Freestone · Limestone · Hautes-Pyrénées / Béarn

Gave de Pau

Gave de Pau venue image
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The Gave de Pau runs from Gavarnie down through Lourdes, past Pau, and joins the Gave d'Oloron at Peyrehorade to form the main Gave system — the salmon river of Béarn.

Species

A proper day on the water

Low and clear — careful approach country. Stay small, stay accurate.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Cool — slow
8°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature6328% weight
  • Flow6022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Prey Activity4312% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
7.9°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
8°C
Wind
S 5 km/h
Calm
Pressure
1018 hPa
Rain · 48h
0.4 mm
No meaningful rain
Rain · ahead
6.4 mm
Light rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Through the open trout season. Spring olives April through May; sedges through summer; small dark flies into late September.
Where
Pool tails and the seams behind boulders through the Pyrenean piedmont. The Gave de Pau runs classic Pyrenean freestone water.
Method
Upstream dry to risers; dry-dropper through the riffles. Long leader, fine tippet — Pyrenean water reads clear.
Kit
9 ft #4 — French freestone default. Floating line, 12 ft leader to 4 to 5 lb fluoro. Studded boots.
Why this works
Good conditions. Clarity is favourable (95), Prey activity is weakest (43).
Through the year
0–3 scale · May highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Salmon runRun
1
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Large Dark OliveHatch
1
2
2
1
Iron BlueHatch
1
2
2
1

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • AAPPMA permits
  • Regional arrêté for salmon season.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

The Gave de Pau runs from Gavarnie down through Lourdes, past Pau, and joins the Gave d'Oloron at Peyrehorade to form the main Gave system — the salmon river of Béarn. It is snowmelt-fed freestone with limestone character in the middle reaches, and the fishing splits accordingly: salmon on the lower and middle river in spring, wild brown trout on the upper reaches through summer. The AAPPMA network maintains multiple no-kill fly-only parcours, all barbless, and the stewardship is serious. Spring salmon peak in April and May: fish the rising water properly, drop down in fly size as the water clears, and concentrate on the recognised holding pools which the local guides know by heart. The upper valley above Lourdes is wild-trout country — limestone springs keep the water cold and the hatches coming through July and August. Check the regulations before fishing. Many beats mandate catch-and-release and the salmon quota tightens every season.

  • Limestone
Seasons & zones
  • SalmonSalmon season: 15 March – 15 July (Pyrénées-Atlantiques standard). Always verify current arrêté with local AAPPMA. → 15 July

Salmon: Banned (2026) — Adour-Gaves basin renewed salmon ban for 2026.

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Booking & contacts