The Dordogne is classified as a state-owned river; this means that the State owns the fishing rights and is responsible for managing the fish population in the river. Money paid for fishing rights goes to the State, which traditionally distinguishes between rights for rod and line fishing and rights for net and cage fishing.
The different types of fishermen include:

• Rod and line fishermen, who are not allowed to sell their catch. They are allowed to fish along the whole length of the river but must first pay a licence fee.
  
  
• Amateur fishermen, who fish with cages and nets, are usually riverside residents who are keen on this traditional method of fishing, but who have fewer rights than professional fishermen. They are not allowed to sell their catch, and they have limited equipment and fishing areas.
  
  
• Professional fishermen rent specific fishing areas and pay for a fishing licence, which entitles them to sell their catch. These operate as small SMEs. In the lower valley, they catch mainly migratory fish which they then sell to wholesale fish merchants, restaurants and canning factories. In the middle valley they mainly catch fish for frying, which they sell to restaurants. In the Lot and Corrèze departments professional fishing is prohibited.
  

Fishing equipment includes:

• Nets
  
  • Fixed trammels for non-migratory fish
    
  • Drifting trammels for migratory fish
    
  • Gill nets used mostly for non-migratory species
    
  • Casting nets for fish for frying
    
    
    
• Wicker cages
  • Bourgne cages for lamprey
    
  • Nasse cages for eels
    
  • Lines – these have 30 to 80 hooks and are placed on the riverbed. They are used for catching eel, barbel and trout.
    

Professional fishing flourished in the Dordogne Valley until the beginning of the 20C. At that time, fishing provided an income for approximately 20 people in a village like La Roque Gageac and a single village such as Spontour in the Corrèze would have had some 50 professional fishermen, some of whom also worked as woodcutters or boatsmen.

The fishing industry in the valley is currently experiencing a period of crisis.