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Mouse on the Interactive Map (To be updated shortly)

New in the Dordogne this year is a fishing school offered by the Dordogne fishing federation. There will be 15 courses offered running from March to November so places will be limited find the contact details on: http://www.federationpechedordogne.fr

Fishing South West France : A fishing permit must be purchased at a shop showing the Tabac sign or at a fishing shop. It is called a Carte Blanche and it lasts for 14 days and cost 12 euros. This permit allows you to fish on all of the public waterways providing there are no signs indicating local fishing restrictions. There are two categories of fishing with separate rules see below.
The South West of France is under fished compared to English rivers and has plentiful stocks. Many of the lakes are run privately and it is possible that you will be charged to fish. Some of the rental properties on this site have their own fishing rights. It is important to comply with the rules of returning to the water fish smaller than 25 cm long and to only take up to six fish a day.
Dordogne :4 500 km of water ways for first and second category fishing
the fish include:– salmon, brown trout, black bass, pike, sander, perch, barbel, carp, roach gudgeon and bream.
Open fishing season 2009 classed in the 1st category : 1 rod & line with a maximum of 2 hooks or 3 flies.
Trout (1st & 2nd category) 14th March – 20th September
Pike, Sander, Black Bass 14th March – 20th September
Other fish not mentioned 14th March – 20th september

Open fishing season 2009 classed in the 2nd category : maximum of 4 rods & line, with a maximum of 2 hooks or 3 flies each. (the lines must be in the proximity of the fishers)
Pike : January 1st – 25th January and April 18th – 31st December
Sander : January 1st – 25th January and 16th May – 31st December
Black Bass : 1st – 25th January and 20th June – 31st December
Other fish not mentioned 1st January – 31st December
A guide to the size at which one is allowed to catch and keep is:-
Pike – 50cm
Sander – 40cm
Black Bass – 30cm
Legal fishing hours in the Dordogne : from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (you can see the calendars at post offices). Carp night fishing however is allowed year round at :
plan d’eau La Gourgousse at Saint Saud Lacoussière,
plan d’eau of Groléjac at Groléjac , with the exception of the beach area
plan d’eau étang Coucou, at Hautefort,
étang de Lescourroux, on the left bank where designated périgourdine.
Night Carp fishing allowed April 1st – 31st October on sites too numerous to list here so best to check locally.
Check on shell fishing rules. Be careful because in most places the employment of maggots & dipterous larvae is strictly forbidden. Where it is allowed:

Place	Max. Lines Allowed	Commune
La Barde	2	La COQUILLE
Thenon	2	THENON
Jumilhac le grand	2	JUMILHAC LE GRAND
Fongran	2	THONAC
Fossemagne	1	FOSSEMAGNE
Lamoura	1	BOULAZAC

On the VEZERE river & on the DORDOGNE river, classified as salmon rivers, the use of spears is prohibited. A useful( although not inclusive) map of the water ways, lakes & rivers of the Dordogne http://www.federationpechedordogne.fr/dordogne.html

Just over the border of the black Périgord :

The Corrèze is home to 5 000 km of streams and rivers and more than 4 000 hectares of reservoirs and man-made water recreation areas,
making it one of the largest hydro graphic networks in France
Fish species:
• High densities of cyprinids, such as carp, bream, barbel, bleak,
roach, gudgeon, minnow, tench, dace and chub. The highly prevalent carp can reach a significant size; 13 special “night carp fishing stretches are hugely popular with fishing enthusiasts.
• Carnivorous fish stocks consist of pike, perch and sander. The
area is huge and every year record catches are recorded in the larger
reservoirs.
• Salmonid species, brown trout and the common grayling
cohabit the main 2nd category rivers: the Dordogne, Vézère and Corrèze.
The department’s extensive 1st category network contains substantial
stocks of brown trout.
13 Specific “graciation” fishing stretches have been created in which
young fish must be released alive; this initiative should enable good
fishing.
Nationally rated lakes out of a total of 67 public and private lakes
(including some specialist fishing lakes) are available to the general
public, enabling families and beginners alike to enjoy a day’s fishing.

L'AUVÉZÈRE 78 km of the river in the Périgord
CATEGORY	1st category up to the Pont Laveyrat Then the pont de Guimalet until the barrage of Savignac-Lédrier, The rest of the river is classified in the 2nd category
DESCRIPTION	The upstream part of Auvézère is one of the most impressive valleys of the area with extremely deep gorges and fauna flora adapted to this very marked relief. The sloping river offers a spectacle of majestic cascades with a large amount of trout, rather difficult to take but beautiful in size. Downstream, as the river becomes calmer, fish like the vandoise or the barbel and, in the very calm zones, pike, perch, carp and roach are then abundant. Caution! Maggots and dipterous larvae ( vase worm in particular) are prohibited in 1st category.
La DORDOGNE 178 km of the river in the Périgord
CATEGORY	All of the river in the department is classified in the 2nd category. River entirely classified in River Public domain in the Périgord
DESCRIPTION	On the high part of the Dordogne, upstream of LIMEUIL, this stretch of river due to the hydroelectric dams has many zones of currents favourable to the presence of trout, often of an impressive size, and a very strong population of gudgeon. This beautiful river is framed for the most part in a back drop of limestones cliffs interspersed with castles perched high. In the calmer zones and the couasnes (dead arms), roach and carnivorous fish are abundant. (check on rules for fishing in the couasnes). Downstream at the confluence with the Vézère at LIMEUIL, the Dordogne river widens and becomes majestic with many meanders. New hydroelectric dams are sited at MAUZAC, TUILIERE and BERGERAC. It then becomes a great river plain with an important white fish population (roach, bleak, chub, bream) and carnivorous fish (pike, perch and especially sander and cat fish). The importance of this zone is without doubt due to the visiting migrating species, in particular the great shad, offering the fisherman a rare opportunity to practice his skills on this superb river.
La VÉZÈRE 78 km of the river in the Périgord
CATEGORY	All of the river in the department is classified in the 2nd category. The Vézère belongs to the River Public domain downstream from the old bridge of Montignac.
DESCRIPTION	In the heart of the Périgord Noir is the Vézère valley, designated as one of the sites, “cradle of humanity”. In a spell binding and sumptuous landscape, bordered by impressive cliffs, the river Vézère offers a prolific abundance of fish. Notably white fish (roach, bleak and chub) and the carnivores : perch, sander, and pike. Cat fish, often very large, can be found in good quantities as can the 'difficult to catch' carp, shad, lamprey, salmon, sea trout, and eel. Carp night fishing is authorised on certain parts of the river.
L'ISLE 183 km of the river in the Périgord
CATEGORY	Classified in the 1st category upstream from the pont du Juge (commune of Nantheuil) Classified in the 2nd category down stream from the pont du Juge The whole stretch of the river down stream from the pont des Barris at Périgueux belongs to the River Public domain
DESCRIPTION	The river l'Isle will surprise you with a wealth of pisciculture and its landscape as diverse as it is varied. Its upstream part is made up of deep gorges rich in trout, minnow and gudgeon. Downstream, the slope of the river gradually levelling, it offers zones of transitions rich in larger trout, and fresh water fish like the very combative barbel or the dace. Lastly, its long and calm levels will give you the occasion to fish for very large pikes and a multitude of sanders or “to prick” the largest fresh water fish, the cat fish/brown bullhead, these can be enormous. Here as well you will find an abundance of carp, catches of 15 kg to more than 20 kg are not uncommon. Night fishing for carp is allowed in designated areas on this river, but remember to check for night fishing seasons. Upstream from THIVIERS : brown trout, gudgeon, minnow, chub, dace, barbel. Caution! Maggots and dipterous larvae ( vase worm in particular) are prohibited in 1st category. Between THIVIERS and ANTONE : brown trout, dace, barbel, roach, gudgeon, minnow Down stream from ANTONE : roach, bleak, pike, sander, black-bass, perch, chub, carp, catfish/brown bullhead, gudgeon.
La DRONNE 70 km of the river in the Périgord
CATEGORY	Classified in the 1st category upstream from the D939 at Brantôme Classified in the 2nd category downstream from the D939 at Brantôme
DESCRIPTION	The Dronne is one of the most beautiful rivers of France, upstream the gorges will seduce you with a majestic landscape of a succession of waterfalls under which the numerous trout take refuge. Upstream from SAINT PARDOUX : brown trout, minnow, gudgeon, dace, chub, eel. Between St PARDOUX and TOCANE : pike, perch, brown trout, dace, chub, carp, roach, minnow, gudgeon, eel, sander, barbel. Down stream from TOCANE : pike, perch, sander, carp, roach, bleak, gudgeon, black-bass, chub, barbel, cat fish/brown bullhead.
The information here is offered to be informative but not definitive. It is always wise to ask locally about the various rules and regulations which apply.

 

TRANSLATIONS OF NAMES OF LOCAL FISH Ombre – grayling Brème – bream Silure – cat fish/brown bullhead Truite fario – brown trout Omble de fontaine – brook trout Goujon – gudgeon Vairon – minnow Chevesne – chub Vandoise – dace Barbeau – barbel Gardon – roach Ablette – bleak Brochet – pike Sandre – sander Black-bass – black-bass Perche – perch Tanche – tench Anguille – eel