In Brittany, it's mainly large shad (alosa alosa) that swim up the main rivers, which are often canalized, such as the Vilaine, Oust, Blavet and Aulne, where the best returns and catches are recorded. Most of these rivers are equipped with dams and counting stations, so it's possible to keep track of upwellings.
Shad fishing in Finistère
In Finistère, shad have been returning to the Aulne, a first-category but canalized river, for many years (over 30). Populations have fluctuated considerably on this route, as they have throughout France, with some very good years (best year in 2004, with over 7,000 individuals) and others with very low returns (less than 1,000 shad).
On the Aulne, the most interesting fishing spots are the lock in the center of town, known as the Chateaulin lock, where the shad stay for a while before moving on to the lock above, where they are blocked. It's at the Coatigroac'h lock that fishermen concentrate from late April to early May.
It should be noted that on the Aulne, a landing wave has been in place for more than a decade, with the aim of attracting migratory fish, including shad. Since this program was launched, shad are no longer temporarily blocked at Coatigroac'h and can swim upstream as far as the Trésiguidy lock.
In Finistère, however, shad return in small numbers to other unchannelled rivers, where populations are small but do exist. Here, we're talking anywhere from 50 to several hundred individuals. It's therefore possible to catch shad when you know the spots where they stop, particularly on the Odet, Elorn and Ellé rivers, and they may also return to other rivers, but in smaller numbers, such as the Goyen and the Pont l'Abbé river.
Where to fish for shad in Morbihan?
In Morbihan, shad mainly migrate upstream on the Blavet. This, along with the Aulne, is certainly the river with the largest populations. There are no counts, but between 2003 and 2007, there were several thousand individuals under the locks.
They are mainly found at the Gorrets lock, which lends itself well to their fishing, but they are also present at 5 dams, as follows:
- Polvern dam (influenced by tides),
- The Gorêts dam,
- The Great Dam,
- The Lochrist dam
- Quélennec dam.
In this department, there are also a few individuals that swim up the Scorff, but there aren't enough of them to look for specifically. I have no information on other Morbihan rivers.
Other shad spots in Brittany
Another well-known route for shad fishermen is on the Vilaine and one of its tributaries, the Oust.
The shad return to the following dams on the Oust, where they are fished with lures and flies:
Thanks to recent improvements, the shad are able to swim up to the sixth lock:
- La Potinaie dam,
- The Imur dam,
- The Anée dam,
- The Rieux dam,
- Beaumont dam (micro-power station),
- The Foveno dam.
Fishermen concentrate mainly on the latter dam, which is the blocking point for migration and the area with the greatest concentration of shad.
In the Côtes d'Armor, shad are sought after by a few connoisseurs, notably on the Trieux. A few fishermen are looking for them on the lower reaches of this river, where they can also be caught on sight.
I've heard very little about upwellings on other rivers, but there are also some on the Léguer, but they're not being looked for specifically. There are certainly a few shad going up on other rivers in this department, such as the Leff, but little or no information about them.
