Of course, first category rivers and lakes are now closed to fishing. However, there are several options open to anglers: find a reservoir close to home that will allow you to fish with flies or lures, or organize a fishing trip abroad.
Reservoir fly fishing
One of the first reflexes for fly fishermen who can't go nearly 6 months without whipping, is to go trout fishing in fly tanks . Of course, we're not talking about wild trout, but this type of fishing is technically very interesting, and requires specific equipment and flies. Reservoirs give you the opportunity to train during the off-season, keeping certain reflexes, with the pleasure of being able to go to the water's edge with friends. Ask your local AAPPMA, fishing federation or fly club for details. There's probably a fly tank not far from where you live.
Lure fishing in reservoirs
Reservoir fishing isn't just for flies. An increasing number of lakes are now open to lure fishing. This is a technical type of fishing, practised with dedicated rods and lures. Ultra-light models are generally the preferred choice when "portioned" rainbows of around 30 centimetres populate the reservoir, for powers of up to 5 grams. On the lure side, small wobbling spoons, crankbaits and swimming fish, soft lures in reduced format fitted with single barbless hooks are favoured. Fishing here is no-kill, with minimal handling of the fish.
Area fishing comes to us from Japan and seems to be becoming more and more popular in France. Numerous competitions and dedicated waters are springing up all over France, meeting the expectations of French anglers attracted to lure fishing.
Fishing abroad
It's not the right time of year to travel far and wide to fish for trout in the other hemisphere, for example. Yet South America and Oceania are the stuff of dreams for many anglers. Without thinking that far ahead, and without pulverizing our annual carbon footprint, it's often possible to cross a nearby border to find year-round salmonid fishing grounds.
For example, many anglers from the south of France cross the Pyrenees every year to fish some of Catalonia's famous rivers.
Some year-round trout runs in France
Closer to home, and without having to get on a plane, it is sometimes possible to find trout runs open during the winter months in second-category sectors run by the local AAPPMA and the departmental fishing federation. These are often stretches of river that do not offer any major ecological interest for fish reproduction, particularly for trout or pike, and which local managers have decided to transform into specific courses to develop fishing leisure activities. In all cases, it's a good idea to find out about the regulations in force.
Of course, on this type of course, the aim is not to find wild brown trout! And while it's important to remember that respecting the fish spawning season is an absolute priority, this type of course allows some of us to have some fun on the water's edge while waiting for the famous opening in March.
