Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Alpes-Maritimes and across all of France.
Lac Chaffour is an intimate 3.3-hectare alpine lake in the Mercantour high country, offering bank-only fishing for pike and perch in stunning mountain scenery—a refreshing change from lowland French lakes if you fancy exploring beyond the usual carp circuit. Night fishing isn't permitted due to its protected location, but the pristine water and remote setting make daytime sessions rewarding. You'll need to contact the Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes (FDAAPPMA 06) for access details and a local fishing licence before making the 519-mile journey from Calais.
Night fishing at Lac Chaffour is not permitted. Night carp not authorised in Alpes-Maritimes. The department has no prefectoral arrêté authorising night carp on lakes. Source: peche06.fr Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac Chaffour under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Alpes-Maritimes card (CHI).
Managed by FDAAPPMA 06 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac Chaffour holds pike, perch, tench. 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 Lac Chaffour — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 06 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes. 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 Lac Chaffour and 96,200+ venues across France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Czechia.
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 06 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes) 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 Lac Chaffour, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 06 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Alpes-Maritimes is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Alpes-Maritimes or explore all of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
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 Lac Chaffour on PiscaMaps:
