/ 
Regulations
Depending on the department, regulations can change, leaving anglers in a state of confusion. First of all, it's important to know that the basis of fishing regulations is laid down in the French Rural Code, which defines the applicable minimum. Then, each departmental federation, in association with the regional prefect, decides on local regulations according to its membership, its environment and its fish population.
First and foremost, it's important to check with your local fishing federation to find out what the regulations are, either on their website or by contacting them directly. However, in all French départements, the use of earthworms, larvae or insects is authorized during the closed season. Some regions, such as Hérault and Maine-et-Loire, authorize the use of worms, while others prohibit them. The use of flexible lures imitating these natural baits, or the use of flies (dry, emergent, nymph) is authorized in certain départements, such as Ille-et-Vilaine.
One thing is certain (with the exception of a few départements which impose a minimum size for livebait): the use of forage fish (roach, rotengle, minnow, etc.) for livebait, stillbait or bait fishing is strictly forbidden, as these baits are too likely to catch a pike or zander, which at this time of year are in their reproduction period and therefore protected.
Closure as an opportunity
However, perch fishing, for example, remains practicable at this time of year, and it's even very common to come across some very nice specimens. Fish in general, although reducing their feeding activity, are nonetheless alive and needing to feed to survive, and will undoubtedly be keen on a nice worm gorged with protein, which suggests numerous catching opportunities with a range of species (chub, carp, rotengle, mullet...etc) all equally combative on suitable equipment.
It will even be a pleasure for the angler who seizes the opportunity to learn many things about the behaviour of these other species which he doesn't usually target and which, let's not forget, are the pantry of the coveted big predators that will regularly be in the vicinity.
Techniques and equipment
The drop-shot technique is best suited to fishing under the rod, but you can also use the Carolina mount for casting and prospecting a little more ground.
A light or medium-light spinning rod fitted with a size 2500 reel and 0.08 to 0.12 mm braid is a good base. From shore, it should be long enough (2 m to 2.70 m) to fish well under the rod and in structures. In a boat, you can reduce the size for greater comfort (1m80 to 2m20).
The Drop shot rig is based on the principle of a weight placed under the bait, while the Carolina will find the leader in the continuity of the sinker provided by a bullet sinker. Only the hooks differ from those used with lures. Worm anglers will appreciate small single hooks with two barbs on the shank to improve worm holding, but more classic carp-fishing style single hooks in sizes 8 to 10 will do just fine. The distance between ballast and bait can vary from 15 to 80 cm.
At this time of year, keeping the worm close to the bottom is often more profitable.
With natural worms, even more than with lures, the "non-animations" will be formidable and it will often suffice to put everything on the bottom or let the bait sink slowly to the bottom, while simply keeping contact to feel the little touches.
Where to find them?
To find the beautiful perch or other target fish at this time of year, when the water is relatively cold, you'll need to look for areas that are relatively deep, less subject to temperature variations and, above all, sheltered from the current, where you'll find concentrations of white fish such as bleak, roach, small bream..., and therefore also the carnivorous fish that feast on them without going too far to look for them.
One thing's for sure about worm fishing: you can be in for a real surprise, and you never know what you're going to catch. It's simple: all fish love earthworms, even carnivores! So it's not impossible to catch a pike-perch or a pike accidentally with this bait. In this case, the fish should be returned to the water as quickly as possible without being moved, to ensure minimum trauma or return to its nest.
