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Étang de Brandon is a pristine 41-hectare reservoir in Burgundy offering excellent mixed coarse fishing with a solid carp population alongside catfish, pike and zander—ideal if you want variety without sacrificing quality. Night fishing is permitted in designated zones, and electric boats are allowed, giving flexible access to this peaceful venue roughly 310 miles from Calais. You'll need a valid French fishing licence and must register with the local FDPPMA (Fédération Départementale de Pêche 71); contact them ahead to confirm current access and marked night-fishing areas.
Night fishing at Étang de Brandon is authorised under Saône-et-Loire regulations. Night carp confirmed — Étang de Brandon (Saint-Pierre-de-Varenne, 40ha) is listed on the Saône-et-Loire parcours. Season: 1 March–31 December. Drinking water reservoir: navigation, wading and baiting prohibited. 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/ou-pecher/les-etangs/etang-de-brandon/
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Étang de Brandon 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 all year.
Managed by Fédération Dép. Pêche 71 (FDPPMA) – Étang de Brandon. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Étang de Brandon holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, 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 Étang de Brandon — you will also need to be affiliated with Fédération Dép. Pêche 71 (FDPPMA) – Étang de Brandon. Licences are available online before your trip.
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2nd Category water. Carp/coarse: open all year. Pike: 25 Apr 2026–31 Jan 2027 (closed Feb–Apr). Zander/Perch/Catfish: all year. Pike season as above.
Always verify current rules with the local AAPPMA (Fédération Dép. Pêche 71 (FDPPMA) – Étang de Brandon) before fishing. French fishing regulations can change seasonally.
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 Étang de Brandon, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with Fédération Dép. Pêche 71 (FDPPMA) – Étang de Brandon is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Étang de Brandon is 307 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Night fishing is permitted at Étang de Brandon — always check the current rules with Fédération Dép. Pêche 71 (FDPPMA) – Étang de Brandon 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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