Stillwater · Granite · Vosges / Haut-Rhin (Rimbach-près-Masevaux), FR

Lac des Perches (Sternsee)

Lac des Perches (Sternsee), a forested mountain lake near Rimbach-près-Masevaux, Haut-Rhin, France

Upland lake near Rimbach-près-Masevaux reached by hiking from the valley.

Closed season · Trout
Diawl Bach · 12–14
Closed season
Season reopens 2nd Saturday of March. Try elsewhere.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.

Lac des Perches (Sternsee) is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindNE 16 km/hGentle breeze · Gusts to 26 km/h
Today's fly
Diawl Bach
Diawl Bach12–14
Retrieve
Conditions on the water
Estimate
Wind
Gentle breeze · Gusts to 26 km/h
NE 16 km/h
N
NE
from the north-east
Wave20 cm ripple
Water temp5.9°C
Air temp2°C
CloudOvercast
Pressure1004 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
May–September
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.

Bank

Bank-only venue. Fish from accessible margins, points, weed edges, and inflows.

Sub-surface · on the nymphunder the surface

Hatch predictions

Top nymph shown — see all 2 guilds as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

Beyond the hatch · worth watchingambient prey(1)

Hatch predictions

Top prey shown — see all 3 as a supporter.

Start free trial

14-day free trial. Cancel anytime.

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

Closer to wild-lake trout fishing than to competition réservoirs. More room for naturals, caddis, buzzer, terrestrial and modest lure use.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Vosges AAPPMA permits.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
Condition match
59%
Cloud50%
Wind65%
Temp60%

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

Other water nearby · 5
Gallery · 2
  1. Lac des Perches (Sternsee), a forested mountain lake near Rimbach-près-Masevaux, Haut-Rhin, France
    Lac des Perches, Vosges
  2. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Fario trout and char. Cold, clear water in pristine mountain conditions. Shore fishing only. Solitude and mountain views part of the experience. Spring through early autumn. Permits required; check Haut-Rhin regulations.

  • Lake
  • Granite
Water quality (WFD)
  • Ecology: Unknown
  • Chemical: Unknown
What this classification means

WFD code removed 2026-06-18: this alpine lake was incorrectly sharing the Doller river's code FRCR53 (and showing the river's status). EEA WISE has no dedicated lake (LW) water body for Lac des Perches, so status is left Unknown. Source: discodata.eea.europa.eu. | Prior note: WFD ecological status Moderate → Good corrected to EEA WISE 2022 (3rd RBMP) classification for waterbody FRCR53 (was a stale earlier-cycle value). Source: EEA WISE SWB_SurfaceWaterBody (discodata.eea.europa.eu), verified 2026-06-18.

Why this score
  • winter conditions with overcast skies and breezy wind.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 2nd Saturday of March → 3rd Sunday of September
  • Char varies_by_lake → varies_by_lake

    French lake char (omble chevalier / omble de fontaine) — seasons and retention rules are set by departmental regulations and local fishing associations (AAPPMA). French char lakes are often managed with strict rules. Check the local AAPPMA or departmental fishing regulations before targeting char.

Related guides
Booking & contacts
At a glance

Lac des Perches (Sternsee) is a lake in Vosges / Haut-Rhin (Rimbach-près-Masevaux), France. Its recorded elevation is about 998 m above sea level and the catchment geology is granite. Our data lists brown trout and char here. The trout season is recorded as running from 2nd Saturday of March to 3rd Sunday of September. Best window recorded for anglers: May–September. Core methods listed: Wet fly; nymph; deep nymphing. Access is recorded as day tickets through the local AAPPMA (angling association). Nearby waters in our listings include Lacs du Neuweiher at 2.0 km, Lac d'Alfeld at 5.0 km and Doller at 7.0 km.