Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Cher and across all of France.
Étang des 3 Biches is a compact 12-hectare natural lake in the Cher region offering solid mixed fishing, with established carp and tench populations that respond well to consistent baiting. Night carp fishing is permitted, making it ideal for dedicated anglers, though you'll need to fish from the bank as boats are prohibited. Located 276 miles south of Calais, it's best suited as part of a broader Loire Valley trip rather than a standalone destination. You'll need to register with the local AAPPMA de Chezal-Benoît and carry a French fishing licence.
At 276 miles from Calais, Étang des 3 Biches is a popular destination for anglers exploring Centre-Val de Loire, a central region with excellent pike, perch and carp fishing across its river systems and lakes.
Night fishing at Étang des 3 Biches is authorised under Cher regulations. Night carp confirmed — Étang des Trois Biches (Chezal-Benoît). Year-round, on marked postes only. Vegetable baits only. Immediate release. No boat baiting. Source: federationpeche18.fr/la-reglementation/peche-a-la-carpe/
Boat fishing: Boat access is restricted at Étang des 3 Biches.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Étang des 3 Biches under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by AAPPMA de Chezal-Benoît. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Étang des 3 Biches 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 des 3 Biches — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA de Chezal-Benoît. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Étang des 3 Biches 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 des 3 Biches, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA de Chezal-Benoît is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Étang des 3 Biches is 276 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Night fishing is permitted at Étang des 3 Biches — always check the current rules with AAPPMA de Chezal-Benoît before your session, as night carp regulations can change seasonally and vary by sector on larger waters.
Cher is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Cher or explore all of Centre-Val de Loire.
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 des 3 Biches on PiscaMaps: