loire valley..help

[FlyingFox]

Hi

im off to france on the 12th of june and going to loire valley....not sure what the fishing is like but im told they have rivers and lakes to fish..aint really got a clue what they catch or whether its any good but im hopeing thats where one or two of you come in

just after a bit of info on the places to fish and what rods and baits i should think about takeing? bare in mind im not a freshwater angler so simple guidance would be spot on

many thanks in advance

Ollie

[Norfolkboy]

Fishing in France!! That's my dream. Too fish on their lakes and rivers for BIG CATS AND CARP!

I'd imagine that's what would be in there mate.

You'd need a strong rod and reel set up, strong/big hooks, strong line etc...

I'd use boilies for bait.

As I look around most french fishing holiday websites () I know that a lot of them hire out tackle...

You should have a great time mate Hehe, only joking

[FlyingFox]

Cheers Dan,

Yer im lucky enough to have my other halfs mum and dad living out there so all it cost me was 140 quid for flights!! thats for me the wife and the to kids!! not bad price eh? hehe and she says i can go fishing as long as i go on a day's wine tasteing...mmmm dont think i gonna turn that down am i? lol

will probably take my own reels and tackle and bait and im hopeing that i can find a shop out there to purchess the rod i need that will probably cost me a trip to paris for the wife but for a new rod...im sure i can handle that!!

The two fish im hopeing to get hold of is a nice carp and maybe a catfish...never been for a cat but seen em on tv...looks a bit of a struggle but good fun, think i may be taking my camera on this trip!! just hope im in one of the best parts of france to fish...thats all im worried about!

cheers

Ollie.

[Old Smoothound]

You lucky man mate.....wine tasting and fishing.....bloody marvellous.

I have been watching some great footage of BIG Catfish fishing and its awesome. I think they used dead or Live Eels and bait fish float fishing and ledgering.

Brilliant stuff Carp type rods and reels, so you could kill two birds with one stone mate.

I'm sure you'll have a great time

[fishingbonsai]

Went to the Loire Valley last year near Chambord. In that area the river is about 250m wide and very shallow we swam in it and waded out a long way. The two families and kids canoed it as well so very safe where we were.

We did not fish as we had taken only sea gear, for later in the holiday, but the locals were fishing with tiny telescopic poles 2m long no reels and say 10 foot of line tied to the end very small float and must have been a tiny hook.

The guy we watched for a couple of hours was up to his waist in the water with a net on one hip and a small bucket on the other. From the bucket he took a small bit of bait, put it on the hook, cast the hook just behind him and let the current take it round in an arc.

He was catching every third cast or so. The fish were no more than 4inches long and some about an inch. He kept the lot and put them in the net. He must have caught 50 while we were watching and he was still there when we left.

His wife, I assumed, was with him in the water for some of the time, and she must have caught about 20 as well. They were both well into their 70's. Could be something in the water.

That's my two penneth, good luck anyway.

[Norfolkboy]

Probally "Poisson de chat" Anuisance fish on carp waters apparently

[FlyingFox]

Interesting read mate...thanks

I've heard that there are a few rivers there so hopefully they aint all shallow and filled with the small fish you spoke of....not saying i wouldnt enjoy that fishing but going to france and not getting a shot at a cat or a nice carp would kill me.....lol

if needs be then i may try the ponds/lakes on offer....now they gotta filled with 20lb plus carp for sure hehe

Thats one wide river aswell...lol dont think i gonna be over shooting with my cast on that!! lol and i must remember my waiders.....cheers

nice info

Ollie.