Étangs de Fontargente is a pristine high-altitude mountain lake in Ariège offering bank fishing for pike, perch and black bass alongside trout — a refreshing change of pace for UK carp anglers exploring France's diverse waters. At 17.7 hectares, this scenic venue suits anglers seeking a quieter experience away from lowland commercials, though day-fishing only and the 575-mile distance from Calais mean it's best combined with a longer regional trip. You'll need an AAPPMA permit from Fédération Ariège Pêche to fish here — contact them in advance as high-altitude venues can have seasonal access restrictions.
Night fishing at Étangs de Fontargente is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this lake. In Ariège, night carp (no-kill mandatory) is only permitted on: Lac de Montbel (entire lake), Plan d'eau de Mondély, Plan d'eau de Labarre (Foix), l'Hers at Mazères (river), Saint-Ybars. Note: Lac de Filheit had night carp REMOVED from January 2026. Source: peche-ariege.com/connaitre-la-reglementation/ Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boat access is restricted at Étangs de Fontargente.
Bivouac & overnight camping is not permitted at Étangs de Fontargente. Night fishing not authorised.
Required permits & cards: Ariège card (CHI). Verify locally.
Managed by FDAAPPMA 09 / Fédération Ariège Pêche. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Ariège and across all of France.
Étangs de Fontargente holds brown trout, rainbow trout, perch, pike, black bass. Pike fishing is a highlight of the venue — spinning, deadbaiting and lure fishing are all effective methods.
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Étangs de Fontargente — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 09 / Fédération Ariège Pêche. Licences are available online before your trip.
Image via Wikipedia (Wikipédia) · Used under Creative Commons licence
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Étangs de Fontargente and 10,000+ venues across France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
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 (FDAAPPMA 09 / Fédération Ariège Pêche) before fishing. French fishing regulations can change seasonally.
To fish Étangs de Fontargente, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 09 / Fédération Ariège Pêche is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Ariège is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Ariège or explore all of Occitanie.
Other public fishing venues near Étangs de Fontargente on PiscaMaps:
