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Lac de la Motte ou d'Ilay is a scenic 84-hectare Jura lake offering solid carp and catfish prospects alongside pike, zander and tench—ideal if you're seeking a quieter alternative to busier northern French venues. Its Natura 2000 status means no night fishing, so expect a day-session rhythm in beautiful mountain surroundings roughly 350 miles south of Calais. Bank fishing only, no boats; contact the Fédération Départementale de Pêche du Jura for permit details and AAPPMA membership requirements before you go.
Lac de la Motte ou d'Ilay is 351 miles from Calais. For UK anglers willing to make the drive into Bourgogne-Franche-Comté — a region renowned among UK carp anglers for its quality stillwater fishing — the fishing is well worth it.
Night fishing at Lac de la Motte ou d'Ilay 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 la Motte ou d'Ilay. Grand lac — boats permitted. Brochet opening delayed to 31 May on grands lacs.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de la Motte ou d'Ilay under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Jura departmental card or CHI/EHGO/URNE. Specific grands lacs rules apply. Verify night carp parcours at peche-jura.com.
Managed by Fédération Départementale de Pêche du Jura. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de la Motte ou d'Ilay holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, 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 la Motte ou d'Ilay — you will also need to be affiliated with Fédération Départementale de Pêche du Jura. 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 (Fédération Départementale de Pêche du Jura) 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 la Motte ou d'Ilay, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with Fédération Départementale de Pêche du Jura is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac de la Motte ou d'Ilay is 351 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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