Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Cantal and across all of France.
Lac des Bordes, Cantal
This intimate high-altitude reservoir in the Auvergne mountains is a scenic daylight-only destination, better suited to trout and pike anglers than dedicated carpers—though pike can offer exciting sport for visiting UK anglers seeking variety. At 13.7 hectares with shore fishing only, it's manageable and peaceful, roughly 385 miles south of Calais. Contact the local AAPPMA de Riom-ès-Montagnes for access details and fishing regulations before planning your trip.
Night fishing at Lac des Bordes is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this lake. Cantal's mountain/river waters are predominantly 1st category. Source: auvergne-peche.fr Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boat access is restricted at Lac des Bordes.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac des Bordes under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by AAPPMA de Riom-ès-Montagnes. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac des Bordes holds brown trout, rainbow trout, perch, pike. Pike fishing is a highlight of the venue — spinning, deadbaiting and lure fishing are all effective methods.
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lac des Bordes — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA de Riom-ès-Montagnes. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Lac des Bordes and 96,200+ venues across France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Czechia.
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 de Riom-ès-Montagnes) 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 des Bordes, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA de Riom-ès-Montagnes is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lac des Bordes is 385 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Cantal is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Cantal 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.
Other public fishing venues near Lac des Bordes on PiscaMaps: