Stillwater · Volcanic · Auvergne / Puy-de-Dôme (Monts Dômes), FR

Lac d'Aydat

Lac d'Aydat — Lac d'Aydat view

Aydat was made the same way as Chambon — a lava flow from the Puy de la Vache about eight thousand years ago dammed the Veyre river and created the biggest natural lake in the Auvergne — and the two lakes share a certain family resemblance.

Closed season · Trout
Hare's Ear Nymph · 14–16
Closed season
Season reopens 2nd Saturday of March. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.

Lac d'Aydat is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindS 9 km/hLight breeze
Today's fly
Hare's Ear Nymph
Hare's Ear Nymph14–16
Upstream
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Light breeze
S 9 km/h
N
S
from the south
WaveRipple
Water temp6.9°C
Air temp-2°C
CloudClear
Pressure1016 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

No gauge on this water — readings are regional estimates from weather, not a live gauge.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A

Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.

Plan B

If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.

Watch for

Keep an eye on changing conditions — wind shifts and cloud breaks can trigger short feeding spells.

Boat — drift

A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

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Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.

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Through the year
0–3 scale · November highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Claret DunHatch
2
3
2
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Flying AntsHatch
1
2
1
Silverhorns & LonghornsHatch
1
2
2
2
1

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

Ranked for today
Trout fly box

French nymph-first water. Fast current, technical presentation, weighted nymphs and emergers, with dry flies when fish rise.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • AAPPMA Puy-de-Dôme
  • 1ère catégorie upper reaches / 2ème catégorie main lake — check current classification
  • Busy summer lake.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
66%
Cloud25%
Wind100%
Temp60%

A reasonable day here, though cloud isn't quite in the sweet spot.

Other water nearby · 5
Fontsalade
14 km
0
Brown trout · Grayling
Miouze
19 km
0
Brown trout
Lac Servières
10 km
Brown trout
Lac Chambon
12 km
Brown trout
Lac Guéry
14 km
Brown trout
Gallery · 2
  1. Lac d'Aydat — Lac d'Aydat view
    Lac d'Aydat view
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Aydat is shallower and warmer than the crater lakes and has a more mixed fish population: trout, perch, pike, roach, and the kind of general coarse community that you would expect from a lowland volcanic lake in central France. Fly fishers come for the trout in the inflow area and for the pike in the shallow weedy bays at the northern end. The water gets warm in midsummer and the trout fishing falls off; fish it in the spring and autumn shoulders for the best of what it has to give.

  • Lake
  • Volcanic
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Poor
  • Chemical: Good

WFD classification · FRGL124

Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 2nd Saturday of March → 3rd Sunday of September
Related guides
Thermal Layers & Troutreading depth and temperatureWinter Pike on the Flypike tactics and handlingPyrenees PlaybookFrench rivers
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Lac d'Aydat is a lake in Auvergne / Puy-de-Dôme (Monts Dômes), France. Its recorded elevation is about 848 m above sea level and the catchment geology is volcanic. Our data lists brown trout and pike here. The trout season is recorded as running from 2nd Saturday of March to 3rd Sunday of September. Best window recorded for anglers: April–June and September–October. Core methods listed: Shore wet fly; streamer; nymph. Its Water Framework Directive ecological status is recorded as poor. Access is recorded as day tickets through the local AAPPMA (angling association). Nearby waters in our listings include Lac Servières at 10 km, Lac Chambon at 12 km and Fontsalade at 14 km.