Fishing in the Auvergne

Undoubtedly one of France’s best-kept secrets, the Auvergne region lies in the Massif Central at the heart the country. Made up of four departments (Cantal, Allier, Puy-de-Dome and Haute-Loire) it’s a vast area of rugged, mountainous beauty, traditional French hamlets with a typically slow pace of life and friendly locals plus, crucially, some knockout fishing. The geography is characterised by long-extinct forest-clad volcanoes, sweeping valleys lined with winding streams and rivers, and lakes that seldom see walkers, let alone fishermen. There are literally thousands of kilometres of fishable water, and something to suit every type of angler. Wild brown trout, grayling, arctic char, carp, pike, zander and perch are all abundant.
From fly-fishing fishing in the Cantal to predator fishing in Allier; and from the lakes of the Puy-de-Dôme to the Haute-Loire, you could spend years fishing this entire area and barely scratch the surface. See below for our guides to the different departments within the Auvergne, within which you’ll find recommendations for accommodation and fishing guides:

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Photos: Rory Batho

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Fishing in the CantalFishing in the Cantal

With its rugged, volcanic landscape and sparsely populated countryside, the Cantal is a true wilderness. Fly-fishermen will love the deserted mountain streams that are home to legions of wild brown trout. Find out more

Fishing in Puy-de-DomeFishing in Puy-de-Dome

Named after the region’s dormant volcano, Puy-de-Dome boasts some spectacular fishing, with all manner of species resident in its rivers (the Sioule and the mighty Allier among them) and stunning lakes. Find out more

Fishing in AllierFishing in Allier

Home to the mighty Loire, and its tributaries such as the Cher and Allier, this area has somewhere in the region of 4,000 miles of fishable water. Trout, pike, barbel and grayling (particularly in the Allier) abound. Find out more

Fishing in Haute-LoireFishing in Haute-Loire

Lush countryside, deep gorges, and home to some of the Auvergne’s best fly-fishing. There are excellent numbers of trout and grayling in the gorges of the Loire and Allier rivers, with big chub and barbel present too. Find out more

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Photos: Comité Régional de Développement Touristique d’Auvergne/Joel Damase (Allier); Luc Olivier (Haute-Loire)