/ 
101 teams of two competitors registered in less than 72 hours for the fifth edition of the Salmo Trek, which will be remembered for many reasons. The competition took place from July 4 to 7, 2025 in the Néouvielle massif. The concept remains unchanged. You have to hike to validate the various beacons, while fishing for the maximum number of salmonids, all in complete autonomy for 3 days.
A Dantesque edition
In addition to the record number of entrants, it was the difficulty of this edition that participants will remember. No fewer than 12 teams had to give up! It has to be said that the weather conditions did not spare the participants.
On Friday, mid-afternoon, thunderstorms and, above all, an impressive hailstorm chilled the teams and brought fishing to a standstill for around 45 minutes.
The following day, Saturday, violent thunderstorms, torrential rain and wind for at least an hour further undermined the morale of the competitors.
Last but not least, the end of the competition was brought forward by 3 hours on Sunday, finishing at 2 p.m. instead of 5 p.m., due to an alert from the PGHM at HQ warning of further severe thunderstorms...
We'd like to highlight the excellent management of the organization, with warning messages issued and safety instructions respected by the majority of participants.
An unexpected result
Everyone remembers the CABAR/FAVARD duo and their four victories in four editions. But who can beat them?
And it was the SEGUIN/VINDRET team that came out on top in this fifth edition. The GUNKI/ILLEX-sponsored team took the lead with solid fario trout fishing on Friday and Saturday. A fine piece of revenge, given that they had received a red card on the 2024 edition (late arrival at a compulsory bivouac area)!
Second place went to a young team, HAHN/RAT PATRON, both lure anglers, who also put in a top-flight performance. He finished second, just 7 mm from the first !!!! The duo invalidated a number of fish that were difficult to mesh with, and used the measuring rod to its extreme limit. They will certainly be closely watched in 2026.
The CABAR/FAVARD team came third on the podium with another outstanding performance.
The DUO VIELHESCAZES/FILLIAT and RICHAUD/DE GERONA, two fly-fishing teams, also performed very well, finishing 4th and 5th respectively.
Just behind - and this was one of the weekend's big performances - the BRINETTE/BRINETTE father-and-son duo took 6th place. Nils BRINETTE won the best young rider award at the age of 13!
The CALU/VOGELS team settled for a fine top 10 and 8th place after a poor Friday. We were also expecting the JOUVET/MAJOREL duo, second in 2024, who failed to finish in 34th place and were completely unsuccessful in 2025.
Proof that this 2025 edition was particularly difficult and uncertain, some regulars in the top 10, such as LOCHON/PIERMARIA, CAZENEUVE/SAINT-AMANS, FRAYSSINHES/VIRAZELS, DESPALIN/RAYON and GHECK/QUEMAR were less successful, with results falling short of expectations.
The best female competitor was AZARA-MARIANI Stella. She and her brother, Ghjuva, finished 12th and first mixed pairing.
The bigfish award goes to Nicolas ALBOUZE with a 405 mm fario trout caught at the Illex Woodlouse, whose speech at the prize-giving ceremony will be remembered.
Last but not least, Rose COURTIAU and her dad were the stars of this fifth edition. Only 10 years old, Rose completed this particularly difficult edition, perhaps even the most difficult of the Salmo Treks!
