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Some catches are more than just a nice catch. They become part of the angler's memory. In the middle of winter, at Moulin de Gémages, an extraordinary rainbow trout was a reminder that fly fishing can still offer raw emotions, even in the rain and cold.
A winter setting full of surprises
The story takes place in the heart of winter 2026, in the Moulin de Gémages , à Val-au-Perche . The weather is grey. Rain accompanied the first throws. The conditions are not comfortable, but the reservoir remains readable and lively.
But above all, the water is ours! The fish have been responding since the morning. The activity is real, despite the cold water. There's no sign yet of what's to come.
A day that stretches out, between troughs and hopes
After a productive morning and a warm break, the afternoon gets off to a slower start. Between 2 and 3 pm, touches are rare. A few swirls betray a presence, with no immediate follow-through. The black streamers are animated slowly, close to the bottom. The fish are there, but wary. Winter imposes its rhythm. You have to insist, adjust, believe in the right moment.
The moment when everything changes
As the light changes and a ray of sun finally breaks through, I catch a fish that I'll talk about later. But that's not the point. Indeed, Florian suddenly becomes tense. This is the moment that changes everything. This is no ordinary fight.
Florian is rigged with #6 silk, the fish is heavy, the swim ample, it's all power. As I approached with the landing net, a massive shadow appeared a few meters from the edge. An unusual rainbow trout. The size is impressive. The first flick of the net fails, and the fish darts sideways towards a stump. Doubt sets in. I tell myself I've got to get this one right. Firstly for my mate, who is holding the fish of his life on my fly, and then to share the moment. The second attempt is decisive.
A trout out of category
The fish is there, before our very eyes. An 83-centimeter monster, a size you'd expect to find on a fishing trip.
A real trophy caught on the fly, in the middle of winter. The joy is immediate, shared, almost incredulous. The photos quickly freeze the moment, respecting the fish. This catch required a combination of luck and daring. For Florian, with the ray of sunshine, had just rigged up an original English streamer, a white Fulling Mill. The opposite of our black streamers. What a magnificent fish, reminding us that this exceptional place really does deserve perseverance.
More than a fish, a memory
This trout, estimated by Ivan Iannaccone, the owner, at 8 kg, is not just a figure or an image.
It symbolizes the very best that reservoir fly fishing has to offer. A rare reward. A raw emotion. At Gémages, even in winter, trophies still exist. And sometimes, they mark much more than a season.
