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Lac de Coiselet is a vast 320-hectare reservoir in the Ain region offering excellent carp and catfish prospects across pristine, spacious banks—ideal if you want room to spread out and explore. Day fishing only, so you'll need to plan accordingly, though the sheer size means different swims perform at different times. Note: you'll need a day ticket from FD 01 (Ain federation) and must fish within their regulations; it's roughly 363 miles from Calais, making it a destination for a longer trip rather than a quick weekend.
Night fishing at Lac de Coiselet is authorised under Ain regulations. Night carp confirmed on 8 designated pegs, all on the right bank (rive droite), weekends only. Vegetable baits/boilies only. Bank fishing only. Immediate release — no keep-sack at night. Note: The lake spans both Ain and Jura departments. Night carp pegs are marked with on-site signage (though signs have reportedly been vandalised — exercise extra care to identify peg boundaries). For full peg map and current arrêté: peche-jura.com/parcours-carpe-de-nuit.html
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Lac de Coiselet. Thermal/combustion engines strictly prohibited. Electric motors only. Speed limit: 10 km/h overall, 5 km/h within 25m of banks. Navigation prohibited in the zone immediately upstream of the dam (marked with buoys). 3 boat launches: south of Condes (main), Chancia camping, and a third point. Source: peche-poissons.com Coiselet carnassiers article
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de Coiselet under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires. Standard French bivouac law applies.
Required permits & cards: Lake is managed by AAPPMA Thoirette 'La Valouzienne' (Jura department). Standard Ain card NOT valid here — no standard reciprocity. Jura card (AAPPMA Thoirette) required; day permits available via cartedepeche.fr. Source: peche-jura.com/aappma-thoirette-la-valouzienne-jura.html
Managed by FD 01 / RLHB. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Coiselet holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, 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 Coiselet — you will also need to be affiliated with FD 01 / RLHB. 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 (FD 01 / RLHB) 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 Coiselet, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FD 01 / RLHB is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac de Coiselet is 363 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Night fishing is permitted at Lac de Coiselet — always check the current rules with FD 01 / RLHB before your session, as night carp regulations can change seasonally and vary by sector on larger waters.
Ain is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Ain or explore all of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
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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