Training in all things French

My bucket list includes fly fishing in every country I visit.

Dottie’s list is slightly different. But we both love France and want to return. Naturally, I wondered about fly fishing there.

Voila! I found a stream where the French fly-fishing team trains. It’s in Provence near the village of L’isle sur la Sorgue. I didn’t know the French had a fly-fishing team. Que font-ils? Pourquoi?

There is actually an international organization FIPS-Mouche (Federation Internationale de Peche Sportive Mouche) that has been running the World Fly Fishing Championships since 1952. There are close to 30 teams (five members a team per country) who compete over a three-day period at the country and venue (rivers, lakes) chosen by the FIPS governing committee.

Last year the championships were held in the Czech Republic (the Czechs won). France placed second. The USA finished fifth behind England and Finland. This year the competition will be in Bosnia Herzegovina. In 2016, the championships return to the USA and will be held in Vail, Colorado.

One would expect that the French would be at or near the top in wine-making, cooking, cheese-making, faire l’amour, etc., but why are they so good at fly fishing? Are the magic waters of La Sorgue River in Provence the secret of their success? Such a question demands research, which is why I told Dottie that I found this lovely little village in Provence for us to stay for a few days. 

Fortunately, my case was strengthened by the fact that it is the site of a weekly antique fair that is considered to be one of the best in France. Sarah Anderson, owner of Chateau Sonoma antiques, does a lot of shopping for her store there.

While I continue my training with the aid of good Sonoma sourdough French bread, French fries, yes, and even some French wines, I am also learning a little French. “Que mouches travaillent?” – What flies are working? “Etes-vous sur il ya du poisson ici?” – Are you sure there are fish here? “Se il vous plait me aider a obtenir ce crochet de mon lobe de l’oreille.” Please help me get this fly out of my earlobe.

Fishing this week near Sonoma is best in the Bay and off the coast. Sturgeon are biting in the “triangle,” bordered by China Camp, the Pump House and Buoy 5. Weather and tides are always critical to good fishing on the Bay. Keith Fraser, at Loch Lomond Bait Shop in San Rafael, is the guru of Bay sturgeon fishing and best resource for any and all info regarding a good time and day to fish, and with what kind of bait. Keith also books party boats for Bay fishing. Call him at 415-456-0321. 

Off Sonoma’s coast, anglers can still find lots of dungeness crab and, with the help of party boat captains like Rick Powers, you can do a combo “crab and dab” trip where you can catch almost as many sand dabs as you want, plus a limit of tasty crab. Call Rick at Bodega Bay Sportfishing, 875-3344.

Hunting

and

Fishing

Bill

Lynch