angling
The Hiatus of February I HAVE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN; FEBRUARY IS THE WORST MONTH IN MY FISHING CALENDAR By Clive Kenyon
T
he predator season closed at the end of January and the trout fishing season does not start until the second Saturday of next month. Given the typical February weather the coarse fish will not be on form for another month or so unless we get lucky with some strong southerly winds.
upper River Vienne and its tributaries, and the better-known River Dordogne.
Starting with the Touvre; it really is a beautiful if very short river. It rises close to the village of the same name as a fullyfledged trout river. Not just any old river either, but a chalk stream by the fact that the water percolates through limestone There is no point looking back, not after deposits. The water rises and erupts in a the last two years anyway. So, let us look boiling cauldron before flowing around 11 forward, like many French pêcheurs, to km into the Charente the trout season. near to GondFrance is blessed Along the lengths of these Pontouvre. The river is with some upland rivers are many small as wide at its source as spectacular trout at its mouth. The fishing and whilst and not-so-small dams that Touvre is fed by a 500 some of the more also hold trout km2 underground well-known aquifer system called locations are in the “Karst of Rochefoucauld” that stretches east of the country, we also have some between Angoulême, Mansle, Saintfantastic fishing closer to home. A lot of Mathieu and Nontron. This deep the smaller rivers that we cross in our cars underground system ensures that the without giving any thought to hold trout. water erupts from the source at a more They can be fished for the cost of a carte moderate temperature range than normal de pêche and a few worms. A lot of these rain-fed rivers. rivers are too overgrown for fly-fishing, but can still give sport to anglers willing to The trout fishing of the Touvre is famous fish the upstream worm or trotting throughout France and it is regulated in maggots where allowed. that barbless hooks and a ‘No Kill’ policy are in force. Initially, in March, wading is For the purist fly-fishers the best locations prohibited, but later on in the year there is closest to us are probably the River no reason why you cannot don your Touvre, a tributary of the Charente, the
44 etcetera
waders and fish the evening sedge rise. Wading is banned during the early season in many rivers to prevent damage to spawning beds used by fish such as grayling and salmon. The upper reaches of the River Vienne, along with its tributaries the Maulde and Taurion, are also superb fly-fishing waters. At Eymoutiers there is a ‘No Kill’ stretch near to La Pelaude from the outfall of the Bussy dam to the Macaud bridge. You can also fish the area around SaintLéonard-de-Noblat where specific ‘No Kill’ zones are evident and at Bazenant. At Peyrat-le-Château the lesser-known River Maulde holds truly wild brown trout and a few wild grayling. Grayling do not come into season until May and so must be returned. The river Taurion is one of the best-kept secrets of the region. Grayling are on the red list of endangered species so it is important not to disturb their spawning grounds in May and quickly return any grayling caught. Along the lengths of these upland rivers are many small and not-so-small dams that also hold trout, so still water fly-fishing is also available. All the Vienne system trout rivers in these high areas are typically shallow, fast flowing rivers over stony beds. The trout
