Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Jura and across all of France.
Lac de Bellefontaine is a serene 15-hectare natural lake in the Jura mountains, roughly 360 miles from Calais, offering bank fishing for pike and perch rather than the carp-focused experience most UK anglers seek. As a 1st Category Nature Reserve, night fishing is prohibited and the lake is exclusively for daytime sessions with no boat access. This is a worthwhile detour if you're exploring the region and fancy switching to predatory species, but note you'll need a valid French fishing licence and membership with AAPPMA Société de Pêche du Haut Jura (based in Morez) to fish legally.
Night fishing at Lac de Bellefontaine is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this lake. Jura's arrêté only covers specific designated venues — this lake is not among them. Source: peche-jura.com/parcours-carpe-de-nuit.html Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boat rules at Lac de Bellefontaine are unconfirmed — verify with the local AAPPMA. Mountain lake — verify locally.
Bivouac & overnight camping is not permitted at Lac de Bellefontaine. Night fishing not authorised — 1st category.
Required permits & cards: Jura departmental card. Local AAPPMA Haut Jura card.
Managed by AAPPMA Société de Pêche du Haut Jura (Morez). Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Bellefontaine holds brown trout, rainbow trout, perch, pike. 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 de Bellefontaine — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA Société de Pêche du Haut Jura (Morez). Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Lac de Bellefontaine and 96,200+ venues across France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Czechia.
1st Category (Salmonid) water. Trout season: 14 Mar–20 Sep 2026. No night fishing permitted. Carp/coarse: all year.
Always verify current rules with the local AAPPMA (AAPPMA Société de Pêche du Haut Jura (Morez)) 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 de Bellefontaine, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA Société de Pêche du Haut Jura (Morez) is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac de Bellefontaine is 359 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Jura is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Jura or explore all of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
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 de Bellefontaine on PiscaMaps: