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Lac de Machilly is a pristine alpine trout lake nestled in the high mountains of Haute-Savoie, offering classic French mountain lake fishing in a stunning Savoyard setting. This cold, clear water demands precise technique and rewards anglers with excellent populations of wild trout in an authentic alpine environment.
Night fishing at Lac de Machilly is not permitted. Night fishing prohibited. Mountain/Category 1 trout water — French law prohibits night fishing between 30 min after sunset and 30 min before sunrise. Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Only electric motors are permitted — thermal engines are forbidden.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de Machilly under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires. French Cat2 public water default — bivouac permitted. Verify local rules before overnight stay.
Managed by AAPPMA de Machilly. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac de Machilly holds brown trout, rainbow trout, arctic char, lake trout.
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lac de Machilly — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA de Machilly. Licences are available online before your trip.
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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 Machilly, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA de Machilly is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Haute-Savoie is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Haute-Savoie 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.
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