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Lac des Gourgoutes is a tiny, high-altitude natural lake in the Hautes-Pyrénées offering intimate bank fishing for trout, pike and perch rather than carp—making it a scenic escape for mixed species rather than a dedicated carp destination. At just 1.72 hectares with no night fishing allowed, it's best suited to daytime explorers seeking mountain scenery and technical trout or pike work. A long haul from Calais (573 miles), you'll need a valid French fishing licence and AAPPMA65 day permit to fish.
Night fishing at Lac des Gourgoutes is not permitted. Night carp fishing in Hautes-Pyrénées is only permitted on specific named venues per prefectoral order. This lake is not on the authorised list — night carp fishing is prohibited here. See peche65.fr for the full list. Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac des Gourgoutes under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Hautes-Pyrénées card (CHI).
Managed by FDAAPPMA 65 / Fédération Pêche Hautes-Pyrénées. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac des Gourgoutes 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 Gourgoutes — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 65 / Fédération Pêche Hautes-Pyrénées. 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 65 / Fédération Pêche Hautes-Pyrénées) 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 Gourgoutes, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 65 / Fédération Pêche Hautes-Pyrénées is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
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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