If you want to go fishing in fresh water in France you need a fishing permit, or a Carte de Peche. Rivers and ponds in France are divided into 1st and 2nd Category (1er et 2eme Categorie) waters. The principal distinction is that on 1st Category waters you need to have an extra stamp on your permit, principally in order to fish for trout and the other salmonides. This difference is negated by the purchase of a holiday fishing permit (Carte de Peche de Vacances, available from fishing shops,tabacs, town hall etc.) which covers all types of fish and both categories of water.
Rivers are patrolled by gendarmes and by gardian de peche to ensure that anglers have one.
There are a number of different permits but the simplest solution is the Carte de Peche de Vacances, which covers you for all the departments(counties/districts) and for all types of fish, notably trout and grayling.
The Carte de Peche de Vacances covers you for 15 consecutive days and currently costs 28 euros and can be used between 1st June and 30th November.
After 30th November and before 1st June an annual fishing permit is obligatory. This currently costs 60euros though prices vary from department to department. It may be used for the whole year but only in one department. You can add another 45 departments, effectively covering most areas in continental France by purchasing a Club Halieutique stamp currently costing 16 euros.
A courtesy visit to the mayoral office of your chosen area, as well as putting you wise to local bye-laws and additional charges and requirements, can also yield, (over a lengthy breakfast at your expense) local knowledge and quite possibly the offer of company on the bank, which you would do well to accept.
After putting in all this time, effort, investment and good-will......... do you honestly think it wise, to simply post that sort of information.
I would respectfully suggest, that perhaps a package holiday company, (all permits etc. arranged) would be a better introduction to moving water fishing in France, where you're not going to fall foul of the variances in local french law.
Someone always has a claim on the waters in France and the first you'll know about it, is when they turn up with the local plod, mayor, secretary and anyone else with an interest, plus the obligatory on-lookers.
Hope this helps!
