Fishing the Lot
It is an indolent river with however some nice currents due to small reservoirs which regulate its flow. It is 30 to 60 meters wide and 2 to 6 meters deep in the cellars. It meanders along the limestone cliffs that guide its bed.
The access to these banks is generally easy, but the best spots are of course the most difficult to reach. Its richness in carnivorous fish makes it a river to fish in a sporting way with the throw. From spring to autumn to look for pike, perch and black-bass and with dead fish handled during the cold months to catch the same species to which must be added the zander. The best chances of catching pike-perch lie in the search for deep currents downstream from small dams.
Many local fishermen work it with the big lobster on the bottom and bring back from time to time by small displacement. Pike can also be fished naturally with livebait.
The presence of black bass is important for a French river. It is distributed on the whole course, but even better represented in the crossing of Cahors upstream and downstream of the Valentré bridge where some specimens are close to 2 kilos.
Another privileged spot is downstream of the course, just upstream of its confluence with the Vert, in particular between Parnac and Saint Vincent rive d'Olt. The best months are July and August when it stays very close to the surface. It is necessary to look for it along the banks and especially near the water lilies, it is also necessary to be careful not to be seen, because then, it remains in place, but does not bite.
The best techniques are light or ultra-light casting and fly fishing. Use poppers and plugs well colored to work by shaking on the surface. You can also fish it in the spring and fall either with a small fish or with a float between two waters by baiting a minnow.
White fish, roach, bleak and rotengles are well represented and the Lot is an ideal river to catch them with a fly fishing.
Carp and tench are also present. The carp is mainly fished in the depths, along the meanders, around Pasturac and Douelle.
Fishing the tributaries of the Lot
The interest of this course is completed by the piscicultural richness of some of the tributaries of the Lot.
First of all, its main tributary, the Célé, which is classified in 2nd category. It is easy to access, because a road runs along it continuously. The anglers are quite at their ease on this river especially populated with white fish. It is possible to catch a few brown trout, especially in the evening, most often with a spoon.
The amateurs of carnivorous fishes look for the pike or the perch moderately represented in the Célé on the other hand the fishermen of barbel can catch beautiful catches on gravel funds where the current is rather supported.
A little further downstream, we find the Vers. It is a very beautiful stream of plain classified in first category, with a succession of fast currents interspersed with calms. 3 to 4 meters wide and 1m50 deep at the most, the Vers is not always easy to access. Its clear water forces the fisherman to hide. This stream is ideal for fishing with the throw ultra-light during the summer and with natural bait at the beginning and end of the trout season. The fario stock is remarkable.
The following tributaries going down the course of the Lot are of little interest. Their population of white fish and carnivorous fish is not worth the effort. These are the Treboulou the Bartassac and the Brocicelle .
It is better to devote your time to discover and fish the Green tributary (not to be confused with the Vers, tributary mentioned before). Downstream of the course, the stream of first category is very rich in trout and black bass. It is 4 to 6 meters wide and shallow, with holes reaching 1 meter at most.
The water is crystal clear with very fast currents. The ideal technique is also there the throw ultra-light the fly fishing is not very practicable because of the often heavily wooded banks.
Grasshopper specialists make beautiful baskets by hiding well and getting enough yarn off.
