Fishing

High-mountain rapids, white-water rivers, lakes and lowland rivers : Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a fantastic area for fishing.   Trout, salmon, eel, shad, carp, barbel, zander, pike, black bass)… Fly fishing, casting, “toc” fishing – all the techniques are possible in an area that is passionate about fishing and provides an ideal setting for relaxing with friends or family.

Fishing in Pyrénées-Atlantiques 

Trout fishing
Here the trout is wild and has unique colours. Slim and quick in the mountainous areas and larger and more powerful in the big valley rivers, the trout is king in the mountains.  

Migratory Fish
The rivers of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques are still visited by several types of migratory fish. Two of these species are of particular interest to fishermen for the quality of the fishing they offer: salmon and the allis shad. The Gave d’Oloron also produces the largest salmon caught each year in France.

Predator Fishing
The Pyrénées-Atlantiques offer great but little-known potential with some 800 hectares of second-category lakes, mainly reservoirs, that provide excellent conditions for predators. Zander is the most widespread species, and can be found almost everywhere. 

Coarse Fishing
The waterways and lakes in the northern half of the area have large coarse fish populations. The lower stretches of the mountain rivers and in the hilly regions are home to impressive populations of barbel, chub, dace and gudgeon which receive little attention. Roach and rudd, bream and carp are in plentiful supply in the lakes and the lower stretches of the main rivers.

+ More information on migratory fish, trout, predator and coarse fishing (pdf)