Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Drôme and across all of France.
Étang de Montjoux, Drôme
This intimate 12-hectare natural lake in the Rhône-Alpes offers solid carp and tench fishing from the bank, with the bonus of permitted night sessions—ideal for dedicated UK anglers seeking quieter French water away from the crowds. Pike and perch add variety, and the scenic Drôme setting makes it a worthwhile stop on a deeper French trip (467 miles south of Calais). Contact AAPPMA de la Drôme in advance to confirm night-fishing rules and obtain your local fishing permit, as access is bank-only with no boat traffic to worry about.
Night fishing at Étang de Montjoux is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Drôme requires specific prefectoral authorisation. The Rhône river is fully authorised. Additional lake sections may be listed in the annual arrêté. Check drome.federationpeche.fr/5064-parcours-carpe-de-nuit.htm for the full list. Source: drome.federationpeche.fr
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Étang de Montjoux under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by AAPPMA de la Drôme. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Étang de Montjoux holds carp, pike, perch, bream, tench. 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 Montjoux — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA de la Drôme. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Étang de Montjoux and 96,200+ venues across France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Czechia.
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 Montjoux, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA de la Drôme is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Drôme is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Drôme or explore all of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
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.
Other public fishing venues near Étang de Montjoux on PiscaMaps: