fly fishing Normandy - France

[Geoff Richardson]

I have booked a week in Erne, Lower Normandy France (22nd May) where the river LAIZON runs through the grounds. It was advertised as being a trout river but I cannot find any info on this river - the pictures on the holiday website show it to be a small river. My trout fishing is limited to UK stillwaters so this is going to be all new to me. Can anyone help with any info on what the fishing is like on this river and any info on tackle, tactics flies etc.
Any comments/advice will be much appreciated.

[fullcreel]

I would imagine that a selection of pheasant tails, buzzers and ermergers, that you would use in this country would do the trick. Hopefully you'll be able to find a local tackle shop, who may have a selection of dries which represent the probably hatch for that time of year on the river, although I would take a selection of old faithfuls, blue dunn, adams etc.
It may be worth contacting companies such as sportfish, someoen there may know. Hardy's were well known for keeping records of foreign waters, maybe just maybe, might be wortrh a phone all.
Tight lines and have a great holiday.

[Geoff Richardson]

Many thanks - will do!!

[fullcreel]

Just had a thought, the writer/broadcaster Charles Rangley-Wilson wrote a chapter on fly fishing, I'll hunt down the rscal who borrowed it and report in.

[Geoff Richardson]

Again many thanks, look forward to hearing from you.

[GAZJB]

Hi m8 If you have never fished on the river before i would do a little research. You will need to know where the fish will most probbaly lying and tactics. you will probbaly find that steath is very important especially on small river ie watch your nose tread quitely on shingle river beds and watch your shaddow when approching a fish, if they see anything dodgey you will be left stud up to your knees in a strech of river that is fishless. Fullcreel has covered the flies that will work just one to add that works well for me a gold ribbed hares ear. If you you see a fish and cast to it three or four time and you get refused change fly or nymph the fish, well in my experience never change their minds no matter how many times they see the fly, like they can do on still waters,the fish in the run are feeding and tend not to take off agression, basically just what they want to eat so you have to give them somthing that looks the same. have a look around see what you can find, turn a rock over that is sat just on the edge of the water see what life is under it, it will give you some idea what insects are in the system.anyway some of this may come in handy? but have a great time and i hope you catch plenty.

[Geoff Richardson]

A lot diferent to stillwater then! & a lot harder by the sound if it! thanks for the advice.

[GAZJB]

No sorry i did not mean to put you off. Its not harder, its just a little diferent like anything else when you do it for the first time it all sound complex but when you get in to it more you think to yourself " don't know what i was bothered about its not really that hard" you have the experience from still waters, you just need to adapt what you already know. I am sure you will love it. Tight lines.

[Geoff Richardson]

haven't been put off at all - actually it sounds like fun - sneaking up on the enemy and all that!
Just different from standing on the bank of a lake. As you say once you've had a go and understand the methods and approach with a bit of practice you just "do it".

Cheers.