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Lac de la Valette is a sprawling 200+ hectare reservoir in Corrèze offering excellent carp fishing alongside catfish, pike and other species in a scenic woodland setting. Night fishing is permitted in designated zones, and both petrol and electric boats are allowed, giving you flexibility for exploring this substantial water. You'll need to purchase a fishing licence and check current regulations with the local AAPPMA Marcillac before your trip — roughly 393 miles from Calais, it's best combined with other Nouvelle-Aquitaine venues.
Night fishing at Lac de la Valette is authorised under Corrèze regulations. Night carp confirmed on specific bank sections (Retenue de Marcillac-la-Croisille). Season: 2nd Saturday of March to 31 December. Vegetable baits/boilies only. Immediate release — no keep-sack at night. No live transport of carp >60cm at any time. Authorised zones: (1) Both banks between Pont de Combrignac and Pont de Malèze. (2) Right bank only from Pont de Malèze to the Ruisseau de Charles. Exception: the two sandre reserves ('Baie d'El Faou' and 'Baie de Lantourne') are closed from the Monday after the 2nd Sunday in March to the Friday before the 2nd Saturday in June. Note: covers >50% of the lake's bank length. Motors authorised. Source: peche19.fr/ou-pecher/les-parcours-specifiques/les-parcours-carpe-de-nuit/ | Map: peche19.fr/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Carpe-de-nuit-Marcillac.pdf
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Lac de la Valette. Boats strongly recommended/essential (difficult bank access). Navigation permitted. Speed limit 6 km/h near dams. Trolling forbidden.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de la Valette under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires. Standard French bivouac law applies.
Required permits & cards: Corrèze departmental card (CHI reciprocity).
Managed by FDAAPPMA 19 / AAPPMA locale. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de la Valette holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, bream, black bass. Carp are the primary draw for visiting UK anglers — fish to 30kg 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 30kg, avg 12kg (Colinmaire)
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lac de la Valette — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 19 / AAPPMA locale. 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 (FDAAPPMA 19 / AAPPMA locale) 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 Valette, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 19 / AAPPMA locale is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac de la Valette is 393 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Night fishing is permitted at Lac de la Valette — always check the current rules with FDAAPPMA 19 / AAPPMA locale before your session, as night carp regulations can change seasonally and vary by sector on larger waters.
Corrèze is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Corrèze or explore all of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
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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