Trout fishing in the Pyrenees

Gavarnie-Gèdre
Sport

While some people take it easy on vacation, others take advantage of the opportunity to unwind their fishing lines and tease fish along the river banks. In the Pyrenees, water is omnipresent. Rivers have sculpted the landscape. At the foot of the great peaks, the pure, crystal-clear water of the three gaves of Barèges, Gavarnie, and Cauterets (a " gave " refers to a watercourse in this region) makes the Argelès-Gazost valley a favorite destination for fishermen. The exceptional natural conditions are perfect for trout fishing, the " queen of the river," provided you have a fishing license and respect the authorization periods and regulations. For gourmets who lack experience in this area, it is also possible to indulge in this passion on the superb fishing route provided by the "Truite des Pyrénées" fish farm. The advantages? No need for a fishing license, prices corresponding to the trout caught, a fun family activity and the assurance of leaving with some delicious trout to sink your teeth into.

The Hautes-Pyrénées: a little paradise for trout

Like its cousin salmon, whose production comes mainly from Norway and Scotland, trout is farmed in France. To satisfy fish consumption in France, 46,000 tonnes of trout of various varieties are produced each year: Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Grayling and Grayling. This fragile fish thrives in clean, flowing waters, ideally in a 1st category river, such as the Gave de Gavarnie in the Argelès Gazost valley. A gathering of a series of mountain torrents that have their source at altitude in the valleys of Luz-Saint-Sauveur, Cauterets, Gavarnie and Val d'Azun, the banks of this river invite beautiful walks. These clear waters are home to large populations of wild fish for fly fishing, bait fishing and lure fishing enthusiasts. Saturated with oxygen, they provide a very favorable environment for the development of quality trout.

Whether you're athletic, tactical, or a dreamer, the pleasure of fishing is within everyone's reach here. Yet even if you have the right fishing technique, if patience isn't your strong point, your fishing trip isn't likely to be fruitful! An ideal alternative, accessible to all, exists just a stone's throw from the Gave: the "La Truite des Pyrénées" fish farm and fishing trail are sure to delight you with this tasty mountain fish. What's more, it's a delightful family activity that allows you to enjoy the valley's sumptuous setting!

The “La Truite des Pyrénées” aquaculture farm: a family business run by enthusiasts

In the hollow of this exceptional valley, the aquaculture farm " La Truite des Pyrénées " is located in a branch of the Gave and benefits from a constantly renewed open-circuit water supply from the river. On site, I go to meet Franck Pomarez, the great-grandson of Abel, the founder of this family business. In 1953, the latter decided to establish a Rainbow and Brown trout farm on this site, convinced that the exceptional quality of the Gave water and his passion for salmonids could make the Trout des Pyrénées a gastronomic reference. Three generations later and with proven intergenerational know-how, Franck and his sister Fanny run the business with the same devotion to animal welfare and the excellence of their production, in an ethical, reasoned and responsible manner.

Farm tour with Franck Pomarez

The 4-hectare site that I am invited to visit with Franck includes: a fishing course and a pond open to the public, a hatchery and breeding ponds supplied all year round with fresh water (3000 liters per second), settling ponds as well as a laboratory meeting European standards which allows the trout to be processed on site for optimal freshness and traceability.

The breeding ponds

Extremely sensitive to water quality, trout are true sentinels of rivers. A connoisseur and passionate about nature and the environment, Franck explains to me that this cold-blooded fish is capricious, fragile and detects the slightest variations in the composition and temperature of the water, which are scrupulously monitored. It must be pampered for between 10 months and 3 years to reach its legal size. : a fish farm that gives the fish time to grow naturally. Thus, in March 2020, the hatching trout eggs prepare for the 2023 Christmas production! Throughout their life cycle, the trout are fed exclusively on fish and the use of antibiotics is excluded. Franck is committed to respecting the fish as much as possible, giving them the space they need to grow without overcrowding and avoiding any source of stress.

Visit to the processing workshop

The fishing trip: unforgettable moments with family and friends!

Do you want to practice before the fishing season opens ? Spend some time relaxing with friends or introduce your children to fishing ? The "La Truite des Pyrénées" fish farm has a course that offers free fishing lessons in a private pond in the heart of a green setting ! All equipment is provided: bamboo rods and bait. The density of fish in the pond is high enough to allow you to optimize your chances of catching a fish, but not too quickly. It's up to you, whether you're a beginner or an experienced fisherman. Patience is a virtue, they say...

Savor the terroir, taste the trout from the Pyrenees

With almonds, meunière or grilled, the queen of the river is a refined dish that adapts to all recipes, whether baked, steamed, en papillote, barbecued or in a salt crust. In steaks, fillets, whole or smoked, it can be found on all the best tables of the Hautes-Pyrénées restaurants.

Trout in all its forms at the “Petits Pois Sont Rouge” restaurant in Argelès Gazost

Naturally varying from light beige to a beautiful orange, its tender, melting and delicate flesh, with a fine and pronounced taste, delights all taste buds. Trout is also part of a balanced diet by presenting real nutritional benefits : proteins, polyunsaturated fatty acids Omega 3, vitamins D, B3, B12 and minerals. To vary the pleasures, the aquaculture farm shop offers a range of fresh products (fillets, steaks, steaks, etc.) and prepared with trout : gazpacho, velouté, crumbled with sorrel, chives, peppers, tomato, green pepper... trout bends to all your desires!