Answers to Your Questions…
And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to give me a call!
Do you speak English?
Yes, I speak English fluently — with the unavoidable French accent 🙂.
I have spent many seasons working abroad, where English was part of my everyday life.
I also speak Spanish fluently, a language I used extensively during several seasons spent in South America.
Why choose a guided fly fishing experience — and why with me?
Every guide has something unique to share, shaped by their personal experience, their vision of fly fishing, and their knowledge of the rivers they work on.
The main purpose of a guided trip is to help you progress technically much faster than if you were fishing on your own. Guiding allows mistakes to be identified and corrected, movements to be refined, and the river environment to be better understood.
For more experienced anglers — often travelling or limited in time due to holidays or business trips — a guided experience makes perfect sense. A guide’s knowledge of the area allows you to be on the right stretch of river at the right time, saving valuable time and maximising your fishing opportunities.
So why choose to fish with me?
It may sound surprising, but I personally discovered fly fishing through guided trips. I have therefore been in your position — as a client and learner. This experience gave me a very concrete understanding of what one expects from a guide, and it has strongly influenced the way I teach and accompany anglers today.
I also have strong expertise in mountain fly fishing, using three complementary and highly effective techniques for this specific environment:
- dry fly fishing,
- tandem flies,
- Euro Nymphing.
Over the years, I have developed an in-depth knowledge of my territory. I enjoy exploring, going off the beaten path, and cultivating a true sense of adventure. As a river guide, I am also able — particularly thanks to kayaking — to access remote stretches of river that are difficult or even impossible to reach for most anglers.
Finally, I guide on two valleys that are still relatively lightly fished, ensuring more private, preserved and authentic experiences.
I believe I am the right guide both for travelling fly anglers based in Nice who have a few days to discover beautiful fishing areas, and for adventurous anglers seeking nature, exploration and a touch of adrenaline.
I also gladly guide beginners who may feel intimidated by fly fishing — just as I once did myself — and enjoy showing them that this discipline is far more accessible than it may seem.
Lastly, I also work with anglers who simply wish to progress and refine their techniques.
This, to me, is the true essence of my approach: simplicity, transmission and shared experiences by the water.
Do you offer multi-day trips or custom adventures?
Yes — this is actually one of my specialties.
I consider myself a backcountry angler, offering immersive multi-day fly fishing adventures in remote mountain environments. These trips involve travelling light, fishing wild rivers far from the crowds, and spending several days in nature, with nights in bivouac (tent or shelter).
Depending on the project and conditions, adventures may include:
- multi-day fly fishing trips in remote valleys,
- packraft & fly fishing expeditions, combining river descents, fishing and bivouac,
- exploratory routes rarely or never fished.
I am a certified river guide (rafting and kayaking) with extensive experience on whitewater rivers, which allows me to safely lead these adventures and access areas that are otherwise unreachable. I am also considered a pioneer of packraft & fly fishing expeditions in France, both in terms of practice and professional guiding.
Each trip is fully custom-built, based on your experience level, objectives, available time and the level of commitment you are looking for — from adventurous exploration to true backcountry expeditions.
If you are looking for an authentic, off-the-grid fly fishing experience, feel free to get in touch and we will design your adventure together.
How far are the fishing spots from Nice?
The meeting point for my guided trips is located approximately 1 hour from Nice International Airport by car.
From there, we travel together with my car to reach the fishing areas best suited to the conditions of the day. Depending on the chosen valley and the river section, fishing spots are usually a short drive from the meeting point, allowing you to enjoy a full and relaxed day on the water without long transfers.
Where are you based for your guiding activities?
There is no single fixed location 🙂
My fly fishing guiding takes place in two different valleys, depending on the season.
- In spring, I mainly guide in the Tinée Valley.
The meeting point is in Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée, located approximately 1 hour by car from Nice International Airport. - In summer, I work mostly in the Ubaye Valley.
The meeting point is in Barcelonnette, around 2.5 hours by car from Marseille Provence Airport. - From early September onwards, I guide in both valleys, depending on conditions and availability.
As a general rule, the meeting point is:
- Saint-Sauveur-sur-Tinée for guided trips in the Tinée Valley,
- Barcelonnette for guided trips in the Ubaye Valley.
From these meeting points, we use my vehicle to reach the fishing areas best suited to the conditions of the day, allowing for efficient logistics and maximum time spent on the water.
Do I need a fishing licence, and how much does it cost?
Yes, a French fishing licence is required to fish legally in France => https://www.cartedepeche.fr
The cost is approximately €15 for a day licence or around €40 for a weekly licence
Don’t worry — I will help you obtain the correct licence before the guided trip.
How can I book a guided trip?
Nothing could be easier 🙂
Simply contact me by phone so we can discuss together the guided trip that best suits your expectations. Once the details of the experience have been defined, we will agree on a date.
Depending on the time of the season, a deposit may be required to confirm the booking.
How can I pay for the service?
Please note that I do not have a card payment terminal. Payment is therefore accepted in cash only.
What should I bring for a guided trip?
First of all, don’t forget your fishing licence 🙂
I also recommend coming well equipped. Crystal-clear water creates strong light reflection, so sun protection is essential. Weather conditions can also change quickly in the mountains.
Please bring:
- a cap or hat,
- sunglasses (ideally polarised),
- sunscreen,
- a small backpack,
- a water bottle or a filtered water bottle,
- warm or windproof clothing, as temperatures can drop quickly when the sun disappears.
In spring, a waterproof jacket (Gore-Tex–type), a beanie and good wool socks are especially suitable.
Finally, remember to bring your packed lunch. Depending on the route, it is often possible to buy food along the way.
I don’t have any equipment — what do you provide?
When you book a fly fishing service with Esprit Rivières, all fishing equipment is provided: rod, reel, fly line, leaders, flies, tippet, and more.
If needed, I can also provide neoprene waders, neoprene boots, and a high-quality waterproof jacket.
Of course, you will be more comfortable with your own waders, but for beginners or travelling anglers, this equipment is perfectly suitable and allows you to fish in good conditions.
Do you accept groups, and what is the maximum number of participants per guided trip?
I do not offer large group guiding. Fly fishing is a discipline that requires very personalised instruction, and I strongly believe that it is difficult to provide a high-quality experience when the number of participants is too large.
If you are travelling with family or friends and several people wish to take part, different solutions can be considered: organising two small groups over a half-day or a full day, or splitting the participants over two consecutive days.
From what age is a guided trip possible?
There is no single answer, as every child is different. It is important to keep in mind that fly fishing is not a simple float fishing activity — it is a discipline that requires concentration, coordination and motivation.
Some children may become impatient or discouraged quickly, especially if they expect to catch a fish within the first ten minutes 🙂
In general, I consider that a child of around twelve years old, who is genuinely motivated and already interested in fishing, can absolutely take part in a guided fly fishing trip under good conditions.
What happens in case of bad weather?
First of all, make sure you dress appropriately 🙂
More seriously, as long as there is no thunderstorm and the rain does not cause a significant rise in water levels, the guided trip will go ahead without any issue.
Rain can even be an excellent time to fish, as fish are often more active in these conditions.
I have no fishing experience at all — is this for me?
Absolutely!
If you enjoy being in nature and are in good physical condition, don’t hesitate to give it a try. No prior experience is required — I will guide you step by step and introduce you to fly fishing in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
This outing might just become the beginning of a new passion.
What size trout can I expect to catch?
French mountain rivers are very different from many American trout rivers.
Here, the experience is less about trophy size and more about wild fish, technical fishing and exceptional environments. Catching a trout on a dry fly in crystal-clear alpine water is often as rewarding as landing a much larger fish elsewhere.
In the mountain environments where I guide, trout are generally smaller than those found in lowland rivers. This is due to harsher climatic conditions, often fast-flowing rivers, and a more demanding environment for fish growth. Food resources are less abundant, and the active season is shorter than in lowland waters.
The upside is that these are high-quality wild fish: strong fighters, beautifully coloured, living in crystal-clear water of excellent quality.
Local brown trout are also particularly responsive to dry fly fishing, thanks to their opportunistic feeding behaviour.
To give you a general idea, the most common trout size here ranges between 18 and 25 cm. A 30-40 cm trout is already a very nice fish, and 50 cm and above is considered a true trophy
During a fly fishing course, do you guarantee catching trout?
The primary goal of a fly fishing course is first and foremost technical improvement. This is therefore what I focus on during the session: reading the water, casting technique, achieving a good drift, understanding fish behaviour, and more.
Improving your technique leads to better fishing, and the more accurately you fish, the higher your chances of enticing a fish. During a guided trip, catching fish remains a bonus — the icing on the cake. That said, across all guided trips, it is rare to experience a completely fishless day.
What I can guarantee, however, is that after this day, you will very likely catch more fish during your future fishing trips 🙂
What about fish catches during your fly fishing adventures?
The rivers where I guide — whether during technical clinics, hike & fish outings, or packraft & fly fishing trips — offer a very healthy population of wild brown trout.
The Tinée Valley, the Ubaye Valley, and their tributaries enjoy an excellent reputation among fly anglers.
That said, catch success depends on many factors: first and foremost your technical level, but also the conditions of the day (weather, water level, temperature) and, above all, fish activity, which has a major influence on the final outcome.
I often use this simple comparison: think about how different our own behaviour is during a rainy weekend compared to a sunny one. Fish behave in exactly the same way. They go through various activity phases, often influenced by multiple factors.
A good Peruvian friend of mine used to say:
“Quiet… the river is listening.”
I like to approach the river with humility. And if I were to look back on a full season, it usually proves to be generous — rich in beautiful memories and shared moments 🙂