1 waters are generally trout and salmon waters while category 2 waters contain more rough fish.   The local tourist office should be able to help out here too with maps, information, and more. Most of the maps, and handouts show all the fishable waters in either red (1) or blue (2), and indicate whether they are private or public.

Now, how do you find a place to fly fish in France? Permits may be obtained at private homes, fishing stores, city halls, hotels, and bed and breakfast operations. Sometimes you have to be guest in a local hotel to have access to the town or hotel owned private waters. Many places will sell daily, weekly, or monthly passes. Local fishing stores ("Peche" is fish in French) can help you locate the water rights holders for private waters and assist you purchasing a permit to use the waters.

The Pęche Aričge is a fishing association in the Aričge region of the Pyrenees that has a list of certified hotels, B&Bs and campgrounds that cater to fly fishermen. Each "certified" location will have at least 3 km of waters, and owners that can assist you in your fly fishing needs.   Pęche Aričge accommodations are available from a local tourist office in the region.

Some of the best salmon fishing in France can be found in the Western Pyrenees on the Gave d'Oloron River. The towns of Oloron, Sauveterre and Navarrenx are good start off points. Feeder rivers including the Gave d'Aspe and Gave de Pau are also good for salmon. Look for access in the towns of Lurbe, Peyrehorade, and Pau. Salmon also run up the rivers Gaves d'Ossau and de Nive. Because of melting snow, the season begins late (June thru August).

Another good source of information on locations is a website called www.gourmetfly.com, and for a slight fee they will assist you in setting up and booking your trip. I've found their site useful in locating great fishing waters.

Some Sure Bets. You've seen the big praise for the Club Mouche, and we will give it some more. From beginner to the experienced fly fisher, these great fly-fishing waters will challenge and surprise you. Beginners will find the location perfect for learning to cast and catch some the biggest fish of your life. The experienced must use cunning and stealth to catch the selective trout cruising the shores.

Salmon fishing is really good in the Normandy and Pyrenees regions. Most major rivers that flow into the Atlantic will have a Salmon run. Generally the season runs from March to the middle of July. Check with the local tourist office for the exact dates. The Loire River and its tributaries is a major Salmon fishery for France - over 800 kilometer in length. In the Brittany region, the Elle River is also very popular. The "Loge Coucou" is one of the more famous stretches of the Elle River (between the towns of La Logue Coucou and Le Quinquis just north of Lorient. Its mostly private and the season runs from 15 June to 14 July. You can make arrangements through the local fishing club (A.A.P. du Faouet) in La Faouet or with the regional fishing office. In the Pyrenees region Salmon run the Gaves d'Oloron. Salmon can also be found on the Gaves d'Ossau and the Nive rivers.

For those so inclined, you can even fish for the European variety of Black Bass in France. In the Southwest, the Lot River near Cahors is reported to be excellent along with the rivers Gironde, Dordogne, and Landes. In the southern parts of France, the Garonne near Toulouse, the canal between Aramon and Vallabreques, the Tarn River, and the Lot River have a significant number of Bass. In the southeast, the Rhone River is known as the premier Bass fishery in the region. In Burgundy, the Saone and the Seille Rivers have the same reputation.

Going to be in Normandy? You may want to check out the Etangs de Bernay. Visit their website at www.normandy-fishing.com, or the English and German translations at www.salmoniculture-de-normandie.fr. For more information contact info@salmoniculture-de-normandie.fr.

Fly and Fishing Shops. This is a tough one, because I rarely visit the fly shops in France. Obviously, the Club Mouche has equipment on hand to replace shortage and most of the other major fly fishing centers will have equipment and supplies available.

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