After some years of dabbling with coarse fishing, I think that I might try fly-fishing instead.
I am prompted to do so because a hotel I stay at in central France every year has a stretch of river and offers fishing. The female proprietor of the hotel hasn't a clue as to what may be caught, but doe's at least have the nous to stock a decent selection of mainly coarse fishing equipment for sale in the hotel. Since what she knows added to my knowledge wouldn't fill a gnat's eyeball socket, if there is anyone who can offer any guidance and advice on the above subject I'd love to hear from them. For example, does anyone know wht the French close season is.............and is it rigourously applied ?

Were in france are you going, I,ll be on the soane in august

You should ask what category the water is A, B, C etc to get an idea. A class should theoricatically be clean enough or trout but doesn't mean there are trout. There are very few stretches with trout in France and I believe you really need to know your water. If this is meant to be your introduction to flyfishing then it could end up being very fustrating at not catching any game fish but try it by all means. There are lots of chub & Barbel so get weighted Czech nymphs.