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Pêche au toc

Our November 2001 contribution from Jon Beer

In France it is called "pêche au toc"which translates, I suppose, as "fishing the tap" or something similar. I saw it first in the high pastures of Lozère in the heart of the Massif Central. Lozère is a curate's egg: the southern part is classic limestone country with crystal alkaline waters flowing in deep gorges, the north is akin to Dartmoor with acid waters rattling over a bed of basalt rock. I was in the north, heading for the River Bès on the border with Cantal. We had stopped on a bridge, as fishermen will, to look down at the river rambling over the moorland. Two figures were making their way slowly downstream towards us. Each held a long rod. There didn't seam to be much casting occurring: the line was swung upstream and allowed to swim down the main current of the river. The rod tip was held high, keeping the line vertical as the current carried it between the rocks of the channel. They got closer. It was not something you find in Britain. It was a couple in their sixties. She was elegant in earings, jeans and turned-down wellies and she handled the rod deftly, holding the line and feeling for the "toc" of a trout - when she would strike, lift the trout wriggling from the river and slip it into her handbag.

Pêche au toc - Lozere

It is straightforward fishing. There is little in the way of stuff between the fisherman and the fish: no rigs, no floats, just a weight to get the hook down to the region of the fish lurking amongst the stones of the bottom. You will find it all over the continent, particularly in the faster rivers that hold trout and grayling. The bait will vary with the river and the season but the essence is the same: a line held vertical as the bait is steered down a deeper channel by a long rod. The fisherman strikes at any irregular movement of the line, a twitch to the side, a momentary pause or the "toc" of a tug on the bait. Casting is minimal and the reel is usually small and does little more than store the line.

In Britain we called it "Czech nymphing" and got terribly excited when fishermen from Poland and Czechoslovakia and points east came and cleaned up the parts of the river other fly-fishing techniques could not reach. They must have wondered what all the fuss was about: this "revolutionary new style" of fishing was just common-or-garden "pêche au toc" but with an artificial nymph rather than a beetle grub, maggot or stonefly nymph.

There is a difference, of course. Czech nymphing is fly-fishing and thus OK and you will go to heaven. Pêche au toc (or whatever you wish to call it) is not and popping an artificial fly on the end isn't going to get you through the Pearly Gates.

Czech nymphing in Austria

What tosh! All angling depends on getting a fish to grab at a hook disguised as something to eat. Fly fishing developed because some fish eat flies and flies are very light: it is very hard to chuck a fly any distance. Fishermen are a tenacious bunch. They got round the problem by using a heavy line and throwing that: the fly follows. Another problem with using flies as a bait is that they are fragile. They have tendency to disintegrate – especially when you try to cast. Natural flies can be used when casting is not involved (in dapping, for example) but it's a lot easier to make an artificial fly. These two – the light fly and the heavy line to deliver it – became the hallmarks of fly-fishing.

But there are limitations of a light fly. It's fine when fish are feeding in the upper layers but it cannot reach the bottom feeders, particularly in a current. For that you need weight and lots of it if the current is brisk. You might well ask what whether a fly-line is necessary if you have a team of tungsten-weighted nymphs on the end of the line. Well, it isn't. In fact, in Czech nymphing the fly-line doesn't touch the water: the leader is a foot or so longer than the water depth and the line is held above the surface, hanging vertically from the rod tip as the flies swim down the current guided by the angler. This is pêche au toc with artificial flies. You might well ask whether artificial flies are necessary. Well, they aren't. The casting in not vigorous and the flies look like natural grubs. You could use a natural grub. This is pêche au toc.

Pêche au toc - Spain

The point of this piece is not to get sniffy about Czech nymphing and point out that it is little better than bait fishing. Au contraire: I wish to point out that bait fishing is exactly the same as Czech nymphing. If you enjoy nymphing for grayling, why not try a little bait fishing "au toc" this winter. The long rod gives you more control, the nylon line makes for easier casting. And if the rules do not allow bait then use an artificial nymph.

And don't worry: it is not a sin. You can still go to heaven.

Jon Beer contributes regularly to publications including Trout & Salmon and The Telegraph. If you have any comments, do not hesitate to get in touch or use the message board.