Lac de Viam is a substantial 147-hectare reservoir in Creuse offering excellent carp and catfish opportunities alongside pike and zander, with designated night-fishing zones perfect for dedicated sessions. Located 370 miles south of Calais, it's well worth the journey for anglers seeking a quieter alternative to heavily-fished northern French waters, with electric-motor boats permitted for exploring productive areas. You'll need a valid French fishing licence and AAPPMA membership (contact FDAAPPMA 23 or the local AAPPMA before your trip) — night-fishing zones have specific regulations, so check current restrictions with the managing federation.
At 370 miles from Calais, Lac de Viam requires a longer journey from the UK, but Nouvelle-Aquitaine — a vast region stretching from the Dordogne to the Basque Country, with outstanding fishing across its many departments — rewards the trip.
Night fishing at Lac de Viam is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this lake. Creuse's designated night carp venues are: Barrage des Combes, Barrage de Champsanglard, Barrage de Faux-la-Montagne, Barrage de Lavaud-Gélade, Barrage de l'Âge, Barrage de Vassivière. Season: 1 April–30 November. This lake is not among them. Source: fdpeche23.wixsite.com/peche23/carpe-de-nuit Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Lac de Viam. Motor boats permitted (unique — most Corrèze lakes are no-motor). Float-tubes permitted. Speed limit 6 km/h near dams. No lure fishing during brochet closure.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac de Viam 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 23 / AAPPMA locale. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Creuse and across all of France.
Lac de Viam holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, bream, black bass. Carp are the primary draw for visiting UK anglers — fish to 23kg 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.
Carp to 23kg+
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lac de Viam — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 23 / AAPPMA locale. Licences are available online before your trip.
Image via Wikipedia (Wikipédia) · Used under Creative Commons licence
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Lac de Viam and 10,000+ venues across France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
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 23 / AAPPMA locale) before fishing. French fishing regulations can change seasonally.
To fish Lac de Viam, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 23 / AAPPMA locale is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac de Viam is 370 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Creuse is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Creuse or explore all of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Other public fishing venues near Lac de Viam on PiscaMaps:
