With almost 1.5 million enthusiasts and 3,600 associations, fishing is one of the favourite pastimes of the French. This moment of relaxation at the water’s edge brings all the generations together to enjoy nature. But if you get a bite, even better! Get your fishing rods and hooks ready, and find the best fishing spots in the Touraine.
A number of trails and waterways are suitable and marked for fishing in Indre-et-Loire. To help you find your way around, the French fishing federation has provided three designations: ”introductory”, “family” and “expert”. The “family” spots offer recreational fishing, suitable for beginners, but also a range of activities for the whole family, while the “expert” spots are for seasoned fishers looking for high-quality fishing. The Indre-et-Loire area offers three “family” spots (the banks of the river Cher at Azay-sur-Cher, the Indre and Indrois at Azay-sur-Indre) but also sixteen fishing piers accessible to individuals with reduced mobility.
For those who prefer the calm stillness of a pond, head for the Lac des Bretonnières, owned by the association l’Amicale des Pêcheurs de Joué-lès-Tours. It offers a wide variety of different fish: pike, perch, trout… Les Viviers du Moulin de Langeais, an idyllic natural setting, will delight lovers of trout-fishing with its fish farming pond. You may leave with your fishing haul, or you may eat or purchase fresh or smoked trout on site. A must-see spot: Yzeures-sur-Creuse ! It’s one of the 22 designated “stations de pêche” (fishing stations) in France. These designated spots offer relaxation in a pleasant landscape, a commitment to eco-tourism, a tourist advice and assistance service, and also a varied events line-up starting in the spring. A true fisherman’s paradise!
Do you want to try fresh water fishing but don’t know where or how? Choose a beginner’s class or a class accompanied by a fishing guide.
Fishing and know-how with Les Pêcheries Ligériennes.
Take a half-day trip to learn about the life of a fisherman. Help pull in the nets and visit the transformation laboratory as well as the smokehouse at Les Pêcheries Ligériennes, rounding it off with a tasting of Loire fish rillettes and a local glass of wine (or fruit juice).
€60 for adults and €40 for children up age 12 - Duration 3 hours
Immersion in nature with Frédéric Brilloux, fishing guide.
A fishing instructor and guide for 19 years, Frédéric Brilloux is a lover of nature who will pass on his passion for fishing during a half-day, full-day or weekend outing on board his boat. Walking tours are also offered with an audio guide of the aquatic environment and the historical and cultural heritage. Suitable for all (families, people with reduced mobility, expert fishers), outings are “à la carte” to suit your needs, starting at €100.
Weekend fishers or expert fishers, don’t forget to take your fishing permit to help preserve the aquatic environment, promote this leisure activity and avoid a fine. There are several formats (daily, yearly, children and adults, etc.) according to your needs and your profile.
On sale at the reception desk of the Tours Loire Valley Tourist Office, 78-82 rue Bernard Palissy, Tours, and by telephone, 02 47 70 37 37.