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GourmetFly.com
Provence -2-
Le Verdon
Bonjour Nick. I had a fantastic time last night. The fishing, scenery and
most importantly, the guiding, were all first class. Your man is a real
professional, accomplished and pleasant both. If he fished at all, and I'm
not sure he did, it was only after taking excellent care of his clients. In
my experience, it is the guides who don't fish while guiding who we clients
would love to see fish and the opposite is also true! Thus the experience
between La Sorgue and last night was as we say, chalk and cheese!
I will not be able to make the next camp out as we are in the UK for a few
days but I will definately be contacting you again. Thank you for
your organisation, Cheers,Peter.
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Spectacular Verdon
The Verdon is one of the most memorable setting of the world for a fishing party. Visitors from Colorado, New-Zealand
or South-Africa, have been impressed by the scenery. It is sheer nature at its best featuring crystal clear emerald
waters and white canyon cliffs of sometimes 700 meters high. It is a paradise for hikers, climbers and photographers.
These are also prime waters to fly-fish for sometimes quite big brown trout. There are rather easy and ... less
easy fishing spots. Our guide knows them all.
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The charm of the narrow streets in thevillages of Provence
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Canyon picture courtesy of the excellent website www.tourism83.com where other views can be admired
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Touring around the gorges du Verdon is a fantastic experience. The features are the outstanding
landscapes of the gorges but also the lavender fields of the plateau de Valensole and the many typical villages.
The snowy peaks of the Alpes make a wonderful background to most of the views.
Our selection of accomodations include three Old stone hotels of the highest standard
(one offers a prime golf course). There is also the small inn (auberge) of a tiny provençal village
that we like a lot, and a couple of very pleasant B&B, (Chambres d'hôte en gîte rural).
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Fishing fees
Trout season from mid-March to mid-September
Prices in 2005
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From June 1st to Sep 20th, Holiday licence around 30 euros
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Full licence (before June 1st), around 60 euros
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No day ticket
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Guided session afternoon-dusk or dawn-mid-day
1 angler 185 euros - 2 anglers 145 euros per angler
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Unique in France
Very attractive sleep outs can be organized down in the gorges. 24 hours session,
1 angler 380 euros, 2 anglers 275 euros per angler.
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Mediterranean type brown trout
In the gorges of the river Verdon
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Our selection of accomodations - Provence - Verdon -
-A- High (or very high) standard Old stones hotels -B- Village auberge -C- Chambre d'hôtes
Old stones B&B -
We can also help you find the best located rental cottage for your holiday
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Fishing in the Gorges du Verdon
By Gourmetfly.com
Guiding on the Verdon
Our guide, knows stretches of easy access and others really tricky, some of them needing
ropes to join the fishing place. Easy or tricky, they are all beautiful. Depending on your physical shape, he can
offer outings for all levels. He also currently organizes night camps at the most remote stretches. It is the best
way to make sure that no minute of dusk or dawn will be missed.
Fly Fishing
Le Verdon offers excellent Fly Fishing conditions. The surrounding is almost only mineral,
no tree spoils your casting. The waters are very clear allowing to often see the targetted fish. The river is
full of boulders producing countless hides and currents that trout like. All techniques are used from dry fly,
to nymph (often at sight on spotted fish) and small streamers to drift around boulders and deeper in the pools.
Gear
The water is cold, a pair of waders is needed. Any trout rod from 8,5 to
10 feet can be used. Floating light lines 3/4, are ideal for dry fly when weight, 5/6 does better for nymph and
small streamer.
"Au toc", bait fishing
For days of high waters or if you are accompanied by friends or children who are not familiar
with fly rods, it is very interesting to try the particular bait fishing named "au toc". The bait is
usually an uncased caddis larva is smoothly drifted around the boulders and in the veins of current. You must be
very attentive to strike when you feel the discreet "toc" of the fish on your hook. Artificial nymphs
are now used for this art making the "au toc" fishing the real complement of fly fishing. Again for beginners
or children, light spinning is also a rewarding technique to use.
Lake fishing
Apart from the river itself, the course of the Verdon offers a number of impressive lakes
of deep blue waters. In these are found huge lake trout and other carnivorous fish like pike or zander. The lakes
being quite deep, the fishing techniques vary from trolling to heavy spinning or bait fishing.
The entrance of the gorges where the cliffs are not so high
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