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Lac de Gérardmer is a pristine 115-hectare natural lake in the Vosges offering excellent carp prospects alongside catfish, pike and zander in a scenic mountain setting—roughly 300 miles from Calais in Grand Est. Day fishing only (season opens 2nd Saturday in March), with electric or oared boats available for exploring the deeper zones. You'll need a valid AAPPMA day ticket from the local association; check current permits before arrival as this is a popular destination with UK anglers.
Night fishing at Lac de Gérardmer is not permitted. Lac de Gérardmer is classified 1st category piscicole — trout, corégone, perch, pike and cyprinids. Night carp fishing NOT authorised (1st category). Open from 2nd Saturday of March. Trolling from boat authorised (no thermal motors). The lake does not benefit from CHI/EHGO/URNE reciprocity — local AAPPMA card only. Card types: journalière, permis vacances (7 consecutive days), or annual. Navigation droit required from Mairie. Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Only electric motors are permitted — thermal engines are forbidden. Rowing boats and human-powered craft permitted. Trolling with 3 rods max per boat. Thermal motors strictly forbidden. Navigation droit required from Mairie de Gérardmer.
Bivouac & overnight camping is not permitted at Lac de Gérardmer. Night fishing not authorised — no overnight bivouac for fishing.
Required permits & cards: Local AAPPMA card only (no reciprocity). Navigation droit from Mairie. Day, weekly, or annual permit.
Managed by AAPPMA de Gérardmer. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Gérardmer holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, bream. Carp are the primary draw for visiting UK anglers — fish to 32kg have been recorded. All carp should be handled with care and returned promptly. A landing mat and unhooking mat are essential kit for any carp session.
Record 32kg (Colinmaire)
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lac de Gérardmer — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA de Gérardmer. 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 de Gérardmer) 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 Gérardmer, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA de Gérardmer is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac de Gérardmer is 300 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Haut-Rhin is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Haut-Rhin or explore all of Grand Est.
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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