Fishing
Two Verdons for two kinds of fishing: the brown trout of the fast-flowing waters upstream, in the first-category gorges, and the predator fish of Lake Sainte-Croix — pike, zander, perch, black-bass and large catfish. From fly to float-tube, here’s where, when and how to fish, licences and regulations included.
The Verdon can be fished in two ways that have almost nothing in common. Upstream, the young, cold river tumbles down from its source; this is the domain of the wild brown trout, fished with a fly, in first-category water. Downstream, the river settles into large turquoise lakes of second category where pike, zander and catfish are hunted. The common thread running through this diversity: Lake Sainte-Croix, one of the finest predator-fishing lakes in the south of France.
Upstream, the Verdon tumbles down from its source at the foot of the Col d’Allos, all the way to Castellane and the Grand Canyon: fast-flowing, cold water classed as first category. This is the domain of the wild brown trout, fished with a fly or by “toc” (a bottom-bait technique fished by touch, without a float), amid gorges and turquoise pools. The Colostre and the torrents of the Haut-Verdon round out this wild, sporting fishing ground.
Downstream, the river widens into a 2,200-hectare turquoise lake — France’s fourth-largest reservoir. Here anglers hunt predator fish: pike, zander, perch, black-bass and large catfish, from the bank, by float-tube or from an electric boat. The lake hosts a “Passion”-labelled fishing route, with launch ramps and information panels all along the shore.
The Verdon strings together five lakes. Castillon, upstream, mixes trout and predator fish in the Haut-Verdon. Esparron (328 ha) is renowned for its big pike and abundant perch, in the calm of the Basses Gorges. Quinson, more low-key, and the high-altitude lakes around Allos offer mountain fishing far from the crowds.
From torrent trout to lake giants, the Verdon basin is home to remarkable fish life. Predator fish make the reputation of Lake Sainte-Croix; trout, that of the river and the Grand Canyon.
The queen of fast-flowing water: wild trout from the upper Verdon, the Colostre and the torrents of the Haut-Verdon. Fished with fly, “toc” or lure, from the March opening to early October. Legal catch size: 23 cm in rivers.
The big predator fish of Lake Sainte-Croix and Lake Esparron. Pike (60 cm minimum size) are hunted with lures and live bait; zander, more discreet, favour deep water and dusk. Fishing open year-round, outside spring reserve zones.
The ultimate fighting fish, common in the coves of Sainte-Croix. Fished under strict no-kill rules: every catch is returned to the water. Temporary reserves protect its spawning grounds from the 2nd Saturday of March to the 2nd Friday of June.
The lake’s biggest fish, elusive but well established at Sainte-Croix. Large specimens are caught on big lures or with a static bait, by float-tube or boat. A powerful fight guaranteed — release with care.
Each type of water calls for its own technique. Fly and “toc” on the river; lure fishing, float-tube and trolling on the lakes. On Sainte-Croix, only electric boats are allowed to navigate.
The signature technique of the upper Verdon: light casts, a delicate drift and wary brown trout, amid the gorges and on the Colostre. Fly-fishing guides take beginners and experienced anglers out from Castellane.
With soft lures, spoons and swimbaits, anglers work pike, zander, perch and black-bass along the drop-offs and weed beds of Sainte-Croix and Esparron.
The signature technique of the big lakes: seated in an inflatable float-tube, you can reach spots unreachable from the bank. The car park at the Base de l’Étoile, by the Pont du Galetas, is a good starting point.
From an electric boat — the only kind of boat allowed on Sainte-Croix — anglers troll their lures to cover large areas. Open on the lake from 11 March to 1 October.
Dates and quotas change every year and differ between the 04 and 83 départements: always confirm with the federation’s annual notice before fishing.
A fishing licence is mandatory everywhere. It can be bought online at cartedepeche.fr or from authorised retailers (tourist offices, fishing tackle shops). Since Lake Sainte-Croix is shared between two départements, these three resources will point you to the right one depending on the shore.
The 04 federation manages the upper Verdon, the Colostre and the north shore of Sainte-Croix. It publishes the official notice every year (dates, quotas, reserves), and its licence is a member of the Club Halieutique Interdépartemental (reciprocal access).
The Var federation manages the south shore of Lake Sainte-Croix (Bauduen, Les Salles, Aiguines) and Lake Esparron. As the lake straddles two départements, check that your licence covers the shore where you’re fishing.
Local associations (Verdon Colostre, La Truite Moustierenne in the 04, La Truite Varoise du Verdon in the 83) manage fish stocks. They can advise on fishing routes, reserves and licence sales points.
To progress fast — reading the water, choosing the right fly or lure, finding predator-fish spots — nothing beats a trip out with a Verdon fishing guide. Some provide all the gear and cater to beginners and experienced anglers alike.
Professionals of the river and the lake. We don’t publish their contact details until each one has been verified individually: book via their own website, or find them, as they get validated, in our directory of operators.
A fly-fishing guide right in the heart of the gorges: introduction and improvement courses on the Verdon and its tributaries, gear provided, guided outings by the day or half-day.
Guides specialising in predator fish take anglers after pike, zander and black-bass by electric boat and float-tube on Sainte-Croix. Book via their website or the directory of operators.
In the river, inside the gorges and downstream of the dams, the Verdon’s water level can rise suddenly during EDF water releases. Never set up on a dry riverbed without knowing the release schedule, keep an eye on the current, and head for the bank at the slightest doubt. The same rules that apply to whitewater sports apply here too — see also our Safety page.
Spring and early autumn are the finest seasons: the trout season opens in March, predator fish are active in the cool of the day, and the lakes are quieter than at the height of summer. Combine a fishing trip with a swim at Lake Sainte-Croix, a stop in Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, Bauduen or Castellane, and plan your dates with When to visit.
Yes, a fishing licence is mandatory everywhere, in rivers as well as lakes. In the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04), expect around €18 for a day licence, €87 for the annual “adult” licence and €114 for the inter-federation licence, valid on reciprocal-access waters in many départements. It can be bought online at cartedepeche.fr or from authorised retailers (the tourist offices of Annot, Castellane, Colmars, La Palud and Saint-André). Since Lake Sainte-Croix straddles the Var (83) and the 04, check that your licence covers the shore where you’re fishing.
Lake Sainte-Croix (2,200 ha) is the top predator-fishing spot: pike, zander, perch, black-bass and large catfish are caught from the bank, by float-tube or from an electric boat, along a “Passion”-labelled route equipped with launch ramps and information panels. Lake Esparron, in the Basses Gorges, is renowned for its big pike and perch. Predator fishing is open year-round, outside spring reserve zones.
In first-category rivers, salmonid fishing (brown trout above all) opens on the second weekend of March — 14 March in 2026 — and closes on the first Sunday of October. In mountain areas and on the high-altitude lakes of the Haut-Verdon, the opening can be pushed back later in the season: always check the federation’s annual notice before heading out.
Yes, black-bass are well established in the coves of Sainte-Croix, but they must be fished under strict no-kill rules: every catch has to be released. Temporary reserve zones also protect predator-fish spawning grounds, generally from the second Saturday of March to the second Friday of June. These zones are clearly marked: respect them to protect the resource.
Yes, but only electric boats are allowed on Lake Sainte-Croix — no petrol engines. Many anglers prefer the float-tube, ideal for reaching spots unreachable from the bank; the car park at the Base Nautique de l’Étoile, by the Pont du Galetas, is a good starting point. Trolling is allowed from 11 March to 1 October.