Stillwater · Limestone · Jura / Haut-Jura (Les Rousses)

Lac des Rousses

Lac des Rousses venue image

Protected natural lake at the Les Rousses station.

Marginal · Trout
CDC Emerger · 16-20
New ruleReported 30 Jul 2026

Severe drought restrictions (crise) in force

The Haute chaîne zone (Dept 39) is at crise — the second-highest French drought tier — under a préfectoral arrêté. Fishing itself is not named as prohibited, but water is severely restricted and flows are likely very low; fish with care and check locally.

Arrêté préfectoral n°37532

Temporary notices from official orders and recent fishery reports — they clear automatically once out of date. Always confirm locally before travelling.

A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Slow going — pick your moments and do not force it.
34% confidence
limited data

Lac des Rousses is often best in spring through autumn.

What moved it
  • WindSE 5 km/hCalm
Today's fly
CDC Emerger
CDC Emerger16-20
Dead-drift
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Wind
Calm
SE 5 km/h
N
SE
from the south-east
WaveRipple
Water temp
Air temp22°C
CloudClear
Pressure1019 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm

Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.

How to fish it · for Trout
When
The daddy longlegs are on. Wind-blown Terrestrials may also come into play as the day warms. 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. Keep a sedge-style dry or emerger on a short leader for the evening rise. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.
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. Keep a sedge-style dry or emerger on a short leader for the evening rise. In the ripple, a bushy searching dry (Hopper, Shipman's, Elk Hair Caddis) outperforms flush emergers — it stays visible and holds the surface tension.

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

Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.

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

Hatch predictions

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Through the year
0–3 scale · August highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Grayling seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Reservoir BuzzerHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
Lake OliveHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
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

Sight-nymphing and technical dry-fly fishing on very clear trout and grayling rivers, with strong mayfly and sedge windows and highly selective fish.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • AAPPMA permits.
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
Gallery · 1
  1. Terrain map of the venue
    Terrain map
About this water

Protected natural lake at the Les Rousses station. Brown trout (min 35 cm), rainbow trout stocked. Fly-fishing opportunity in accessible mountain terrain. Spring through early autumn best. Car-accessible alpine lake. Check Haut-Jura regulations for permits and daily catch limits.

  • Lake
  • Limestone
Water quality (WFD)
  • EcologyGood
  • ChemicalUnknown

WFD classification · FRDR10327

Why this score
  • Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
  • Daddy longlegs are in their seasonal window, boosting the chance of targeted feeding.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 2nd Saturday of March3rd Sunday of September
  • Grayling 3rd Saturday of May31 December

    France national rule: grayling opens 3rd Saturday of May in all waters. In 2nd category waters, grayling remains open until 31 December. Departmental regulations may impose earlier closing dates. Always check the relevant département's 2026 arrêté préfectoral.

Related guides
Booking & contacts