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La Fosse aux Carpes is a compact 13.9-hectare reservoir in Essonne, just under 160 miles from Calais, offering solid carp fishing alongside pike and tench in a bank-fishing-only setting. The 2nd category status means no night fishing, making it ideal for daytime sessions if you're planning a relaxed French break with family time built in. You'll need a valid French fishing licence and AAPPMA card from Fédération Pêche Essonne (FDPPMA 91) before wetting a line.
Night fishing at la Fosse aux Carpes is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Essonne is authorised on designated parcours per annual arrêté. Check the interactive map at peche91.fr before fishing at night. Source: peche91.fr
Managed by FDPPMA 91 / Fédération Pêche Essonne. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
la Fosse aux Carpes holds carp, pike, perch, 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 la Fosse aux Carpes — you will also need to be affiliated with FDPPMA 91 / Fédération Pêche Essonne. 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 (FDPPMA 91 / Fédération Pêche Essonne) 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 la Fosse aux Carpes, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDPPMA 91 / Fédération Pêche Essonne is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. la Fosse aux Carpes is 159 miles from Calais, around 3 hours from the ferry or tunnel.
Essonne is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Essonne or explore all of Île-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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