A fantastic spot reserved for fly fishermen in the heart of Chamonix, with trouts exceeding 40 cm and exceptional colors!
Ideal for a quick fishing session with minimal risk of coming up empty-handed!
To be noticed: flyfishing ONLY ! Lures strictly prohibited.
An overlooked lake for fishing. A mistake !
It's a small, wild lake, overlooked by the ruins of an old church, with crystal-clear waters where you can find big trout as well as brook trout.
"A lovely little lake just slightly outside the center of Chamonix. I discovered it because my aunt Anne lives nearby. A great fishing spot. I go there every time I visit Chamonix"
This lesser-known fishing lake is home to large trout, with some exceeding 40 cm.
However, the AAPPMA has decided to privatize it for fly fishermen. It is strictly forbidden to fish there with lures or even bait.
The trout are therefore less cautious and are easily caught with large terrestrial flies like DDD.
Which techniques and which fish ?
In general, I go to this fishing spot in the morning, from 7 to 10 a.m. It's cooler, and the fish are still close to the surface at that time of day... and I'm not bothered by walkers!
The lake shores are lined with trees, and the foliage is abundant, which complicates the fisherman's task... especially when fly fishing. The larger trout have figured this out and often stay in the tangles of branches where they are literally untouchable
But the beauty of this body of water lies in sight fishing. Even if the big ones don't come out in the middle of the day, there are plenty of rainbow trout and 25 cm trout, ready to snap up any insect
"I generally use small flies like 'Parachutes' or 'Winged Ants' for catches over 25 cm."
The smallest flies like Parachutes or Winged Ants will manage to catch plenty of fish in these clear waters.
"A spot exclusively reserved for fly fishermen. My favorite part: the opportunity for sight fishing and witnessing the attacks of rainbow trout! And especially, the trout have incredible patterns on their scales."
Where is the Sinclair Lake (or lac à l'Anglais) ?
A fishing permit is required (AAPPMA du Faucigny). Be aware that fishing wardens are vigilant and conduct checks. Fishing is open from 01/04 to 15/10.
How to get there?
From the Aiguille du Midi train station, take the Pècles road. The lake is less than 10 minutes by car. Alternatively, by public transport, take the train to the 'Les Pelerins' stop (click on the map below to enlarge)
To visit in the area, according to Marie, my cousin from Chamonix.
Hi!
I'm Marie, Arno's cousin, the sporty fisherman/writer of this site.
I live in Chamonix. I'm a high-level skier at Ski Club des Houches. I love nature and sports... let's just say Cham is my spot!
Arno asked me for my favorite things about Chamonix in six lines. I went a bit over, but well, when you love it...
Chamonix is both a typical and vibrant small town, but above all, it's a natural space of extraordinary beauty!!!
My advices:
Hiking: An absolute must! How can you not take advantage of the view offered by the Mont-Blanc massif? I recommend hiking to Lac de Chéserys via the Flégère cable car or climbing to Aiguillette des Posettes. An incredible spot that's a bit off the beaten path.
Eating: Chamonix is also a place where you eat very well. Want to indulge after a good fishing session? Mumma restaurant (Asian cuisine) is by far my favorite, Anapurna II (Indian) and Bivouac (Savoyard specialties) are also great. But my favorite is Maison Carrier: candied raspberries, snow eggs, chocolate fondant, flan, coulis, tarts... an excellent buffet for 15 euros. Enough to comfort you if you had a tough time fishing!!
Mountain Biking: An excellent way to discover the valley in a fun way through various paths. If you like speed (like me!), I recommend going for a ride in the Les Houches area, where you'll find downhill mountain biking trails... intense sensations!
I would have added ski spots like Les Grands Montets, but if you're here for fishing, winter isn't the season, Arno mentioned.
Enjoy your time and happy fishing in Chamonix!
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