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Lac du Roussillou – Riom-es-Montagnes, Cantal

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Located just outside Riom-es-Montagnes in Cantal, Lac du Roussillou is a stunning 5-acre lake bordered by 14 chalets available to rent by the night or week. The lake, which is fly-fishing only, is home to brown and rainbow trout, as well as some more exotic strains.

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Résidence Hauteclair – Apchon, Cantal

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Located a short drive from Riom-es-Montagnes, in the village of Apchon, is the charming and friendly Residence Hauteclair – a 4-bedroom B&B in the heart of the Cantal’s rolling countryside. Proprietor Ady Pinckers moved here from Belgium some years ago, after years spent holidaying in the region. She speaks perfect English and is well used to catering for fishermen.

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Logis Coquelicot – Riom-es-Montagnes, Cantal

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With five stylishly decorated rooms, this friendly B&B perched on a hill above Riom-es-Montagnes is a great option for fishermen. Dutch hosts, Carin Groen and Franck Verhoeks speak perfect English and are used to having fishermen staying with them. Dinners on the terrace, spectacular views and a warm welcome come as standard.

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Guillaume Vernet – Riom-es-Montagnes, Cantal

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Guillaume is one of the Cantal’s premier guides. Working as both a tour guide for the local Office de Tourisme and an independent fishing guide, he operates primarily in the Pays Gentiane region, specialising in fly-fishing and light-tackle lure fishing for trout in the remote mountain streams, as well stillwater predator fishing for pike, zander and perch.

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Fishing in Haute-Loire

Home to miles of impossibly lush countryside and deep gorges carved out by rivers such as the Allier and the Loire, Haute-Loire is generally reckoned to contain some of the region’s – if not the country’s – finest fly-fishing. Wild trout abound in the rivers, as do grayling, chub, pike and barbel.
The region is dotted with stillwaters too; Lac Malaguet in Allegre and the crater lake at Le Bouchet are just two of the excellent fly-fisheries in this scenic department of the Auvergne. See below for more info on accommodation and fishing guides in Haute-Loire.

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Fishing in Allier

The northenmost department in the Auvergne region, Allier is another gem at the heart of France. It takes its name from the river that flows through it, but that’s just the start of it – in addition to the Allier itself, there’s the Loire, the Cher and the Sioule; you could conceivably spend this and many other lives exploring Allier’s rivers waters and never unlock all their secrets. In addition to quality trout and grayling sport, there is a great fishing for barbel on the Loire in particular (with some very big fish present), along with plenty of pike, zander and perch to keep predator specialists happy.
Beyond the rivers, there are lakes dotted all over the region, many of which are home to huge carp, along with pike and even black bass. See below for more info about accommodation and Allier fishing guides.

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Fishing in Puy-de-Dome

Sharing its name with the region’s volcano, Puy-de-Dome is the place that gave us Volvic water and Michelin tyres. It’s also home to some extraordinary fishing, although that seems to have been kept off most people’s radars. A network of volcanic domes and craters, broken up by rivers and lakes, give the landscape its unique character.
Trout and grayling thrive in rivers such as the Sioule and Allier, while the latter is also home to excellent numbers of pike, carp, perch and zander. Deep crater lakes such as Lac du Pavin also hold good numbers of Arctic char. See below for more info on accommodation and fishing guides in Puy-de-Dome.

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Fishing in the Cantal

Spread out over a single, extinct volcano, the Cantal region is one of plunging valleys, rolling hills and sparsely populated villages. It’s also criss-crossed with mountain streams and rivers containing excellent numbers of wild brown trout and grayling, plus scores of lakes where anglers will find plentiful pike, perch and zander. For the fly-fisherman, this is a special destination – a true wilderness with wily trout that will rarely have seen another angler’s fly, and the opportunity to spend days on the water without running into another person.
Rivers such as the Truyère, Santoire and Grand Rhue (to name but a few) are all home to thriving populations of wild brown trout, with excellent numbers of grayling present too. All you’ll need is a Carte de Peche and a spirit of adventure. First-time visitors would do well to call in at the Office de Tourism in Riom-es-Montagnes – it’s the only such office in the country with a dedicated welcome area for fishermen. Resident guide Guillaume Vernet is a mine of information, and will happily provide literature and maps for all the area’s top fisheries. See below for recommended accommodation and Cantal fishing guides.

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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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