Tag Archives: Alsace -en

flyfishing in Alsace with Claude Behr

The chub in Alsace

Posted on by
the chub: : leuciscus cephalus

Among the fish that we regularly catch with the fly in Alsace, whatever the technique, the chub is one of my favorites. If it is less “noble” than a trout, it is largely as suspicious and difficult to catch with regard to large specimens. When I started, at the age of 6, to fish by surprise in the stream of my childhood, my first big feelings as a fisherman I owe them to the chub, the biggest of which had “snubbed” my grasshopper left me dreaming for several nights.

Here you will find some answers to questions you might ask yourself about his manners, his fishing and the good flies you need to deceive his legendary distrust.

The chub (leuciscus cephalus) like the dace, belongs to the genus Leuciscus which includes about twenty species and subspecies in Europe. With its fusiform and cylindrical body covered with large scales and its massive head, the chub is a “beefy” fish. Its back is blue-green to gray-brown with greenish reflections. Silvery in young fish, its flanks become nicely golden as soon as they exceed 30 cm. Its ventral and anal fins are orange and its tail is the color of the Vosges crest line, it means gray-blue.

It is a very common species throughout Europe. In Alsace, it is found in the Rhine, the canals, the Plobsheim lake, numerous gravel pits and all second category rivers as well as the lower areas of first category rivers. With global warming, we meet it more and more regularly upstream of rivers, even in 1st category areas where barely 10 years ago there were only trout. This is how I caught a chub in 2019 on the no-kill course in Schirmeck .

An American fly fisherman fighting with a chub in the Bruche
An American fly fisherman fighting with a chub in the Bruche

Chevesne or chevaine in french, it has many diminutives or nicknames, like cabot (big head). In Germany he is known as Döbel and in Alsace as Fourne. And in the area of the river Sarre as Milp. In some fish bases, you may find it also sometimes until Squalius cephalus .

The chub lives mainly in fairly slow running waters, but I regularly catch them in clearly stronger currents. In summer it is often closer to the surface and under the branches overhanging the banks in search of insects, while in winter it descends to the bottom. But the slightest warming is enough to bring it out of its winter torpor.

A nice chub which took a nymph TVC in the Bruche
A nice chub which took a nymph TVC in the Bruche

Generally living in schools of 5 to 30 individuals when they are small, the largest chub are more solitary, even if an area which is very favorable to them can see several large fish dawdling together. It is generally considered that it can reach 70 cm and 5 kilos, My personal record is a 68 cm chub, caught in the Bruche in Molsheim, on sight, with an imitation of a freshwater scud.

A beautiful head and a wary eye, that's the chub
E A beautiful head and a wary eye, that’s the chub

This fish is omnivorous. It is known to eat almost everything: worms, larvae, crustaceans, molluscs, insects, river mosses, fruits, bread and small fish.
Its appetite makes us happy as a fly fisherman, because it is possible to fish it all year round. I personally like to try a big chub on sight in summer under the foliage, in the cool. In this case my favorite flies are TOT, KMM-2, CBF and sometimes CSC-2.. But I also like to deceive my first chubs of the year from January or February, in the 2nd category, as long as the water is clear and a little ray of sunshine causes the hatch of a few midges, which will not fail to interest the schools of small chub. In this case it will be on a TOT, a CTC-1 or a PTC-3. And it is not uncommon for a larger specimen to point its large lips towards the surface on this occasion. As nymph, my preference for fishing big chub on sight, or with indicator, goes to the NFL-2, TVC-1, GMS-1, GCS and the series of micro-headset-silver, particularly the MCA-4.

Its reputation as a very mistrustful fish is legendary and I can confirm that it is not usurped. How many times have I seen a big chub inspecting my dry fly on the surface for a long time, before leaving again disdainfully, seeming to mock the humble fisherman whose heart was racing at the sight of the imminent swallowing. And, whatever the technique, once a big chub has spotted you, it becomes almost impossible to make it bite. The slowest gestures are necessary to approach it.

A little chub, caught in a arm of the Rhine with a little nymph NFL
A little chub, caught in a arm of the Rhine with a little nymph NFL

The chub is not known for its strong defense and it is true that it generally surrenders fairly quickly. But more than one big chub made me see all the colors at the end of a leader before coming. It happened to me several times before I identified the fish, to believe for more than a minute that I had a big trout at the end of my line. This is the kind of emotion that I wish you!

Portrait of Loïc SCHAEFFER

Posted on by

Alsatian Fly Fisherman

Loïc with a nice brown trout from the floodway canal

Loïc SCHAEFFER, born in 1992, grew up in Griesheim near Molsheim (67) where he lives with his girl ffriend Sophie (see infra). Like his friend, Pierre Kuntz, he was very young won by the passion of fly fishing. Loïc, who is an excellent fisherman, has never wanted to fish in competition.

Loïc fishes very regularly in reservoir and river as soon as he has a free time. I’ve had the chance to know him since he was a teenager. Always looking for big fish, he often fish with the fly, but also to the Spangler. With a non-standard sense of observation, he knows how to adapt effectively to all conditions, and very often finds the technique and the fly of the moment before the other fishermen in the area.

Loïc on an alpine river
Sophie fly fishing in the river
Loïc and Sophie, a young couple of fly fisher

Loïc shares his life with his girl friend Sophie. She has a cape infancy, carries out the profession of ATSEM. Loïc, himself, made a DUT in mechanical engineering and a bachelor’s degree and is an industrial draughtsman. He trained Sophie in his passion for fishing and she also “took the virus”.

His way of practicing fly fishing

  • Flyfishing beginning: 2008
  • Techniques Flyfishing: Dry, nymph in sight, nymph with thread, streamer
  • Preferred Flyfishing Techniques: streamer
  • Rods preferred for this technique: C.B.F. 10″ #6/7
  • Favorite reels for this technique:
    No matter it’s just a line supply
  • Preferred lines for this technique: WF flotaing with sinking tip
  • Preferred tippet for this technique: Fluorocarbon trout hunter 22/100
  • His favorite flies:
  • -Dry: CBF of course (see the oicture below)
  • -Nymph: scud like a GMS-2
  • -Streamer: Intruder with offset hooks for trout + Fly tube for pike
  • Favorite Rivers: The Bruche (67) for his nice trouts, the floodway canal of the Rhine (67)
  • Preferred reservoirs: the Stork reservoir in Seltz (67)
  • Favourite fish: Brown trout and pike. It is difficult too choice between these species
  • Best souvenirs of fly fishing:
    Exceptional shots are nothing next to the great encounters we make with this passion. It is also in 2008 during my beginning on the fly course of Mulbach-sur-Bruche that I met Pierre Kuntz. I learned a lot with Pierre and I still learn every time we can share a fishing session.
  • And let’s not forget Sophie, with who Iive since 2013. Sophie started fly fishing with me in 2016 at the stork reservoir His favorite technique is streamer fishing. For this she uses a rod 9 Feet # WF4 / 5 and a basic JMC reel. She also fishes with me often on the Bruche and the floodway canal. Big trout do not scare her. She also has records to make more than a fisherman pale with a brown trout of 75cm and a rainbow trout of 70cm.
Sophie with a large rainbow trout, at the opening of the 1 ° category on the floodway canal
The CBF, one of Loic's favorite flies

A couple of passionate fishermen

Loïc and Sophie like to fish together. Whether it is in a boat on the water of Plobsheim to catch the pike, with the fly or other technics, whether in a reservoir or on the floodway canal that Loïc knows particularly well, where he often happens to catch the biggest and most difficult fish. Both take their vacations by targeting the nearby fishing trails. A fairly rare couple of passionate, loving and engaging flyfisher.

Loïc with a pike from the floodway canal
A large brown trout for the opening of the 1 ° category on March 9th 2019

Portrait of Jean-Louis Preisser

Posted on by

Alsatian Fly Fisherman

Jean-louis Preisser, master of bamboo rod building, and flyfisher master
Jean-Louis Preisser present some split bamboo rod of his confection

Jean-Louis Preisser remained in Strasbourg (67), where he was born in 1939. Modest, almost shy, he does not indulge easily, but for those who know how to put him in confidence, Jean-Louis will be an endless and invigorating source of passion for fly fishing. This passion guides him constantly in his approach to materials, rivers, nature, to his philosophy of life.

Jean-Louis was until 2005 one of the last French bamboo rod builder masters, specialist of the split bamboo. He still makes rare models of these wonderful fishing tools and has constantly perfected his most recent models (see infra photo).

His way of practicing fly fishing

Homemade Quality Equipment
  • Flyfishing beginning: 1957
  • Flyfishing techniques practiced: all techniques
  • Favorite Flyfishing Techniques: wet-fly with 3-fly train
  • Rods preferred for this technique: Split bamboo Preisser self made, 8 to 9 feet, # 5
  • Favorite reels for this technique: Artisanal (1998-J. Claude Chenavas), in Duraluminium, multiplier, with ratio 1/3; LOOP Evotec LW 4 Seven
  • Preferred lines for this technique: Devaux WF 5f, Teeny T130 with sinking tip
  • Preferred tippet for this technique: Devaux (1.50 m) + Point 20 °/° °, followed by 3 decreasing strands (70 cm) in 18, 16 and 14 °/° °
  • His flies prefered: mayfly with yellow body with Parachute as dry-fly, wet flies in soft feathers (cf. picture infra), braided body or vinyl rib for nymphs, black rabbit streamer with tungsten head.
  • Favorite Rivers: Murg, Forbach and Kinzig in Germany. Skeena and its tributaries in British Columbia in Canada.
  • Preferred reservoirs: the stork reservoir in Seltz (67)
  • Favourite Fish: All salmonids
  • Best souvenirs of Fly fishing: his meeting at the edge of the Murg, in 1996, with Reinhold Bruder, former German casting champion, who became his friend since that meeting.
The classic wet fly train of Jean-Louis Preiser

His creative anguish, which motivates him in a permanent search, and the desire to improve everything he touches, makes him also an extraordinary fly-tyer and an outstanding fisherman. Nourished by all his encounters and knowledge, he readily shares his experiences. You will no longer meet him in British Columbia, where he loved to hunt down steelhead trout and coho salmon. Jean-Louis now essentially fishes the Rhine aera. You may have the chance to meet him in Alsace (Stork Reservoir) or in Germany (Murg, Kinzig).

Jean Louis Preiser in British Columbia with a beautiful coho salmon
Jean Louis Preisser with a salmon coho (silver) in British Columbia

Portrait of Marcel RONCARI

Posted on by

Alsatian Fly Fisherman

Marcel Roncari with a nice brown trout of the Traun in Germany

Marcel RONCARI, born in 1955, remains in Waltenheim (68), where he has been responsible for the fly club of 3 borders for more than 20 years. A regular collaborator of fishing magazines, certainly the best known of the Alsatian flyfisher, Marcel is an outstanding fisherman, a reel “fishing beast”, and those who have had the opportunity to fish in his company are all said to be impressed by his ability to Spotting and biting the most difficult fish. Professional fishing Guide For several years, since 2013 also on behalf of Agence DHD Laika, Marcel is also one of the best salmon Specialists in Alaska (30 years of presence on the spot). He is a passionate fly fisherman who travels, accompanies, and tests himself throughout the world the fishing sites and destinations He guides: Bahamas, Mexico, Patagonia, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Austria. Having invented and developed a personal technique of Nymph “au fil” (over thread), which he willingly teaches, he also proposes outings “Nymph au fil”, on the Doubs in Goumois, from the opening of the 1st category. His philosophy is based on the quality of fishing, friendship between fishermen and respect for rivers and fish.

A beautiful grayling caught by Marcel Roncari in Austria, on the Salza
Marcel Roncari with a beautiful grayling of the Salza (Austria)

Marcel is also an excellent fly fitter (cf. infra), and many of his models are formidable, such as the “3615 TF” for the tank or its pheasant-tail armourhead for the river (cf. photos)

His way of practicing fly fishing

Nymphs of Marcel Roncari: classic Nymphs for the nymph over thread
  • Flyfishing beginning: 1974
  • Flyfishing Techniques: Nymph, dry
  • Favorite Flyfishing Techniques: Nymph over thread
  • Rods preferred for this technique: since 2012, “Guide Pass” at Sage, he always uses the latest Sage novelties , with a predilection for the sage X.
  • Favorite reels for this technique: Sage Spectrum Max and Evok
  • Preferred lines for this technique: floating, Orange and from March 2019, its specific lines in collaboration with Traun River Products, the brand of Rudi Heger..
  • Preferred ORL for this technique: Monofilament in 12 °/° ° of 6.00 m long.
  • Its prefered flies: CDC and spents as dry, Pheasant-tail and gold heads more or less heavy as nymphs (see picture below)
  • Preferred Rivers: Doubs in Goumois (25), Old Rhine (68), Traun in Bavaria (Germany), Salza in Austria, rivers of Alaska (U.S.A.)
  • Preferred reservoirs: the stork reservoir in Seltz (67), La Landie (63), Ostwormersee (NL)
  • Favourite fish: the grayling and the bonefish.
  • Best memories of fly fishing: The catch of a grayling of 61 cm, with dry fly, on the old Rhine. The catch of a 126 lbs Nile perch on a 20 lbs tippet line (at 4 lbs of the IGFA world record)

If you wish to benefit from his services or simply ask him for advice on a fishing trip, you can contact him by e-mail: Marcel.Roncari@wanadooo.fr, or by phone: (portable) 06.74.57.20.34, (landline) 03.89.28.31.25. You can also Visit his website.

Marcel Roncari with a bonefish
Marcel Roncari with a bonefish

The trout in Alsace

Posted on by

The brown trout

The brown trout (Salmo Truta Fario) is the native fish par excellence in the Vosges Massif and Piedmont, where most of the rivers in Alsace flow.

Still well present in the upstream part of the alsatian rivers, the future of the trout is nevertheless quite uncertain, in Alsace as in all the European regions of average altitude. Populations are in fact threatened with extinction because of a multitude of dangers: accidental or (and) chronic pollution, predation of cormorants and other more or less natural predators, climate warming leading to a decrease in Oxygen dissolved in water, an essential parameter in the survival of the species, decreased caches (river and stream recalibration), food competition related to the decline in natural food, particularly Insects (insecticides, pesticides)

Already since the years 2000 it is obvious that only upstream streams, to simplify portions above 400 meters above sea level, still contain a more or less natural population of brown trouts in alsatian streams. Even on the Schirmeck no-kill course, located at 350 m above sea level, the chub come to mingle with the population of trout, however consistent. On the occasion of an electric fishery carried out in 2003 on the no-kill course of Muhlbach on Bruche, the fishing federation had already shown that the biomass was more important in white fish (chub, daces and barbers) than in brown trout.

Breeding of the species continues, between December and February, upstream of most of the basin head streams. Although sometimes anarchic rearing has disconsolate the wild strain, efforts have been made for several years by the departmental federation and the Basin Management Committee to safeguard the natural strains. Thus the Federation of Bas-Rhin has set up since the years 2005 a plan of reintroduction of brown trout from the so-called Baerembach strain, the name of a creek of the northern Vosges whose genomes appeared to be the least polluted by the trout rearing from Numerous European farms with various but rarely alsatian strains.

If, at the end of the twentieth century, the fishintroducing was practised, it must be recognized, in an anarchic manner, the establishment of the basin committees and the professionalisation of the fishing federations currently allows to honour most often in Alsace a patrimonial management, whose effects, in natural quality of trout, is already felt in many alsatian rivers, such as the Doller, the Thur, the Bruche, the Mossig, the Fecht, or even the lauter.

In Alsace you will sometimes find very large trout in the old Rhine or the Rhine floodway canal, which regularly hosts large trouts, including reformed spawners of the federal fish farm in Obenheim. Elsewhere, the size average of the brown trout is not very important, the alsatian rivers being sandstone or granitic rather than limestone, but their fighting and vivacity will delight you.

Brown trout is an omnivorous and highly opportunistic fish for its food. It is on the other hand a suspicious nature and does not allow itself to be easily approached. Sunny days are generally less good for fishing than covered and rainy days, as the brownie is is lucifuge.

If there are many fishing techniques for trout, it is flyfishing that is certainly the most exciting. It is also the most regularly sought-after species of fly fishermen. It allows the practice of all our techniques, because it occasionally comes to rise on the surface to take a dry fly, will be tempted by a nymph drifting over the current, fetch angrily a streamer nervously stripped or even pick a wet fly passing to her Range, in the frenzy of a spring hatch.

In view of the threats evoked previously that affect the populations of brown trout, I invite each responsible flyfisherman to take the minimum of these fish and to increase in personal capacity the minimum size of catch, often officially to 23 or 25cm, still far too low to allow the most beautiful spawners to perpetuate the species.

Murg male Fario trout in Black Forest (Germany)

Rainbow trout

Rainbow trout (Onchorynchus Mykiss) is not a native fish in Alsace. However, its location has been very real for about fifty years.

A rainbow trout caught in the river

It is obviously very present in pond, lake or reservoir, like the stork reservoir in Seltz, where the larger specimens allow fly fishermen to capture a trophy fish.

Rainbow trout are also found in most of the upper lakes of the alsatian Vosges, such as the trout lake (or Forlet) where they often coexist with the brown trout.


But it is also present in our rivers. Rainbow trout, known as “portion trout”, have long been dispatched for the opening of trout fishing in 1 ° category, and it is still so in some fishing associations. Some survivors of the high fishing pressure of the first days of the opening are occasionally able to adapt to their new environment for long months or even years, and then offer us a pleasant sport fishing.

Breeding fingerlings of higher quality strains have also occasionally been set in several alsatian rivers and very beautiful fish have thus managed to acclimatize on certain specific posts of these rivers. I still remember the capture in 2012, of a very beautiful rainbow trout, visibly becoming wild, who had taken my little nymph on the no-kill course of Muhlbach on Bruche.

Less demanding on the level of dissolved oxygen in water than its European cousin, rainbow trout of American origin is also an omnivorous and opportunistic fish. Because it is more regularly active to feed than borwn trout, which spends many hours in its cache, rainbow trout is particularly interesting for the fly fisherman.

Just as with the brown trout, and contrary to what many fishermen advocate, I think it’s good to release the rainbow trout under 30 cm that you could catch in the river. Because if the big rainbow can be predatory small brown trout, this is not the case of the smallest and these fish offer a nice sport fishing.

Rainbow trout with very white dress