Indirectly, the area is in France since the years 2000. Indeed, many lures from Japan, originally intended and designed for the area, have been diverted from their primary use and have been marketed in France for wild trout or even chub.
The democratization of the area in France
The practice of the area has been talked about since 2018. Under the impulse of Guillaume Vernet or Vincent Petit, the first to propose competitions and distribution of specific equipment to the area, or the firm Illex via Sensas which followed the step and reinforced the idea that it was possible in France. The area is slowly developing, but in addition to the reticence and the mentalities, the practice faces other obstacles, in particular concerning the infrastructures.
Because an area is not only a reservoir as we find many in France (especially for fly fishing). Originally, an area (a "zone") is a piece of water often small and shallow with a homogeneous configuration of banks and bottom. In France, it is paradoxically difficult to find these mini water areas able to welcome and maintain trout with fresh and oxygenated water.
A practice indirectly coming from Japan
Contrary to what one might think, the concept of the area does not come directly from Japan, but rather from Italy and the Eastern European countries. The practice of the area is more common in these European countries with well established competition circuits, a strong supply of equipment, many infrastructure and followers.
The area model in France is therefore more influenced by the Italian model than by the Japanese one.
A necessary change of mentality
In France, the area has encountered several obstacles, including that of the mentality. It is very difficult in France to consider the tracking of rainbow trout as attractive. The ease of many fishermen and to denigrate this fish and to belittle the fishermen who practice the area, the "fishing in basin "âeuros¦ Force is to note that this fishing can prove to be much more technical and delicate than the tracking of wild fish, trout or carnivore included!
Moreover, the area is a real good alternative to catch fish and learn fishing, but it is also a great way to alleviate the fishing pressure on the wilderness, always and still abused.
Most of the reservoirs in France were born for fly fishing, but the managers and owners are well aware that lure fishing, if certain rules are respected, does not contribute more than fly fishing to the damage of the fish.
More and more reservoirs offer the possibility to practice lure fishing and area techniques and many competitions take place in France (see the Area Trout calendar of the FFPS). In addition to rainbow trout, managers often offer rare salmonid strains or fish of exceptional size!
We will then discuss the rules of the area, the fish found there, the techniques, lures, equipment and codes specific to this practice in a series of articles.
