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Gourmetfly.com Le Sud-Ouest The south-west of France A fly in the wine... General presentation of our proposals & rough situation map We are introducing a choice of fly fishing destinations naturally joined from Bordeaux

Each region described below will bear a number that you can find on the map. To just point out big categories, numbers # 1, 2, 3 & 4 are in the Dordogne or Périgord. Number # 9 is a greener region bordering the north of the Périgord and called Limousin. Numbers # 5 & 6 are the Béarn and Basque-land in the French Pyrenees - Numbers # 7 & 8 are in Spain, Navarra and Aragon - For them, please open the pages Pyrenees or Spain on the left of your screen.

Rough situation map

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Between these spots are found many other areas for attractive touring. To name only a couple, the atlantic seashore of Les Landes, Le Gers sort of capitale du foie gras and the Armagnac (and birthland of the gascon musketteers like d'Artagnan). The beautiful region du Lot with Cahors and Rocamadour where truffles are (almost) considered as 1st necessity products...

Junction

Bordeaux is at roughly 600 kms from Paris. Driving from Paris to Bordeaux is a long but acceptable drive on highway A-10. Bordeaux Biarritz by road is also very easy. From Paris there is a speed train TGV to Bordeaux and Biarritz. Bordeaux and Biarritz also have an international airport -for flights from Europe only-

Grand vins et vignobles de Bordeaux

If you like the world of great wines, we recommend to start you trip in Bordeaux, where you can visit this elegant city and the famous vineyards around. You should spend your first night in Bordeaux. Ladies will adore the shopping in the old center and connoisseurs will enjoy the restaurants and wine shops. The morning after you should visit the vineyards of Médoc, Sauternes or Saint Emilion. Then spend another night in Bordeaux or directly join the place of your fishing stay.

Entrance of cellars (les chais) at Château Margaux

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Limousin

spot nbr # 9 on the map

La Vézère

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A Mill inn on the Vezère - Corrèze.

spot nbr # 9 on the map

One of our best recommendations: The managers are are young, premises have been freshly redone, but this place is out of time. It is a high spot of countryside pleasures and pure relaxation. The region features the charm of the ancient traditional France. Accomodation, people, landscapes, little towns, food, river, hatches... and the local brownies, will all leave unforgettable memories. Access from Bordeaux or Paris. From Paris, approx 450km. Access directly by car or by train to Limoges (nice place for lunch). Touring: Villages, old churches, castels, pre-historical vestiges and natural sites and the wonderful Haras de Pompadour, for those interested in horses. A day to the grottos of Lascaux or to Sarlat is quite easy.

Fishing

Fish, brown trout wild and "mean", very dark with red dots. River bed of peat and granite, produces fish more "nervous" than "fat". Miles of public stretches available. There are good but unpredictable early season hatches, but the best period would start by early June.

The river is sometimes friendly, sometimes tough and sometimes hides holes. Wading pants with felt soles are required. Fishing from the banks is possible but wading gives access to more places.

Landscape of woody hills and cattle meadows. At the end of summer are found the first wild mushrooms "cèpes" or "trompettes des morts", morels are found also in April.

The main river is the Vézère as per picture above, but there are other rivers you can fly fish around if you want to visit more. These were the lands and rivers of the Famous Docteur Juge, notorious fly fisherman and hunter, fly patterns inventor and author of a few appreciated fly fishing books in the 40's and 50's. There is no guiding in the area, but the hotel Manager is a keen advisor to the good spots. These spots are easy to find anyhow following our instructions.

A river picnic hamper can be ordered to the hotel, otherwise you could go to local market buy your own, which is always pleasant. The hotel sits neighbourless on the river. It is a former watermill. Rooms are fresh and recent. The dining room looks like an old family farm dining room (but there is a bar) with the traditional cantou big fireplace where elder poeople used to sit during long winter wakes. The food is gorgeous and will surprise more than a gourmet.

The "Assassine" is a variant of the "Mouches Exquises" (exquisite flies) of the legendary Docteur Juge. Two turns of partridge in front of a grey coq du Limousin palmered hackle.

Aloses fishing between Bergerac and Castillon la Bataille (spot nbr # 1 on our map). Between Bergerac and Castillon (1) the Dordogne is flowing across a wonderful setting.The Alose (Alosa, alosa) is a strong migrating fish of the size of a grilse. It is supposed to accept with not too many difficulties even the wetfly of the alose rookies.

Vineyards of Bordeaux ... ...Château Caronne Saint-Gemme

Castillon la Bataille is very near Saint Emilion and all the riverbanks little towns of the area are charming... so we promise, we will explore this very soon ! (1) During the war said of 100 years, in Castillon la bataille (battle in 1453), the ancient Guyenne region was lost by our English cousins and came back to the French crown.

Around the grottos of Lascaux (spot nbr # 3 on our map) There is a nice network of fly fishing spots around the grottos of Lascaux. From the northern side, you benefit there of the touring in the Périgord already mentionned. Between the valleys of the Dordogne and of the Vézère, you will be near places like les Eyzies, Sarlat, Collonges la Rouge

A mill near Montignac