Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Cantal and across all of France.
Lac de l'Esclauze is a scenic high-altitude reservoir in the Auvergne mountains (386 miles from Calais) offering bank fishing for pike, perch, and trout across 25 hectares of pristine water. While it's not a carp venue, it's an excellent alternative if you're exploring multi-species opportunities or seeking a quieter, altitude-fishing experience away from lowland commercials. Note: night fishing is not permitted, and you'll need a valid AAPPMA licence from the Saint-Flour association to fish here.
Night fishing at Lac de l'Esclauze is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this lake. Cantal's mountain/river waters are predominantly 1st category. Source: auvergne-peche.fr Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boat access is restricted at Lac de l'Esclauze.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de l'Esclauze under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by AAPPMA du Pays de Saint-Flour. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de l'Esclauze 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 l'Esclauze — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA du Pays de Saint-Flour. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Lac de l'Esclauze 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 (AAPPMA du Pays de Saint-Flour) 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 l'Esclauze, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA du Pays de Saint-Flour is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac de l'Esclauze is 386 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Cantal is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Cantal 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.
Other public fishing venues near Lac de l'Esclauze on PiscaMaps: