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Lac de Lourdes is a substantial 63-hectare natural lake in the Hautes-Pyrénées offering excellent mixed fishing for carp, catfish, pike and tench in stunning Pyrenean scenery—550 miles south of Calais, it's ideal for a longer expedition combining serious carp work with mountain-break appeal. Night fishing is permitted year-round from designated pegs, and electric boats are allowed, giving you flexibility to explore productive areas. You'll need a local AAPPMA licence (contact AAPPMA Lourdes or FDAAPPMA 65) before fishing.
At 550 miles from Calais, Lac de Lourdes requires a longer journey from the UK, but Occitanie — a region of warm summers and excellent coarse fishing, particularly for carp and catfish — rewards the trip.
Night fishing at Lac de Lourdes is authorised under Hautes-Pyrénées regulations. Night carp confirmed — Lac de Lourdes is listed as a confirmed night carp venue by peche65.fr. Year-round. Check peche65.fr/3777-les-parcours-carpe-de-nuit-.htm for current 2026 zone map and any specific sector restrictions. Vegetable baits, immediate release. Source: peche65.fr/3777-les-parcours-carpe-de-nuit-.htm
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Lac de Lourdes.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de Lourdes under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Hautes-Pyrénées card (CHI).
Managed by AAPPMA Lourdes / FDAAPPMA 65. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Lourdes holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, bream, black bass. 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 Lourdes — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA Lourdes / FDAAPPMA 65. 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 Lourdes / FDAAPPMA 65) 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 Lourdes, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA Lourdes / FDAAPPMA 65 is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Night fishing is permitted at Lac de Lourdes — always check the current rules with AAPPMA Lourdes / FDAAPPMA 65 before your session, as night carp regulations can change seasonally and vary by sector on larger waters.
Hautes-Pyrénées is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Hautes-Pyrénées or explore all of Occitanie.
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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