Hundreds
of french 
Carp Waters. 

It's with great plesure, that I now can present this extensive list of french carp waters in english - the most comprehensive ever available!
The list has been compiled from many different sources during many years - primarily french magazines, but also dutch, english and german mags. Informations from many different internet-sites has now been added - and most importantly also valuable contributions to the value and growth of this site from internet-friends from quite a few countries as these pages has become more widely known.
Many more like them are allways wellcome - and will of course get full credit for the informations given! If you have more informations to share in these pages, drop me a line on info@carphunters.com - and if possible also a picture or two from the venue in question, if available.

Most of the waters mentioned, I haven't visited myself - but others I have fished personally. I try to visit new venues every year.
Sometimes I've been succesfull in catching too - on other occasions not ........ 
I would like to point out, that the informations briefly passed on here, is what I have deducted from the sources mentioned, and as things and conditions can change with time, some of the informations might be out-dated allready at the time of writing these lines. I will of course try to keep up with changes as they occur - but it's simply not possible to be the step ahead all the time, as would be needed to obtain a full up-date at all times. 
Particularly the informations on nightfishing streches may change from one year to another - and I might not get the full info on this, even though I try to stay on top of things. Notably where waters or strethes have later been closed for nightfishing for some reason or another. Therefore, allways remember to check the information localy before you buy your permits and start to fish. 
You are of course most wellcome to fill in lacking informations and correct any errornimous indications in these pages - send me a mail on info@carphunters.com. 
In many cases, all I've got is reports of a good fish or two having been caught from a water - or the fact that the french anglers use the water for "Enduros" - Fish-Ins - which supposedly means, that the water offers fishing worth a go.

It's important to note, that even if the list is quite extensive, it's by no means complete - as there's probably carp in virtually every freshwater pit, lake or river giving them the slightest chance to develop. Every single french water in "2'ieme categorie" probably holds carp - and the possibility to find undiscovered jewels, that has not yet reached the attention of the media, are definately still there.

To me, France is the ultimate carpfishing quest - and it will take years to try to fish but a tenth of the waters I've found interesting by simply reading of them in magazines and books - and many more are there to be discovered by doing a little pioneering on unknown grounds. More than a  lifetime is needed to discover half the secrets of these same few waters - but there you go. Plenty of hard work to be done! A true challenge!

The main obstacle, however, is the general night-fishing ban still in force on most french waters. Even though more and more waters has been partly or completely opened for nightfishing, most are not.
These regulations simply has to be accepted and applied to - no matter how much we might regret it. Otherwise, visiting anglers could very easily do severe dammage to the great effords of the french anglers, who work hard to change regulations in favour of total nightfishing acceptance in waters in the 2'ieme categorie.

The new national license, valid one year. To fish in France, you have to get the right permit - and for nightfishing this wil for adults be either the "Carte Majeure" - which is new from 2007- the national license to fish - and along with that local permits, which are often membership of a local club. Nightfishing is also allowed wilt a "Carte Vacances" valid for 15 days or a "Carte Journalière" - a dayticket. In some departements, a special "Peche de Nuit"-stamp is needed too.


These are all parts of the needed "Carte de Pêche", in which stamps or "vignettes" is mounted before it's plastified. In most departements this gives acces to fish not only the local club waters, but often also the waters of other clubs within the same departement - and waters of "Domaine Public".
In addition to this, in most areas - notably in the south and west of the country, a more extensive "réciprocitée" is offered - opening up the many public waters of many other departements as well. The "Club Halieutique" (blue on the map below) is the biggest of these - and with the cooperation with the "Entente Halieutique du Grand Ouest" (green on the map below) - membership of these organisations opens up all public waters in more than half of the country!

If you visit other areas of France at a later date, you'll not need to pay the Taxe Piscicole once again - just remember to bring your carte de pêche and show it when you buy the new local permit.

In the summer months ( from june 1. to september 30.) a "Carte Vacances" is available in most departements, valid for 15 days of fishing in the local area. 

Particularly in the northern departements, make sure to buy the right permit! - That it in fact covers the water or waters you intend to fish. Quite frequently, there is no or only a very limited "réciprocitée" - that is no cooperation - with neighbouring clubs and you might end up with no coverage of a water you thought you could fish. Ask for réciprocitée before you buy the permits - and make your plans accordingly.

Be aware of the fact, that even though nightfishing is allowed at a given stretch of water, it is certainly not given, that biwies are accepted!
In France "Camping Sauvage" - camping outside authorized sites - is strictly forbidden - and in many areas this is exactly how authorities see biwies. Umbrellas are normally accepted.
In some departements the swim must be marked by a bright lantern during the dark hours.

Outside nightfishing areas, fishing is allowed from half an hour before sun-up to half an hour after sunset. On many waters, wildlife-reserves are established, where no angling is allowed at all.

From the 2004 season a new law in France prohibits the use of carpsacs at night!
That means, that you can forget to be able to take pictures of your catch in daylight! Carp caught at night must be put back straight away!

Boats are normally accepted on public waters, as are electrical outboards - while gasoline-driven outboards are not on many waters. As from the 2002 season fishfinders can be used on most public waters.
A special license for the boat might be nescessary on some waters.
In some departements, you have to light a lantern to indicate your swim during the night.

 

Comments & Stories  
from french carp waters.
Here, your comments on the waters mentioned in this review - and your short stories of fish from them are more than  wellcome - but make sure to include at least one good picture!

 

One of the most beautifull places I've ever fished - Lac de Castelnau-Lassouts on the river Lot.

It pays to take advantage of the possibilities of "reciprocitée". You can fish most of the southern half of France and more for a few extra euros!

This Lot carp took my bait just as my kids came down to pay me a visit.

 

Most of the commercial, private venues of course authorizes nightfishing - but not all - at least not all year. For these waters special local regulations may apply - often banning the use of barbed hooks, carpsacks, boats and the like. Many of them can only be fished after prior reservations - and on some, you book a particular swimm for your stay. This unfortunately sometimes cuts the possibility of moving swimms in case no fish are present in front of you.

Please note, that the telephone-number indicated at a water refers to calls from inside France. If you are calling from outside the country, put 0033 in front of it.
Be prepared, that not all french speak english very well - and often french is the only language spoken. Most owners of commercial venues do speak english to some extend - enough for you to book your fishing. 

The list is for each departement compiled in alphabetical order from the main name of the water - like "Salagou", "Gondrexange" or "Cassien". In most cases, nearby bigger towns or villages are mentioned, making it easier to locate the waters from a good map. 

I strongly recommend the Michelin Atlas Routier de France to anyone going by car to France. Unfortunately, the layout and format of the latest editions - after 2001 - has been changed, so many of the references to these maps in these pages are now incorrect, and only apply to the 2000 edition or earlier. With time, I hope to get this corrected - maybe with your help too .... .. .
Where I know of a local map of 1:25.000 - the Cartes IGN Série Bleu is recommended as well. Look for them localy when you get there - most big supermarkets have them. These are invaluable in the search of small local tracks often leading to the water - and it can save you hours and hours of fruitless driving arround to find your way along the rivers or big lakes.

 

You are on KENTH'S LIST of hundreds of french carp waters!