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Barrage de Lavaud is a substantial 120-hectare reservoir in Charente offering excellent carp fishing alongside pike, zander and bream in a peaceful south-western setting. Night carp fishing is permitted here, making it ideal for extended sessions, and boats are allowed which opens up deeper-water exploration of this productive venue. Located 350 miles south of Calais and managed by AAPPMA de Haute-Charente, you'll need to purchase a local fishing licence and confirm night-fishing regulations directly with the AAPPMA before your trip.
Barrage de Lavaud is 350 miles from Calais. For UK anglers willing to make the drive into Nouvelle-Aquitaine — a vast region stretching from the Dordogne to the Basque Country, with outstanding fishing across its many departments — the fishing is well worth it.
Night fishing at Barrage de Lavaud is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Charente requires specific prefectoral authorisation on designated parcours. Check peche16.fr for the current list before fishing at night. Source: peche16.fr
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Barrage de Lavaud. Barrage lake — boats permitted.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Barrage de Lavaud under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Charente departmental card (CHI).
Managed by AAPPMA de Haute-Charente. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Barrage de Lavaud holds carp, pike, perch, zander, bream. Carp are the primary draw for visiting UK anglers. All carp should be handled with care and returned promptly. A landing mat and unhooking mat are essential kit for any carp session.
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Barrage de Lavaud — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA de Haute-Charente. Licences are available online before your trip.
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France is the closest mainland European fishing destination for UK anglers. The Channel Tunnel (Folkestone–Calais, ~35 min) is the fastest crossing, while P&O Ferries (Dover–Calais, ~90 min) offer good value for heavy kit. Most northern French venues are within 2–4 hours of Calais; southern venues require a full day of driving.
A Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence) is required for all freshwater fishing. Buy online at cartedepeche.fr before you travel. Annual, weekly and daily options are available and include your AAPPMA affiliation for the selected department.
To fish Barrage de Lavaud, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA de Haute-Charente is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Barrage de Lavaud is 350 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Charente is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Charente or explore all of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
France offers outstanding fishing year-round. The main coarse close season applies to some rivers (typically January–March for certain species), but still-water carp fishing on private and AAPPMA-managed lakes is available throughout the year. Spring (March–June) is the classic French carp season, with fish actively feeding and moving into shallow margins. Summer nights (June–August) are ideal for big-fish sessions on the large public reservoirs and rivers. Autumn (September–November) is particularly productive on the Auvergne and Languedoc lakes as temperatures drop. The Loire and Saône river systems produce excellent catfish sport from June through September, while the Dordogne and its tributaries fish well for chub, barbel and trout from spring through autumn.
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