Just got back from fishing in France

[Gavin Burt]

Just spent the weekend fishing in Fumay, France.

Way out of my comfort zone on such a large and expansive river vs. Warks Avon I normally fish but a beautiful place to visit, with the weather being about as consistent as the local bar / restaurant opening hours !!!

Very few fish caught recently (after speaking to other anglers) but managed to catch two barbel. I unfortunately lost a couple also due to the slate river bed. Much better after I switched to coated braid.

Highly recommend a visit and I’ll come again later in the year.

Where is it:
Fumay is about 3.5-hours from Calais bang on the Belgium border, it’s a small town and is equipped with an Aldi and a CarreFour. From the town, the river is a few mins drive from the town centre.

There were only two bars open (Escale and Cafe du Nord) and the only three places for food:
-Escale = food was excellent
-Hostellerie de la Vallée = food was excellent
-Pizzeria Sous La Voûte = don’t eat here as it shut quite early

Pretty much everywhere shuts at 9:30 so don’t expect a days fishing and then a few beers and a takeaway at 11pm (like we did) !!! You’ll also need to dust down your GCSE French books too as it’s pretty much a non-English-speaking town.

We got the Ferry as we had some ClubCard points to use up but you can obviously get the EuroTunnel but it’s almost double the cost.

License:
You need a license (Carte de Peche) to fish France and it’s very strict with heavy fines…as it should be. I got a weekly ticket for €34 but you can buy an annual one for €100.

The Carte de Peche is split into zones (well it was with a weekly ticket I bought) - simply search for for FUMAY in the field marked “City, association” when you go to buy a ticket.

Accueil

www.cartedepeche.fr

NOTE: If you have used your browser to translate the page then you will need to disable this before the card payment step otherwise the website just hangs.

Duty Free:
Remember anything you buy over €100 you can claim the tax back on.

We grabbed a load of wine from the Calais Wine Warehouse (near the port) and got a 15% tax refund in it. You need to scan the receipt barcode at the little Tax Free Zone at the ferry port, it’s just past the UK Customs passport check area off the large roundabout before you go to the Ferry lines.

Compared to the UK we got £600 of decent red wine & Cremont for £305 !!! Calais Wine Warwhiuse also offer free / discounted ferries if you spend a certain amount with them so this could coincide with a trip.

We also stopped off half-way in Lille which was beautiful. It’s a clear-air zone so we parked at Porte d’Arras and got the Metro into the city which was a 10-minute journey.

Will definitely return later in the year for a long weekend. Have heard Revin is a good location too and only up the road from Fumay.

HTH anyone looking to plan a trip.

 

[Ben Marr]

Nice one, Gavin, looks fantastic.
Some very good info there for anyone planning a trip.

 

[Jim Brook]

Looks beautiful Gavin, me and a pal are thinking of going to give it a try next year, we are thinking of doing the smaller rivers mainly but will take the Trent gear too, and have a good drive around probably go for ten day’s and camp mainly with the odd bed and breakfast. I’m really looking forward to it

 

[Lewis Baldwin]

Just spent the weekend fishing in Fumay, France.

Way out of my comfort zone on such a large and expansive river vs. Warks Avon I normally fish but a beautiful place to visit, with the weather being about as consistent as the local bar / restaurant opening hours !!!

Very few fish caught recently (after speaking to other anglers) but managed to catch two barbel. I unfortunately lost a couple also due to the slate river bed. Much better after I switched to coated braid.

Highly recommend a visit and I’ll come again later in the year.

Where is it:
Fumay is about 3.5-hours from Calais bang on the Belgium border, it’s a small town and is equipped with an Aldi and a CarreFour. From the town, the river is a few mins drive from the town centre.

There were only two bars open (Escale and Cafe du Nord) and the only three places for food:
-Escale = food was excellent
-Hostellerie de la Vallée = food was excellent
-Pizzeria Sous La Voûte = don’t eat here as it shut quite early

Pretty much everywhere shuts at 9:30 so don’t expect a days fishing and then a few beers and a takeaway at 11pm (like we did) !!! You’ll also need to dust down your GCSE French books too as it’s pretty much a non-English-speaking town.

We got the Ferry as we had some ClubCard points to use up but you can obviously get the EuroTunnel but it’s almost double the cost.

License:
You need a license (Carte de Peche) to fish France and it’s very strict with heavy fines…as it should be. I got a weekly ticket for €34 but you can buy an annual one for €100.

The Carte de Peche is split into zones (well it was with a weekly ticket I bought) - simply search for for FUMAY in the field marked “City, association” when you go to buy a ticket.

Accueil

www.cartedepeche.fr

NOTE: If you have used your browser to translate the page then you will need to disable this before the card payment step otherwise the website just hangs.

Duty Free:
Remember anything you buy over €100 you can claim the tax back on.

We grabbed a load of wine from the Calais Wine Warehouse (near the port) and got a 15% tax refund in it. You need to scan the receipt barcode at the little Tax Free Zone at the ferry port, it’s just past the UK Customs passport check area off the large roundabout before you go to the Ferry lines.

Compared to the UK we got £600 of decent red wine & Cremont for £305 !!! Calais Wine Warwhiuse also offer free / discounted ferries if you spend a certain amount with them so this could coincide with a trip.

We also stopped off half-way in Lille which was beautiful. It’s a clear-air zone so we parked at Porte d’Arras and got the Metro into the city which was a 10-minute journey.

Will definitely return later in the year for a long weekend. Have heard Revin is a good location too and only up the road from Fumay.

HTH anyone looking to plan a trip.

View attachment 35357

Nice write up Gavin

I recognise each one of those swims

Had a good number through there when I visited, plus loads of bream and chub.

That white house opposite is Ade Kiddels old place 'Kingfisher Maison'

Thanks

Lewis

 

[Vince Maddock]

Nice write up.

 

[Gavin Burt]

Looks beautiful Gavin, me and a pal are thinking of going to give it a try next year, we are thinking of doing the smaller rivers mainly but will take the Trent gear too, and have a good drive around probably go for ten day’s and camp mainly with the odd bed and breakfast. I’m really looking forward to it

The image of me fishing the valley with a woolly hat on is about 10-steps from a camp site called “Camping Le Bellevue à Fumay”.

 

[Gavin Burt]

Looks beautiful Gavin, me and a pal are thinking of going to give it a try next year, we are thinking of doing the smaller rivers mainly but will take the Trent gear too, and have a good drive around probably go for ten day’s and camp mainly with the odd bed and breakfast. I’m really looking forward to it

The image of me fishing the valley with a woolly hat on is about 10-steps from a camp site called “Camping Le Bellevue à Fumay

Nice write up Gavin

I recognise each one of those swims

Had a good number through there when I visited, plus loads of bream and chub.

That white house opposite is Ade Kiddels old place 'Kingfisher Maison'

Thanks

Lewis

Thanks, yes that’s Ade’s old place it was a beautiful spot.

I think I just hit spawning time as catch rates were very low, one guy had been there a week and not had a sniff so I was happy with 2 in 3 days.

It’s a big old river though and very different to where I fish locally on the W.Avon (Barford).

I’ll definitely go again later in the year.

 

[Jon Frisby]

Nice write up Gavin and even better info... thank u.