Fishing is a family-friendly and sociable activity, but it should be practised with respect for nature and the local flora and fauna. Here is a brief reminder of the most important rules to follow:

• Read the fishing licence carefully, especially the permitted times, restrictions and prohibitions.
• Do not damage natural areas: Pay attention to the flora when walking along the shore and pick up your rubbish.
• Use special rods and hooks for fresh water.
• Depending on the body of water, certain fishing techniques may be prohibited or restricted.
• In protected ecosystems, no-kill may be mandatory.
• Observe the permitted number of catches per person.

The Guide du Périgord has listed the different species of fish that you can discover - and fish for - in the rivers and ponds of the Dordogne:

• Salmonids: the brown trout, the grayling and the brown salmon. Sometimes some rainbow trout are also introduced into the fishing routes.
• Predatory fish: perch, pike, black bass, catfish and zander.
• White fish: carp, rudd, ruffe, ruffe, stone loach, crucian carp, tench, dace, bullhead and bream, gudgeon, minnow...
• Fishing for eel is the exception rather than the rule.
• Some crayfish can also be found in the rivers, but these are rare.

The top 3 rivers with the most fish in the Périgord are :

• L’Auvézère
• La Loue
• L’Isle

The Dronne is very nice for fishing directly from the boat. The Vézère near Montignac is still a good spot, even if the crowds of tourists in canoes can sometimes get out of hand. The same applies to the Dordogne, where the incessant ballet of gabarres and canoes can disturb the tranquillity of your fishing sessions.

There are also a large number of fishing ponds "here with us" - below is a list of the most beautiful fishing spots:

In Périgord noir

• Les étangs de Tamniès : for tench, carp, roach, pike, perch, gudgeon, zander and sturgeon. There are two ponds. The larger one, with its leisure centre, is ideal for swimming. The smaller one is recommended for fishing.
• In the Étangs du Bos you will find roach, gudgeon, carp, tench and zander. No-kill is appreciated but not compulsory.
• Les étangs de Fongran in Thonac for trout and carp.
• Le Plan d’eau de Groléjac has beautiful specimens of whitefish and predatory fish such as pike, zander, roach and bleak! You will also find some migratory fish such as eels and shad. Fishing on the water is free and authorised by the municipality from 7 am to 7 pm.

In Périgord blanc

• L’étang de la Barde is very rich in fish and is also very popular with numerous birds that nest and feed here.
• Le lac de Neufont is famous for trout and carp.
• Le lac de Gurson : pike, zander, perch and black bass. No-kill is compulsory on the small "Carpodrome" water area.
• 250 kg of trout were released in the Fossemagne pond on 4 January 2024. As the pond has now been classified in the second category, it can be fished all year round. It becomes a no-kill trout reservoir from the end of October to mid-March. To fish, you will need a fishing licence and a map of the water.

In Périgord vert

• L’étang du Coucou in Hautefort, where fishing competitions are organised all year round.
• L’étang de Saint-Estèphe where you can fish for rainbow trout. It is regularly restocked.
• La Retenue de Mialet, in the heart of the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park.
• The Rouffiac lac offers a fishing course that has been awarded the quality label.

In Périgord pourpre

• The lac de Pombonne, where you can fish for predatory fish such as pike or black bass, but also rainbow trout. Natural bait is prohibited and limited to two hooks.
• Les Eaux de Queyssac also seem to be a great fishing spot (the village is definitely very pretty!).

Below we have listed the routes that have been awarded the seal of approval as they appear on the website of the Fédération de Dordogne pour la Pêche et la Protection du Milieu Aquatique:

• The "discovery routes" are intended for beginners who want to discover and/or learn how to fish in good access and safety conditions, with maximum guarantee of success for the first catch.

• The "family routes" for people who want to enjoy high-quality recreational fishing with their family.

• The "passion" routes, which are intended for experienced anglers specialising in particular areas (salmonids, carp, predatory fish, etc.).

If you want to learn more about professional fishing, don't miss this pleasant tour from the water sports basin in Trémolat, which I describe in my article below (in French):

... and finally a little "appetiser" with the video prepared by the Fédération Pêche Dordogne showing emblematic fishing spots on the exceptional stretch of the Vézère between Montignac-Lascaux and Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère: