France

Bank access is good all-around these areas. As you travel further south the River Ognon is the first tributary of real interest to cat anglers. This is a fantastic looking river, though access is not great. The banks are very steep and heavily overgrown. If you can find some access then this is a really exciting venue, it regularly turns up fish over 100lb though mainly to boat angler’s clonking and drifting with live baits. A river that doesn’t get much attention from UK anglers, the last five miles before entering the Saone are where you stand a better chance of success.

Continuing the journey we soon arrive at Verdun Sur Le Doubs, a nice little town with three or four tackle shops for you to stock up on essentials or buy licenses from. Here is where another fine but difficult tributary enters the Saone, The River Doubs. The Doubs in normal conditions is much faster and colder than the Saone and during high summer can be much more productive, but like the Ognon bank access is not great and the few areas where there is access tend to get heavily fished. Areas to look at are Pontoux, Saunieres / Sermesse but it’s worth spending time reccy-ing the lower parts of the river as many little farm tracks lead to hidden swims you would never know where there. Again locals tend to attack it from boats and this river has real pedigree with fish close to 200lb (2m) being taken in recent years. Verdun itself offers boat access with at least two good slipways one of which is within a campsite so is a good base for a trip. Below Verdun you are now entering catfish alley, there is some really good quality fishing to be had right through to its confluence with the Rhone at Lyon. Notable area’s to try Sassenay, Allerey Sur Saone, Ormes, Chalon where the deep water near the dock area’s once produced a French record fish, Uchizy which made famous in the late 90s by Luke Moffatt and Pont De Vaux, Saint Albain, and the City of Macon to name just a few. There are decent tracks that run almost down the entirety of the river here and French farmers are unlike their UK equivalents in that they are happy for you to set up camp on their land as long as you respect it, don’t light fires or leave litter. Keep your vehicles off the main track so you don’t cause them problems with access and you will be welcomed. 

The River Seille (pictured left) is another major tributary that holds a good head of catfish, entering the river Saone at La Truchère close to Uchizy. Once the home of the French record Silure (2.2m 145lb) it has a good history of producing quality catfish since the 1960s providing the now expected good bank and boat access with slipways at the few major villages that line its banks. Many CCG members have fished this river over the last 30 years and so it’s always worth searching and asking questions on the groups forum as you research and prepare for your trips.

The River Rhone

The River Saone joins the River Rhone at Lyon, but the Rhone from Lyon down to the Mediterranean is a very different river to the Saone with a much stronger current and an influx of colder water coming in from the upper Rhone after leaving Lac Leman in Switzerland (there is a population of catfish in this stretch of the river that needs looking into ! ).

Most of the stretches between Lyon and the Mediterranean Sea have very poor bank access and thus the Rhone is a river where a boat is essential. On the up side of this, there are public slip ways ( often more than one) on every section, so putting a boat in the river is not a problem. Silure of 100lb plus are caught from the Rhone all the way down from Lyon and a fish of 200lb would not be a suprise between Lyon and the delta. At the time of writing the departments of the Drome and Ardeche allow night fishing for carp on both banks of the Rhone, so fishing with fishy boilies and pellets might catch some catfish !

The best bank access in this area is from Tournon upstream to Vion. Further down the river, just north of Arles, a section of the Rhone splits off to form the Petit Rhone this flows down the west side of the famous Camargue whilst the 'Grand' Rhone takes the east side before spilling into the Mediterranean. Good catfish can be caught from both these arms of the river but once again, bank fishing is extremely limited.

The Garonne System

Rising in the Spanish Pyrenees, this huge river system flows for over 600Km before discharging into the Atlantic via the Gironde estuary. As far as catfishing is concerned the river is really only of interest North of Toulouse. The river here is really attractive and wild in places with only limited bank side access (as usual!). As it meanders in a north westerly direction towards Montauban there is some superb water with plenty of good catfish to be caught. Nice spots to try include, Grenade, Escatalens, Castelsarassin and Saint-Nicholas-de-La-Grave.

Again, bank fishing is limited (especially away from towns and villages) and there are a limited amount of slipways. Good catting can be found anywhere here right into the large city of Bordeaux. The river from here on down to the estuary is largely untapped and offers superb peaceful catfishing for those willing to put in the time and effort. It is not easy fishing but the rewards are definitely there. Close to Moissac, the Garonne is joined by one of France's catfishing jewels The Tarn and this river has a big head of catfish to enormous sizes. Heading upstream towards the famous wine making region of Gaillac will take you through some superb catfishing areas and almost anywhere is worth a try, again, a boat is really essential to get the most out of these stunning sections of river.

From Gaillac, keep heading east and you will find yet more top catting around the large cathedral city of Albi although as always the areas well away from the towns offer more seclusion. Good catting can be found throughout this stretch of river even as far as the famous Tarn Gorge if you are feeling extra adventurous!

The River Lot also flow into the Garonne and holds a decent head of catfish although this river is better known for its Carp fishing. Much of the Garonne and its tributaries are lightly fished for catfish and there is huge potential for exploration but you will need time, effort and a boat!

The Seine

Perhaps France's most well known river probably as it runs right through the centre of Paris. The catfish population in the Seine is enormous and cats can be caught virtually through its length although the Village of Nogent-Sur-Seine would be a good upstream starting point. Following the river downstream in the Department Seine et Marne the river meanders through dozens of little villages until it is joined at Montereau by the River Yonne, a beautiful slow moving river with lilies and overhanging trees. 

After Montereau, the river turns north west and heads for the city of Melun. There are some (carp fishing only) night zones along parts of the river here and the boat traffic can be reasonably heavy. From Melun all the way through Paris for over 50Km you will find some of the best catting in France; not easy fishing but with catfish to more than 150lb it is crying out for proper investigation. Good catfish can be caught right in the centre of Paris and the internet is awash with videos of them being caught there in the shadows of some of the capitals famous landmarks - imagine that in London! North of Paris, Saint-Denis and Argenteuil have a good record for producing decent cats and anywhere is worth trying right up to Rouen - beyond there, who knows? but almost certainly yes!