FISHING VENUES LOCALLY

Here in the Haute-Vienne we have 6500 km of category 1 rivers, 400km of category 2 rivers, 190 hectares of category 1 lakes and 1800 hectares of category 2 lakes.

Enough for the most ardent angler.

Or if you are "The Occasional Angler" who just likes to fish if the opportunity presents itself,

we can cater for you with complete tackle hire available.

FISHING REGULATIONS

A full years licence to fish most of France costs €80,00 and enables the holder to fish 1st and 2nd category waters. This amount varies a little between departments. To see a full version of rules for fishing in France, click here

There is a distinction between 1st and 2nd Category Lakes and rivers in the region.
1st (Premiere) Category Lakes and Rivers are predominantly inhabited by game fish. Season mid March - end Sept
2nd (Deuxieme) Category Lakes and Rivers are predominantly inhabited by coarse fish. Season, mostly all year

The holiday licence is now available from June 1st - December 31st and costs €32,00 for a period of 15 days. This entitles you to fish within the Haute Vienne, and enables the holder to fish 1st and 2nd category waters. For other regions it costs around the same amount.

Daily licences are now available for just €10 and can be purchased from January 1st - December 31st. If you wish to fish in the bordering departments to the Haute Vienne, these are available also. This enables anglers to fish earlier in the season which is great news.This too permits the holder to fish 1st and 2nd category waters. This is the perfect solution if you only wish to fish for a day or so when staying here. The daily permits only cover the department in which they are issued, i.e. Haute Vienne 87, Charente 16 or Dordogne 24. The Haute Vienne permits are available at our local Boulangerie or from us and are a necessity to fish legally in the region. There are some lakes locally that do not require anglers to be in possession of a permit, although there is usually a daily ticket fee.

In the lakes and rivers local to us you will find Trout, Chub, Carp, Pike, Zander, Perch, Shad and other species.

We provide you with directions and details of all of the following venues in booklet form at the gite.

LES COOMBES: The lake is just 7 mins away from our base. This is a private and exclusive trout lake - strictly fly only.Fishing is currently only available to guests at Le Petit Verger or clients who have casting tuition with Tony Stocked with hard fighting rainbows up to 3 kg and golden trout, the lake affords the serious fly angler the opportunity of fishing a well stocked lake with minimum interruption.A small boat is also available. Life jackets are supplied on site. For full details of the rules/tarifs governing the lake, please click here. RULES.

LAC DE CHABROULIE The lake at the Moulin de la Chabroulie is less than 5 mins from La Borderie. A stunning and completely unspoilt 7 acres of water. Containing carp up to 40lb, a good head of bream and some beautiful tench, as well as roach and other coarse fish. Costs are 10 euros per day. The lake owners also have a bar/restaurant overlooking the lake. Opening hours are seasonal for the restaurant, but you'll always be assured of a welcome on Fridays from 17.30 and Saturdays and Sundays from 11.00. We have not tackled this lake with a fly rod yet, but watch this space.....

ST MATHIEU LAKE: The lake is just 10 mins from us. This is a mixed water where trout are stocked early in the season. Perch, chub and carp to a good size have also been spotted. A 14 hectare lake with artificial beach and lots of small bays to explore. Depth varies from 1 metre or so to over 5 metres. The 'Grange de Lac" restaurant and bar on the lakeside serves meals, snacks and drinks.

DOMAINE DE JARLAT: This is a beautiful, well maintained and well stocked fishery. Just over 10 minutes away from us, the fishery is owned and run by a charming Frenchman, Patrick. You have a choice to fish conventionally or with the fly. There is dedicated trout lake and the larger of the three lakes is stocked with carp, perch, roach, tench, pike, sturgeon and zander. On site you will find a snack bar and toilets with showers, should you wish to fish all day/night. No licence is needed to fish the lakes. Prices are extremely reasonable.

RIVER VIENNE: The Vienne is a beautiful river, mostly slow flowing and picturesque which runs eventually into the River Loire. We are 25 minutes away from the River Vienne with easy access to the river and parking close by. The Vienne is a category 2 river so can be fished all year long. It offers deep slow stretches, fishable from the banks, or you can wade easily towards the weir from late spring until late autumn, depending on river levels of course. The river has produced good chub and roach, both on fly tackle throughout the summer.

RIVER TOUVRE: We have been told about this category 1 river by some friendly French flyfishermen who have bought tackle from us. Although open from early March they tend to wait until mid May to fish the water when wading is permitted. Dry fly is favoured by them. In 2011 there were hatches of Mayfly in abundance. Brown trout as well as chub can be found in this river. We've been invited to fish with them in 2012, so are looking forward to some great river fishing. A trip of around 45 minutes from the gite, and you are on the banks of this river. We have been told that the river is very picturesque, although not easy to fish - a challenge awaits....................

L'ETANG MASSELIEVRE: A beautiful and secluded lake about 8 kilometres from our farmhouse. You climb into the hills surrounding the tardoire valley before reaching the lake. Stocked with trout, pike, perch a good head of bream to 4lb and carp up to 20lb and other coarse fish, fishing is any method. There is ample room for back casting if you fish the fly. Usually very quiet, the lake also offers picnic tables around its banks with ample parking. Open from mid April until mid October. Prices are a very reasonable 6€ per day with no other permit needed.

RIVER TARDOIRE: Not far from La Borderie, you have various access points to the River Tardoire. A 1st category river. A small brook for the most part with all of the features that you would expect from a small stream. It is stocked with beautiful brown trout throughout the season by local fishing clubs. Although tricky to fish with the fly for the most part, there are a few clear areas where you can cast to the trout.

GORRE LAKE: Just 30 minutes away from our gite you will find this lake at Gorre. Sitting next to a 13th century church, the lake is regularly stocked with carp ranging between 1lb to 6 lb. Fishing is any method and you can take a couple to eat if you wish.......... Day tickets are available for 5,00 euros, or 3,00 euros for half a day. Great sport on coarse or fly tackle. Normally open March - October.

LA MORDOREE RESERVOIR: A 2 hectare stillwater stocked with many species of trout and black bass in a quiet corner of the Charente just 45*mins drive from our gite. Fly fishing into 15 metres of clear water.You'll see browns, rainbows, blues, and golden trout. Black bass patrol the margins with few coarse fish too. In all this fishery makes for an interesting day out. It fishes best in autumn as during the summer the fish tend to stay well down near the spring inlet at the bottom of the lake.

BUSSIERE GALLANT: Just 30 mins drive away from us you will find the Plan D'eau at Bussiere Gallant. This is a free to fish ( as long as you have a licence) water. Essentially stocked with coarse fish, having carp up to 12lb + , perch and others. This is a category 1 water. At the opening of this years season, I had the pleasure of catching small perch on a gold head nymph. Not large specimens, but bags of fun and in quiet surroundings.