Here we are. We went down from the Centre Region to Auvergne to test the new guiding products of Geoffray Begard and more particularly the fishing of the Allier in Drift Boat, a new concept in France. For this 3 ème and last day, and even if we let as much time as possible to the Allier to find a more welcoming face for this descent, the flow remains three times higher than normal and the water is chewed up. The conditions are not optimal but that will not prevent us from living an extraordinary experience!
Origins and principle of the Drift Boat
The origins of the Drift Boat are American. This approach is initially used on the salmonid rivers of North and South America on three types of Drift boats: fishing raft, cataraft (2 banana pudding) and drift boat type dory (wood or aluminum). To drift means "to drift" in English, the principle of Drift Boat fishing is to fish in drift, to start from a point upstream and to go down to a point located downstream without using a motor, the boat being maneuvered by the oar by the guide positioned in the center of the boat. We might as well say it, it is a sporty guidance! Although we drift with the current and Geoffray rarely stops the boat, he is quite capable of slowing it down when approaching the right spots. On the other hand, as you will have understood, it is impossible to go back. The guide has to anticipate and the fishermen too, so as not to waste their casts.
Focus on the Drift Boat of Geoffray Begard
The Drift Boat of Geoffray Begard on which you will have the pleasure to be guided is of Raft type. It is a Raft to which is associated an aluminum structure to which are fixed 2 swivelling seats for the fishermen provided with railings allowing to fish in full safety. Like all Rafts, this boat is characterized by its shallow draft (15 cm), its flexible and very resistant design offering the ability to bend on itself, to deform, and thus to remain perfectly stable in waves of 1.50 m or more. A truly all-purpose boat and ideal for this practice.
As far as equipment is concerned, nothing can be left to chance on this type of guidance, no question of losing an oar for example and that is why they are connected to a strap. Also, and even if wearing a life jacket is of course mandatory, Geoffray always carries a Throw Line in the boat, i.e. a floating line that can easily be thrown to 15-20m if a person on board should fall into the water.
Finally, Geoffray will be able to offer you to store some of your personal belongings in his hPa baggage 100% waterproof and the electronic enthusiasts will be able to count on Geoffray's Garmin Ice Kit to collect information concerning the behaviour of the fishes on the pits of the course.
An immersion descent
Geoffray proposes several courses on the Allier (the Dordogne and the Tarn also) and for this descent we will launch at the level of Vichy for a descent of 10 km. The species usually targeted are chub, trout, perch, pike, asp and catfish. Given the conditions, we do not rule out anything but fishing for catfish and pike in the backwaters seems the most appropriate. Overall, it depends on the levels and flows, but the average depth of the course is between 1.20 and 1.50 m with pools up to 5 m.
So here we are, mainly looking for these two fish by fishing in a complementary way, my father on a rather light approach with crankbait and me on a heavier approach with shad. And it is my father who will decide the first and the only fish of this descent but it will have occupied us one moment! Between the strength of the fish, the current, the flow associated with the light equipment used, this nice catfish of the Allier river made us travel (that's the term!) during not less than 45 minutes the fish deciding, exactly when he wanted, to make a pause on the bottom in the middle of the juice to take back forces. In this little game, the performance of the guide takes a particular meaning because the success is due in great part to his perfect knowledge of the place, his capacity to transmit the good information to the fisherman without taking the rod in hand, to anticipate the movements of the fish and correctly to skipper the boat and believe me, in the conditions which we knew, it was not an easy task! A single rise of the fish upstream and the game was lost... But the fish will end up posing for a small photo session.
Docking for photographic purposes was just in time for the lunch we shared on an island before getting back on track. Unfortunately, we were caught in a rather violent storm (a perfect opportunity to test the perfect waterproofness of the brand new Illex Rain Suit!) forcing us to stop fishing in the afternoon for obvious safety reasons. Don't worry, Geoffray will always make sure to offer you the most favorable time to go out. In normal circumstances, he would not have gone out in these conditions, wishing to guarantee the best possible fishing result.
An anecdotal discipline in France
As far as we are concerned, if the result was not up to what the Allier can offer, the experience was total to the point of wondering why this discipline is so little developed in France. When the question is asked to the main person concerned, the answer is: " This is quite logical because such an approach requires rivers that lend themselves to it, with large volumes of water but not too much for the water to run. Globally, in France, this type of profile corresponds to rivers of 1 era category on which it is forbidden to fish from a boat, which considerably limits the Drift possibilities in France. "You will have understood, if the experience tempts you, rare are the French Fishing Instructors Guides proposing this type of service and Geoffray Begard is one of them!
Practical information
Geoffray Begard
info@fishing-in-france.pro
0671781209
