Activities on or by the water
Where can we go fishing in the Montagne Noire?
All sorts of fishing techniques are possible in the lakes and waterways of the Montagne Noire!
FISHING FOR ENTHUSIASTS
Calling all fishing enthusiasts, the rivers and lakes of the Montagne Noire boast a wide variety of fishing spots suitable for varied techniques. A great diversity of fauna and flora has the chance to develop in these natural spaces. The fish benefit from incredible habitats, much to the delight of anglers!
Lake fishing
There are so many lakes to choose from in the Montagne Noire, for a relaxing fishing outing in your chosen spot.
Category 1 lakes
Four of the five lakes in the Montagne Noire are category 1 fishing spots, where fishing with dead or live fish is forbidden.
At Lampy lake, you can fish for brown trout, roach, gudgeon and rotengle.
The Galaube is full of rainbow trout (wild), gudgeon and rotengle.
At Saint-Denis lake, you can fish for rainbow trout.
As for Birotos lake, which is managed by the local council, you can fish for rainbow trout, gudgeon and minnow, as long as you apply for a fishing permit first from the ‘Fario Pradelloise’ association. In return, the association will make sure you don’t leave empty-handed!
Category 2 lake
Laprade-Basse lake is the only category 2 lake in the Montagne Noire, and it helps to diversity the fishing opportunities here. There is a small and larger lake.
In the larger lake, there are carnivorous fish such as pike, pikeperch and perch. However, you’ll also find white fish there such as roach, rotengle and carp.
At the small lake, you can fish for rainbow trout, gudgeon, rotengle and carp.
Fishing in white waters
On this sort of fishing outing, you’ll be moving around from spot to spot. This means you’ll increase your chance of catching something. This technique is popular with sporty anglers.
Category 1 waterways
The Rigole de la Montagne and the waterways flowing down the south-east side of the Montagne Noire massif are all category 1 fishing zones. Between the wild fish and the trout that are added to these waters, you can expect a great fishing experience!
In Caudebronde, fishing is authorised from the Séverac embankment to Le Foulan, an area that covers 700 metres.
In Cuxac-Cabardès, the category 1 fishing zone in the Dure river stretches from the village meadow to the Point Calvaire, covering 500 metres.
In Mas-Cabardès, you have several possibilities. You can choose to fish between the bridge at the Botta housing estate and the bridge at the former police station, in a 900-metre-long area. You can pick a spot between Pinsard bridge and Marionbelle bridge, covering a 1,820-metre area.
The Vernassonne in Saissac and the Alzeau in Lacombe are also great places for fishing.
Category 2 waterways
The Category 1 waterways of the Montagne Noire that flow down the south-east side of the massif become category 2 waterways further down. You can fish for different sorts of fish there.
One of these zones is the Rieussec. Its category 2 zone is between the upstream source and where it merges with the Orbiel (in Conques-Sur Orbel, Salsigne, Villardonnel and Cuxac-Cabardès).
The La Tourette, Le Rieutord, La Grave, Arnette and Grezillou streams are also category 2 waterways for fishing and are surprising places.
The ‘No Kill’ zones.
For more sensitive beginner anglers, the ‘No Kill’ zones offer the advantage of being able to put any fish you catch back into the water alive. It is strictly forbidden to take these fish away with you!
There are several ‘No Kill’ zones in the Montagne Noire.
The ‘No Kill’ salmonid zone in Lastours covers 1.2 km from Foulon dam to the public works building.
At Laprade Basse lake, you can fish for carnivorous fish and trout in the ‘No Kill’ zones.
Only fishing with bait is authorised here!
Don’t forget to put all the fish you catch back in the water!
‘Accueil Pêche’ accommodation
If the main reason for visiting the Montagne Noire is to go fishing, then we recommend staying at accommodation that has been ‘Accueil Pêche’ certified by the Audoise Fishing Federation: the gites Les Chalets Bes, Black Mountain Village and Au Bois de Mars are all ideal.
FISHING AS A FAMILY
Fishing is the perfect family activity as it helps develop patience and perseverance in a unique natural environment. An opportunity to spend some real quality time together as a family.
Angling
There are facilities at Lampy and Laprade lakes to make it easier for families to go fishing there. On the shores of these lakes in the Montagne Noire, you’ll find pontoons, small jetties and picnic tables. All that’s left to do is get out your fishing rods and wait for the fish to take the bait!
If you’d like to go fishing with a professional, the Aude Fishing Federation organises fun and educational workshops and other various activities throughout the year.
Crayfish fishing
Crayfish fishing is a fun activity for children, and it is also useful because it reduces the presence of this invasive species in the lakes. The technique is relatively simple: drop your crayfish net to the bottom of the water with bait inside it and you’ll have caught several crayfish within minutes!
At Lampy and Laprade-Basse lakes, you and your family will enjoy catching American crayfish.
Lac de Picarel
Lac du Picarel is a private lake offering a range of activities.
From April to October, come and fish for trout, either on the spot or to take away with you! No-licence fishing for young and old and equipment available. From October to March, book in advance for fly-fishing, with or without catering!
Get all the right gear for fishing in the Montagne Noire
Buy your fishing permit
An individual fishing permit is compulsory to be able to go fishing.
To go fishing in the rivers and most of the lakes in the Montagne Noire, you can buy your fishing permit from the Saissac Tourist Information Office or on the website cartedepeche.fr
To go fishing at Birotos lake, you’ll need to buy your permit from the ‘Fario Pradelloise’ association
Lake fishing
There are so many lakes to choose from in the Montagne Noire, for a relaxing fishing outing in your chosen spot.
Category 1 lakes
Four of the five lakes in the Montagne Noire are category 1 fishing spots, where fishing with dead or live fish is forbidden.
At Lampy lake, you can fish for brown trout, roach, gudgeon and rotengle.
The Galaube is full of rainbow trout (wild), gudgeon and rotengle.
At Saint-Denis lake, you can fish for rainbow trout.
As for Birotos lake, which is managed by the local council, you can fish for rainbow trout, gudgeon and minnow, as long as you apply for a fishing permit first from the ‘Fario Pradelloise’ association. In return, the association will make sure you don’t leave empty-handed!
Category 2 lake
Laprade-Basse lake is the only category 2 lake in the Montagne Noire, and it helps to diversity the fishing opportunities here. There is a small and larger lake.
In the larger lake, there are carnivorous fish such as pike, pikeperch and perch. However, you’ll also find white fish there such as roach, rotengle and carp.
At the small lake, you can fish for rainbow trout, gudgeon, rotengle and carp.
Fishing in white waters
On this sort of fishing outing, you’ll be moving around from spot to spot. This means you’ll increase your chance of catching something. This technique is popular with sporty anglers.
Category 1 waterways
The Rigole de la Montagne and the waterways flowing down the south-east side of the Montagne Noire massif are all category 1 fishing zones. Between the wild fish and the trout that are added to these waters, you can expect a great fishing experience!
In Caudebronde, fishing is authorised from the Séverac embankment to Le Foulan, an area that covers 700 metres.
In Cuxac-Cabardès, the category 1 fishing zone in the Dure river stretches from the village meadow to the Point Calvaire, covering 500 metres.
In Mas-Cabardès, you have several possibilities. You can choose to fish between the bridge at the Botta housing estate and the bridge at the former police station, in a 900-metre-long area. You can pick a spot between Pinsard bridge and Marionbelle bridge, covering a 1,820-metre area.
The Vernassonne in Saissac and the Alzeau in Lacombe are also great places for fishing.
Category 2 waterways
The Category 1 waterways of the Montagne Noire that flow down the south-east side of the massif become category 2 waterways further down. You can fish for different sorts of fish there.
One of these zones is the Rieussec. Its category 2 zone is between the upstream source and where it merges with the Orbiel (in Conques-Sur Orbel, Salsigne, Villardonnel and Cuxac-Cabardès).
The La Tourette, Le Rieutord, La Grave, Arnette and Grezillou streams are also category 2 waterways for fishing and are surprising places.
The ‘No Kill’ zones.
For more sensitive beginner anglers, the ‘No Kill’ zones offer the advantage of being able to put any fish you catch back into the water alive. It is strictly forbidden to take these fish away with you!
There are several ‘No Kill’ zones in the Montagne Noire.
The ‘No Kill’ salmonid zone in Lastours covers 1.2 km from Foulon dam to the public works building.
At Laprade Basse lake, you can fish for carnivorous fish and trout in the ‘No Kill’ zones.
Only fishing with bait is authorised here!
Don’t forget to put all the fish you catch back in the water!
‘Accueil Pêche’ accommodation
If the main reason for visiting the Montagne Noire is to go fishing, then we recommend staying at accommodation that has been ‘Accueil Pêche’ certified by the Audoise Fishing Federation: the gites Les Chalets Bes, Black Mountain Village and Au Bois de Mars are all ideal.
FISHING AS A FAMILY
Fishing is the perfect family activity as it helps develop patience and perseverance in a unique natural environment. An opportunity to spend some real quality time together as a family.
Angling
There are facilities at Lampy and Laprade lakes to make it easier for families to go fishing there. On the shores of these lakes in the Montagne Noire, you’ll find pontoons, small jetties and picnic tables. All that’s left to do is get out your fishing rods and wait for the fish to take the bait!
If you’d like to go fishing with a professional, the Aude Fishing Federation organises fun and educational workshops and other various activities throughout the year.
Crayfish fishing
Crayfish fishing is a fun activity for children, and it is also useful because it reduces the presence of this invasive species in the lakes. The technique is relatively simple: drop your crayfish net to the bottom of the water with bait inside it and you’ll have caught several crayfish within minutes!
At Lampy and Laprade-Basse lakes, you and your family will enjoy catching American crayfish.
Lac de Picarel
Lac du Picarel is a private lake offering a range of activities.
From April to October, come and fish for trout, either on the spot or to take away with you! No-licence fishing for young and old and equipment available. From October to March, book in advance for fly-fishing, with or without catering!
Get all the right gear for fishing in the Montagne Noire
Buy your fishing permit
An individual fishing permit is compulsory to be able to go fishing.
To go fishing in the rivers and most of the lakes in the Montagne Noire, you can buy your fishing permit from the Saissac Tourist Information Office or on the website cartedepeche.fr
To go fishing at Birotos lake, you’ll need to buy your permit from the ‘Fario Pradelloise’ association
