Fishing in the middle of summer at a high-altitude, snow-covered lake. One of my favorite spots. Even without stocking, the lake is teeming with cutthroat trout and brook trout.
But this spot is earned... It takes a 1-hour-and-30-minute hike to get there.
Mandatory: as there is no fish hatchery operations in this lake, I strongly recommand A NO KILL FISHING PLEASE ! Otherwise in a couple of years, it will be just an empty lake!
An incredible spot after over an hour of ascent !
Unlike the "lowland lakes" in the Chamonix Valley, fishing at Lake Cornu is much more accessible but still demands a certain level of physical strength.
It's a high mountain lake situated at an altitude of 2276 meters facing Mont Blanc, where certain species of salmonids manage to survive despite the intense cold and a frozen lake for half of the year.
First, to reach the lake, you'll need to take the Planpraz cable car, which costs over ten euros per ticket. Quite expensive for a fifteen-minute ascent...
I strongly recommend going early because, when factoring in the time in the cable car and the hike, if you start at 8:50 AM (first ascent), you'll begin fishing approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes later.
The hike takes about 2 hours, covering almost 600 meters of elevation gain with your backpack, and if you wish, even a tent for camping (which is allowed).
Abundant cutthroat trouts !
In terms of fish species, there are four that can be found:
The cutthroat trout, which makes up the majority of the catches.
The beautiful Brook Trout, recognizable by its pink spots, can reach impressive sizes.
The Arctic Char (I haven't caught any), where the specimens remain small.
... and there are minnows, but they are not very common.
The best technique: natural bait.
When it comes to fishing, by far the best technique is using a 8-gram spinning worm with minnows.
It's best to transport them in a small bucket of water to the lake to ensure the bait is perfectly fresh. However, dead minnows will also work if you have active fish, which is often the case.
In an environment like this, summer is the best time because the fish need to build up reserves for the harsh winter, and with the lake's surface being ice-free, the fish readily come to the surface.
"With a fly, during the season when grasshoppers appear along the lake's shores, an imitation of these will particularly entice brook trout to rise."
When it comes to lure fishing, it's a completely different story.
Cutthroat trout are significantly less attracted to lures and may follow them for meters without actually attacking them. I believe this is due to the limited variety of prey they have available, so they are truly intrigued by a fish of a different color!
I have occasionally caught them with lures when minnows were scarce, and one lure, in particular, had stirred up a few: the black minnow in size #2 or #3, in the color...
I strongly recommend using only dark-colored lures to mimic a minnow or a young cutthroat trout because they are cannibalistic!
The strikes, on the other hand, are much more aggressive and violent, as the lure is larger and emits more vibrations than a small dead minnow.
Chamois on the path...
If you love alpine lakes/moutain lakes, then you must discover Ponthurin, located in the Vanoise National Park.
It's my personal favorite!
How to get there ? Where is the fishing spot ?
Take the cable car to Planpraz and then follow the indicated hiking trail to Lac Cornu. Everything is well marked. When descending towards the lake, use the cairns to help with your orientation.
There are so much to do and see in Chamonix. Everywhere is sightseeing if you are a nature lover ! And if you are a sport addict, it is even better.
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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