A passion for fishing in the upper Ain Valley

It is not possible to talk about the rivers of Franche-Comté without mentioning the upper reaches of the Ain.

Its untouched habitats and the density of the perch make it a very interesting place to try your hand at whiphand techniques, while the clarity of the water makes the Ain famous for its sight fishing.

From the moment it rises, the Ain follows a pathway through deep, wild gorges.

The valley then gradually widens and the river settles down, allowing the discreet and attentive angler the chance to admire and possibly capture one of the many perch.

The river then runs through Champagnole, often called “the land of five rivers” because of the confluences with the Serpentine, the Lemme and the Saine, and then downstream of Champagnole, with the Angillon. The river then runs between revetments and gravel pits down to the Blye Dam.
 

The Saine - The Hérisson - The Lemme

One of the confluents meeting the Ain in its upper reaches is the Saine, a river of average width with a mixture of fast currents and calm zones. It is full of trout, though they are not always the largest, and several other fine fish.

The easy-to-reach fishing zone between Foncine le Haut and Foncine le Bas is particularly teeming with trout. The Saine then crosses Les Planches en Montagne, where you will be able to admire the impressive Langouette Gorges. Then further down between the confluence with the Lemme and the River Ain itself, the Saine is mainly calm and flat.

The Lemme, a little river with fast-running water, set in a beautiful, untouched setting, also deserves all your attention. A great place to try your hand at dry fly and nymph fishing.