Fishing on the River Lot

The river Lot in the part of its course that is covered by French Affair has been dammed in several places: either as part of the EDF hydro electric scheme or in order to make it navigable, principally in order to improve the transport of Cahors wine downriver to Bordeaux.

Consequently east of Capdenac down to Villeneuve sur Lot the river the water is slow and deep making it an ideal habitat for pike, carp, black bass, the European catfish (silure) which can reach significant weights, as well as other coarse fish. And there are plenty of them. Last summer at a one day meet earlier this year 300 fish were taken at the beautiful riverside village of Puy l'Eveque. Cat fish of up to 10 or 11 kgs are not uncommon and much larger ones are reported including, legend has it, one bigger than the boat from which it was seen.

Because the banks of river are often steep and covered in undergrowth a boat is the best place to fish from on the river Lot. If you have an your own boat there is no reason why you should not bring it, though you should bear in mind that motors over a certain power require a permit and that there is a speed limit on most the river Lot.

Carp is plentiful, especially around the 10 kg range, though there are known to be some as large as 30kg. Several beats have been specially laid out with night fishing for carp in mind such as: Gregols, St Martin Labouval, Arcambal, Cahors, Luzech, Albas, Prayssac, Puy L'Eveque, Soturac, Larroque-Toirac, St Pierre de Toirac.

Of course if you take a house to the north of the river Lot you will be situated between the river Lot and the river Dordogne, the eastern section of which is suitable for trout and grayling fishing, so you can vary your sport.

Before booking you should check the dates of the opening and closing of the fishing season shown below for the fish that interests you which vary with the river, the department and the species. The information will be provided on this site. For the time being you can be guided by last years dates since it is unlikely that there will be much change.

The French Affair houses most convenient for fishing in the River Lot are: 150, 154, 158, 163, 171, 174, 176

FISHING SEASONS FOR THE RIVER LOT

For all fresh water fishing you will need a fishing permit which can be purchased in any Tabac shop (newsagent in France).

Trout and gudgeon:
River Dordogne within the Lot Department: the season opens on 12th of March and closes on 18th September inclusive.

Grayling:
River Dordogne within the Lot Department : the season opens on 21st May and closes on 20st November inclusive.

Perch, Black Bass, Pike and Zander:
The season opens on 14th May and closes on 31st December.

Shad
16th April to 18th September.

Eals
Only up with worms and only up until midnight.

Salmon and sea troute fishing is not permitted.

All other fish may be fished for on any day of the year provided that you have a permit.

Fishing is from half an hour before dawn to half an hour after sun set except for carp for which it is possible to fish at night.

Trout: 0.2m on the Cère upstream of Marconelles, an on adjoining streams of Orgues, Négreval and la Bave and on the Célé upstream of the confluence with the Drauzou and on the l’Ouysse ups tream of the Gouffre de Themines, and on the Francès upstream and downstream of the plan d’eau at Lacapelle Marival; 0.25m on the river Dordogne and 0.23m on all other waters.

You are allowed to take home a maximum of ten trout.

Grayling: 0.3m.

Black Bass: 0.3m

Pike: 0.5m

Zander: 0.4m

Shad: 0.3m

Other rules:
Trout: the use of maggots or other insect larvae in 1st Category waters is forbidden except on the Célé downstream from its confluence with the Veyre and except on the 1st Category plan d’eau Brochet