Watch on Arte: Sport or leisure, fishing is all the rage

© Morgan Calu

Arte puts the sporting side of recreational fishing in the spotlight. In this documentary, viewers can follow a German fishing guide, two famous French competitors and a volunteer fisheries warden. All good reasons to grab your remote control.

Arte Regards puts the spotlight on recreational fishing

A documentary from the Arte Regards series, presented as follows: "With nearly 7 million anglers in Germany, and as many as 18 million in France, fishing is on a roll. Whether practiced as a sport, leisure activity or livelihood, anglers don't hesitate to wait for hours on end, often returning empty-handed. What explains this craze?

La pêche à la cote
Fishing on the coast

Fishing in Germany and France

30 minutes to talk about our passion from the French and German sides. In this documentary, we follow Thomas, a German fishing guide. With his various clients, we go in search of Baltic sea trout from the shore or by boat, or wreck fishing for hake and hake. Fly-fishing, fly-tying, wreck-fishing with a depth sounder, a showcase for the angler's famous patience and hunting instinct.

Deux grands compétiteurs et passionnés
Two great competitors and enthusiasts

On the French side, the focus is on competitive fishing. An Arte team followed two famous competitors at the 2024 edition of the Salmo Trek. Viewers have the chance to follow Morgan Calu and Thomas Vosgels as they compete. Magnificent images of mountain lake fishing in crystal-clear waters in search of salmonids. It's an opportunity to see for yourself just how stressful competitive fishing can be. Two renowned French anglers pass on their fishing culture and their passion, which borders on addiction. You'll get a better idea of the kind of frustration that can result from landing fish when you're aiming for the podium in a fishing competition.

Une belle équipe
A great team

In this documentary, we also follow a German volunteer fishing warden. A different approach to fishing in France, as catch and release or no kill is strictly forbidden in Germany.

Sport or leisure, fishing is popular

  • Documentary running time: 30 minutes
  • TV channel: Arte
  • Authors: Michael McGlinn-Felix Franz
  • Available on replay from 21/01/2025 to 19/01/2030
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