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This 64-hectare natural lake in Bourgogne offers solid carp fishing alongside pike, zander and catfish, with night sessions permitted across expansive open water perfect for boat or float tube exploration. Located 319 miles south of Calais, it's an excellent stepping stone for UK anglers venturing deeper into France, where boats are freely permitted and diverse species keep the action unpredictable. Confirm night fishing and boat access directly with AAPPMA de Chalon-sur-Saône before your trip, and obtain your French fishing licence.
Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans is 319 miles from Calais. For UK anglers willing to make the drive into Bourgogne-Franche-Comté — a region renowned among UK carp anglers for its quality stillwater fishing — the fishing is well worth it.
Night fishing at Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans is authorised under Saône-et-Loire regulations. Night carp confirmed — Les Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans are explicitly named in the Saône-et-Loire arrêté. Season: 1 March–31 December. Public waterway — priority given to navigation. Bank fishing only. Vegetable baits/boilies only. Silure and sandre strictly prohibited at night. Immediate release — no keep-sack. Carpe >60cm: no live transport. Source: peche-saone-et-loire.fr (Arrêté 2026-0031-DDT) Source: peche-saone-et-loire.fr/peche-pratique/extrait-de-la-reglementation/
Boat fishing: Boat access is restricted at Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans. Port/darse basins on the Saône — navigation regulated. Day boat access likely. Verify locally.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Saône-et-Loire card (CHI/EHGO/URNE). Night carp authorised on these specific darses.
Managed by AAPPMA de Chalon-sur-Saône. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans holds carp, pike, perch, zander, catfish, 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 Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA de Chalon-sur-Saône. 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 Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA de Chalon-sur-Saône is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans is 319 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Night fishing is permitted at Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans — always check the current rules with AAPPMA de Chalon-sur-Saône before your session, as night carp regulations can change seasonally and vary by sector on larger waters.
Saône-et-Loire is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Saône-et-Loire or explore all of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
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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