Étangs des Vavres is a small public reservoir in the Rhône department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, covering 39 hectares (96-acre) of open water. The water holds Carp, Catfish, Pike, Perch, Zander, Tench and Bream, making it a draw for UK carp anglers heading to France.
Fishing at Étangs des Vavres is restricted to daytime hours only. Regarding boats: Bank fishing only. Bivvy camping is permitted under standard French law.
Étangs des Vavres is 368 miles from Calais. For UK anglers willing to make the drive into Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes — one of France's most varied fishing regions, with venues ranging from Alpine lakes to lowland reservoirs — the fishing is well worth it.
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Étangs des Vavres holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, bream. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers, with fish present throughout the venue.
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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 (AAPPMA de Villars-les-Dombes) before fishing. French fishing regulations can change seasonally.
Rhône is home to numerous fishing venues accessible to UK anglers. PiscaMaps covers lakes, reservoirs, rivers and canals across all Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes departments, with full rules, species and access information for each venue.
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