Angling

UNLIKE IN THE UK FRANCE DOES NOT HAVE A CLOSE SEASON FOR COARSE FISH IN RIVERS OR LAKES

The chasse season ends in February / March dependent on species and some chasseurs take to fishing for trout from the middle of March. But, for a lot of pécheurs they are just biding their time until the weather turns warmer and more importantly for some, the predator season commences. Whether you are a carpiste or prefer to catch brochet, sandre or perche, May is the time of year that it all kicks off. Back in the UK however, river fishing for coarse fish is still out of bounds as the close season applies. Always seemed strange to me that the coarse fish close season ended before many river species - chub, barbel and carp for example - had commenced let alone completed their nuptials. Being situated in a more temperate region the reproduction of these three species is usually earlier than in the UK and care must be taken at this time of year to avoid catching spawning fish. For my part I will have stopped fishing for carp and barbel at the end of April and will concentrate mostly on the predators and trout for the next two months.

Black Bass

An increasing number of lakes and rivers here are being stocked one way or another with American black bass, sometimes called largemouth bass. I first came across this species in Cyprus where they had been stocked in some inland dams supposedly to control the population of grass snakes. Bass have also found their way into many other countries including South Africa where they have been voted as the most sporting fish in that country. Bass are short, stocky fish and members of the perch family with whom they share common traits. In the United States black bass are probably the number one game fish and can be found in most States where competitions are held attracting thousands of anglers. Every young angler dreams of becoming a bass pro’ and earning their living from the rich cash prizes tournament winners receive. Bass fishing has become an art, a science and in some cases, a religion. Tactics are regularly discussed in fishing magazines and forums and include fishing weedless worm rigs in thick weed beds to surface fishing poppers and fish bait rigs using small bait fish. In France the increasing interest in bass fishing includes using float tubes to be able to allow anglers to cast to the edge of surface weeds and tweak a floating frog lure back from the weeds. Bass stalk prey fish and frogs slowly and stealthily until they are close enough to rush the victim and inhale it into their huge mouths. The sound of a bass taking a surface lure is unforgettable. It sounds like somebody ripping linoleum. It is important to allow the lure to rest for ten to thirty seconds between tweaks to allow the lurking bass to stalk the lure. Once hooked they fight like trout on steroids. If you imagine how a rainbow trout fights but with no fatigue, that is what a bass gives you. They never give in. For the fly-fishermen amongst us bass gives you the chance to use your #6 weight in anger. Large buoyant flies made from deer hair such as Muddlers can be used as poppers. The bass don’t seem to know the difference. It is important to cast the fly or lure right to the edge of any floating weed and allow plenty of time between the lure landing and beginning a twitch retrieve jerking the lure back a few feet between rests. Bait fishermen can use worms or sand eels, the latter are sometimes available in supermarkets in the summer months. Mount the bait on a weedless hook, the type that has a spring guard resting against the point of the hook. This can be cast into or alongside weed beds with less chance of the hook snagging. Bass can be found in rivers including the Charente and Vienne and are usually found where you would expect perch to be. Weed beds on the edge of the main current or where there is structure such as pilings, walls or deep channels are worth a try. Many gourmets regards bass as one of the best fish for the table. Many pécheurs would agree with that and so you may see red notices stipulating “No Kill” for the black bass. This preservation initiative is also finding traction in trout and grayling fishing so please check the regulations online if you intend to take a fish for the pot.

Bargain Hunt

Brocantes and vide-greniers can sometimes be good places to find items of fishing tackle. However, I have lost count of the times that I have been disappointed in finding something slightly interesting only to find the price was beyond ambitious often prompting the Yorkshire war cry of, “How much?” Imagine my delight therefore when at a vide-grenier in Availles-Limouzine I discovered tucked away amongst a few bundles of firewood described as canne à pêche, a small ugly spinning rod attached to a Pezon et Michel reel. Pezon et Michel are the nearest thing to Hardy in France and some of their fly rods fetch eyewatering sums. Their coarse fishing reels, especially the first generation, are also eagerly sought by French collectors. The reel that was attached to the spinning rod was a fairly rare model known by the name of ‘Capot’ referring to the cover that encloses the spool similar to an ABU 506. This particular reel has a small concealed pickup that resembles a half-bail, that is a claw type arrangement hinged only at one side. Instead of reaching over the front of the spool to collect the line as normal half-bail reels do, this one is hinged inside the hood and when casting folds inside the hood to allow line to freely leave the spool. On asking the price I was stunned to hear that the ensemble was €5. I had expected the usually ambitious price of four or five times that amount. I was so shocked I forgot to haggle and by the time that I had come to my senses my five Euro note was safely in the hand of the vendeur and he was off to find another victim. I put the reel in my pocket and went off in search of a receptacle to deposit the rod in. The absence of any bins resulted in my taking the rod home where on closer inspection it turned out to be better than I had initially thought. Not exactly more desirable. More like less undesirable and I will find a place for it in the back of my cupboard. However the reel cleaned up nicely and once the original solidified grease had been replaced it ran as good as any 65 year old reel could be expected to. The Fédération Nationale de la Pêche has announced the ease of restrictions for anglers. As of the 14th April anglers can travel anywhere within their home department to fish and/or up to 30km from home in neighbouring departments. Restrictions on curfews however are still applicable. Please check for updates as they will, understandably, keep changing.

By Clive Kenyon

Many pécheurs would agree with that and so you may see red notices stipulating “No Kill” for the black bass