THE SOUTHERN ATLANTIC COAST AND PYRENEES ATLANTIQUE (BEARN AND THE PAYS BASQUE)

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The southern part of Atlantic Coast, and the Landes department down to the Béarn and Adour River, offer a wide range of fishing. Trout, salmon and grayling fishing is concentrated largely in the Béarn and Pays Basque, in the rivers flowing down from the western Pyrenees. Remember you'll need a fishing permit, so order one from French Affair when you make your booking and save yourself time and trouble later. Seasons for fish vary from department to department so check the fishing seasons shown below of the fish that interest you.

The river system drains the northern watershed of the Pyrennees, the rivers flowing north along the valleys eventually joining the Gave de Pau, which flows into the Adour, which are the two main arteries of the region. If you are renting a house in the Pays Basque or the sourthern part of les Landes and are interested in fly fishing for trout or grayling we particularly recommend travelling up these valleys to the bright, clear mountain streams. They are very accessible and provide great sport and the scenery is particularly beautiful. For example from Biarritz to Bidarray, where the Bastan flows into the Nive is only 30 kms, half an hour at the most.

River Fishing

The Adour rises to the south of Tarbes and swings around in a wide curve to the north through the Gers and into Les Landes before flowing south west to Dax and then west of Peyrehorade is joined by Les Gaves Réunis. From Peyrehorade to the sea the river forms the border between the department of Les Landes and the Pyrenées Atlantiques. It contains a wide range of fish: mullet, trout, shad, sea trout, carp, eels, pike, the european cat fish, and lampreys.

The following rivers are all recommended to those who wish to fish for trout, sea trout and grayling on a fly:

A number of streams highly recommended by local fishing guide, Phillipe Frantz, the Laurhibar, the Orion, the Petite Nive join the Nive, principally a trout river, at the Picturesque town of St Jean Pied de Port before flowing north through the mountains to Biaritz.

The Nivelle rises south of the pretty Basque villages of Sare and Aihoa and flows north to St Jean de Luz.

The Gave dŽOloron is a confluence of the rivers flowing which join it at Ste Marie dŽOloron. It is the site of the world salmon fishing championships held in May.

The Gave de Pau is a confluence of the mountain streams flowing down the valleys to the south of Lourdes. From Lourdes flows north west to join the Adour as Les Gaves Réunis.

The French Affair houses most convenient for these rivers are:

The Gave d'Oloron: 277, 280, 281, 279
The Gave de Pau: 277, 278, 279, 280, 281

2008 FISHING SEASONS IN THE PYRENEES ATLANTIQUE (PAYS BASQUE AND BEARN)

For all fresh water fishing you will need a fishing permit.

Fishing is allowed during the season from half an hour before dawn to half an hour after sunset.

Trout.
The trout season is from 12th March to 18th September inclusive.

Fish under 25 cms must be returned to the river alive.

You can keep a maximum of 10 fish except in the Gave d’Oloron where the limit is 5. All others must be returned to the water alive.

Grayling
The season for Grayling is closed all year.

Pike
The season for pike is 12th March to 18th September.

Pike under 50 cms must be returned to the river.

Salmon.
The season for salmon is from 12th March to 31th July and 5th September to 18th September. The salmon really only found further east on the Gave d'Oloron.

Salmon under 50cms must be returned to the river