For me, the Filière, that's the 'Yaute' (Haute Savoie in local dialect) !
A truly delightful river to fish, allowing you to discover this still preserved and authentic countryside about twenty kilometers from Annecy, in the French Alps, off the beaten path.
A true alpine river !
This beautiful tributary of the Fier is a true mid-sized alpine river and can be a great opportunity, especially during summer storms when the water levels are perfect.
"Here is the 'Yaute' (Haute Savoie) of my vacations, of my father, and my family. In short, the Filière is my cherished river."
This river bears a strong resemblance to the Fier (see my article on this spot) in terms of biodiversity and fishing... but on a smaller scale.
The Filière is a truly enjoyable river to fish, and it also offers you the chance to explore this still-preserved and authentic countryside about twenty kilometers from Annecy, off the beaten path.
It runs through a verdant valley, the Usillon Valley, lined with small, typically Haut-Savoyard villages like Thorens and surrounded by mountains such as Parmelan and Glières.
Where to fish on the Filière river, in the French Alps ?
On this watercourse, my best fishing spot is towards Thorens Glières, where the river alternates between flat areas and deep pools with shaded sections, a real advantage during the summer when the water warms up and becomes scarce.
When you reach Thorens-Glières, park near the bridge at the entrance of the village and walk upstream along the river.
It's a spot I love, but there are many others along this river.
Read also: 3 things I clearly learned to catch big brown trouts
Similar to the Fier, it's a pluvio-nival river, meaning its water level almost entirely depends on winter rains and resulting soil moisture.
However, it's also quite sensitive to winter and summer droughts.
"Access to the Filière is quite straightforward from Thorens-Glières. You can fish upstream (better) and downstream. Alternatively, there are other spots in the direction of Groisy. And some beautiful brown trout!"
When is the best period for fishing in the Filliere river ?
Like in the entire region, the best fishing season is from spring until June, and then from October. During summer, fishing can be quite challenging due to the low water flow (as low as two meters per second) in the Filière.
"When I'm lure fishing, I generally use small jerks like Cultiva 55 from Owner or small spoons, size 1 or even 0 in case of dry conditions."
Of course, you need to fish either very early or very late to catch the largest specimens of the Filière that haven't returned to the Fier. During these times of day, the trout are very active and hunt the minnows up to the level of the locks. I've caught several over thirty centimeters at these times.
The most effective technique: fly fishing.
The most effective technique remains fly fishing, using a fairly short dropper. It's, for me, the most effective method in summer, but it's also widely used earlier in the season.
There are numerous advantages to this technique. Firstly, it allows you to have both a dry fly and a nymph at the same time. Moreover, if you're a beginner, it's easier to fish this way than using just nymphs (like 'French fishing').
Regarding the dry fly, what I call 'light dries' (like Parachute) don't work because the nymph is too heavy and will sink the dry fly.
"I recommend using a DDD, an imitation grasshopper, with a not-too-heavy nymph. Firstly, to prevent sinking the dry fly, and secondly, because it's unnecessary to use overly heavy nymphs during low water levels."
Additionally, on this incredibly clean river (with few factories and mountain agriculture in the valley), you can fish dry flies during beautiful mayfly hatches using effective size 16 parachutes.
I have a fly to recommend, scarcely used in France, that I bought when I lived in South Africa.
It's a huge mayfly and works remarkably well, especially in the middle of a hatch because it doesn't easily go unnoticed
“In short, the Filière is a beautiful river with magnificent trout and surrounded by a unique environment, away from the bustle of Annecy in the summer."
Good to know / Where is the fishing spot ?
La Fillière is a Category 1 river managed by AAPPMA Annecy Rivière. You'll need a permit to fish there. You can purchase a fishing permit from AAPPMA Annecy Rivières at the shop Loisirs et Pêche (in downtown Annecy). It's a great store. http://www.loisirsetpeche.com/
Alternatively, you can buy your fishing permit from the AAPPMA Annecy Rivière website. AAPPMA Annecy Rivière 92 Rue des Marquisats, 74000 Annecy, France aappma.annecy.rivieres@gmail.com
On the AAPPMA Annecy Rivière website, you'll also find the fishing opening dates and the allowed fish sizes for capture (but once again, fish in catch-and-release if you're a sports fisher!). Good to know: the Fillière is a Category 1 river.
For your gear, apart from Loisirs et Pêche, you also have Decathlon in the commercial area of Epagny. It's a classic, and I visit it regularly.
How to reach the fishing spot ?
The Fillière is a river near Annecy. From Annecy, it takes around 30-40 minutes to reach the spot near Thorens Glières. You can fish from Thorens Glières (near the bridge next to the fish farm) and park your car there.
To visit in the area
A must-visit: the Plateau des Glières and the Resistance Museum with its monument (inaugurated by Malraux, my father just mentioned).
Take the chance to savor typical dishes of the 'Yaute' at one of the former shelters, now transformed into restaurants, such as potato fritters and homemade cottage cheese.
Alternatively, take a walk to Parmelan starting from L'Anglettaz (locals say L'Anglette if you want to blend in) above the village of Aviernoz (which they pronounce as Avierne).
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