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Étang du Pré du Hem is a substantial 45-hectare nature reserve lake just 48 miles south of Calais, offering excellent carp fishing alongside pike, zander and tench in a pristine wetland setting. Day-only fishing keeps the venue peaceful and well-managed, though the no-boats restriction means bank access is essential—plan your swims carefully as some margins may be awkward to reach. You'll need an AAPPMA permit from the local federation (CEN Hauts-de-France manages the site) and should contact them in advance to confirm access points and any seasonal restrictions typical of protected nature reserves.
At 48 miles from Calais, Étang du Pré du Hem is within easy reach for visiting anglers. Hauts-de-France is the closest French region to the UK — ideal for shorter fishing trips without a long drive.
Night fishing at Étang du Pré du Hem is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Pas-de-Calais is authorised on specific federation plans d'eau. FREE online reservation required at resa.peche62.fr for federation night carp sites. Check peche62.fr/reglementation/specificites-especes/ for the full list. Source: peche62.fr
Boat fishing: Boat rules at Étang du Pré du Hem are unconfirmed — verify with the local AAPPMA. No specific rules found. Verify locally.
Required permits & cards: Pas-de-Calais departmental card.
Managed by Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Marais de Guînes (gestion CEN Hauts-de-France). Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Étang du Pré du Hem holds carp, 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 du Pré du Hem — you will also need to be affiliated with Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Marais de Guînes (gestion CEN Hauts-de-France). 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 (Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Marais de Guînes (gestion CEN Hauts-de-France)) 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 du Pré du Hem, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with Réserve Naturelle Nationale des Marais de Guînes (gestion CEN Hauts-de-France) is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Étang du Pré du Hem is 48 miles from Calais — reachable on the day of crossing.
Pas-de-Calais is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Pas-de-Calais or explore all of Hauts-de-France.
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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