Why the Loire?
We decided to carry out our drift on the Loire, as it is one of the few rivers in Europe that is still completely (or almost completely) wild. There is no inland navigation as there is on the Seine or the Rhône, for example, so there are very few dams to cross. That said, the Loire is a river with a highly variable flow. All it takes is a violent downstream downpour to cause water levels to fluctuate rapidly. We therefore had to wait until summer, when flows are at their lowest, to carry out our drift.
When water levels drop in summer, they uncover large sandbanks. With the raft weighing almost 600 kilos, getting stuck was out of the question. Knowing how to read the current was one of our best cards.
Target species and fishing equipment
The two main species we were targeting were asp and catfish. We had to be as selective and versatile as possible in our choice of tackle. As there were two of us on a raft, we made do with a fishing bakkan for two (which was more than enough).
For the asp, we each took a 2m20 medium rod (no need for excessively long rods, we were fishing from a boat...). To name but one, the famous Tenryu 73M bent well and fulfilled its role in terms of both versatility and power reserve.
As lures to target this species, I recommend three boxes at all times:
A box of surface lures is a must!
For me, the Asturie 110 is one of the must-have references: a true weapon of war, it can be sent for miles around and provides effective ground cover.
A box of jerkbait minnow, I'm repeating myself, but here again, indispensable!
Here, I can only recommend the Ryuki (in its sinking version). The Ryuki 80S is the size I prefer and it goes everywhere. It goes a long way, fishes like no other lure in the current, and my God, it pays off! On the last day, all our fish were caught with the Ryuki 80S, that's for sure. A little extra advice: when it's cloudy and the weather's low, opt for colors that tend towards white.
Finally, a box of casting jigs. These are more likely to be released in the autumn, but they still regularly bring in fish.
For catfish, we didn't overdo it and probably went a bit too hard: a big Penn rod and reel, 50/100 braid and 110/100 leader. No breakage to be deplored. When you want to start fishing for these big moustachioed fish, be sure to use broken rings and reinforced hooks, otherwise you'll be ripped open very quickly.
Our only regret is that we didn't take our own barbel fishing gear. If we did it again, we'd take small vibrating blades and creatures as well as a small L/ML rod.
Additional bivouac equipment
In addition, we took a tent and two cots (for comfort, we even had pillows). If you're going on this kind of expedition, don't forget a fire and a good machete! The last little luxury we allowed ourselves was two folding chairs.
Nights can be chilly at the water's edge, even in summer. Fortunately, we had good sleeping bags and sweaters to keep us warm!
Finally, of course, we had all the electronic equipment: external batteries, Gopro, camera, drone... All in waterproof bags and canisters.
