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Lac de Bonlieu is a pristine 23.6-hectare glacial lake in the Jura offering solid carp and catfish fishing from the bank, with pike and tench adding variety for exploring different swims. Day fishing only (no night sessions due to glacial protection), so plan accordingly—it's a peaceful, natural venue 353 miles from Calais, ideal if you want to escape the busy commercialised lakes. You'll need an AAPPMA licence from Ain-Pays des Lacs (based in Clairvaux-les-Lacs) and permission from the local management before your trip.
Night fishing at Lac de Bonlieu 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: Boats are permitted at Lac de Bonlieu. Grand lac — boats permitted.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de Bonlieu under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Jura departmental card. Verify night carp parcours at peche-jura.com.
Managed by AAPPMA Ain-Pays des Lacs (Clairvaux-les-Lacs). Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Bonlieu holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, tench, bream. 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 Lac de Bonlieu — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA Ain-Pays des Lacs (Clairvaux-les-Lacs). 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 (AAPPMA Ain-Pays des Lacs (Clairvaux-les-Lacs)) 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 Bonlieu, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA Ain-Pays des Lacs (Clairvaux-les-Lacs) is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac de Bonlieu is 353 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.
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