Nature and landscapes
Fishing in the mountains: discovering the wealth of high-altitude lakes and rivers
Would you like to tease out brown trout, Arctic char and brook salmon? As well as the exercise, fishing in the mountains is also a great excuse to take a walk along the banks of magnificent lakes or torrents with crystal-clear waters.
From Lac Pavin near Super Besse to the Plan d’Amont and Plan d’Aval lakes in Aussois, via the 47km-long Valserine river (Monts Jura) and the many lakes around Les Angles (Balcère, Matemale, Aude, Camporeills…), there are plenty of fishing spots in our mountain ranges.
Some are accessible by car or by ski lift: Lac Besson at Alpe d’Huez or the reservoir at Valberg. Others can be reached after a hike lasting anywhere from a few minutes to two or three hours, such as Lac Bleu at La Tania or Lac Blanc and Lac Bramant from the Col de la Croix de Fer at Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves. “The pleasure of fishing in the mountains is first and foremost being in a magnificent setting. It’s nature in its raw state. We often go to a lake more for the hiking aspect than for the fishing itself, which is the icing on the cake”, says Philippe Crouzet, fishing guide in Isère for the French Fishing Federation.
While the crystal-clear water of mountain lakes is a real treat for the eyes, it can also make fishing more complicated.
“The fish manage to avoid being seen: they tend to be in the middle of the lake rather than towards the edges, swim deeper rather than on the surface and are less active when the sun is at its highest… So it’s a rather fine fishery, where discretion is paramount. You need to have something to cast at a distance, and prefer the morning or the evening,” advises the fishing guide.
As you can see, mountain lake fishing is a little more complicated than on the plains. Nonetheless, beginners can try their hand at fishing during their stay in the resort. As in Morzine, where a federal initiator offers free fly-fishing observation and initiation courses open to all in July and August.
Are you already an angler and looking for a more sporting experience?
Then head to Morillon, where the Giffre torrent offers a 27km fishing stretch, classified as a first category river and one of the most beautiful and extensive in the mountain environment.
What about the regulations?
They are no different from those for plain fishing. A fishing licence is compulsory. There are three types: discovery (for one day, from €6), holiday (valid for 15 days, costs around €30) or annual (around €80 for adults, although there are also special cards for under-12s and 12-18s).
Which fish to catch?
Brown trout and rainbow trout are the star fish of mountain lakes. Arctic char are also fairly common. There are also brook salmon and jacks. And, of course, a few carnivorous fish (perch, pike) or cyprinids (roach, tench, carp), such as at Lac de Lispach or on the lake peat bog at La Bresse.