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Lac du Rateau is a tiny, intimate high-altitude lake in Savoie that's a refreshing change of pace for UK anglers—expect pristine Alpine scenery and quality brown and rainbow trout rather than carp, plus pike and perch for variety. Day fishing only (no night sessions), bank access exclusively, and at 446 miles from Calais this is a proper expedition for serious anglers seeking solitude in the mountains rather than a quick weekend trip. You'll need an AAPPMA licence from Les Pêcheurs Mauriennais in St-Jean-de-Maurienne to fish legally.
Night fishing at Lac du Rateau is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this lake. Savoie has only 4 designated night carp sites (Plans d'eau du Sauget, Reculfort, Lac d'Aiguebelette, Plan d'eau de Grésy-sur-Isère), all on advance reservation. All other Savoie waters: night fishing prohibited. Source: savoiepeche.com Guide 2026 Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac du Rateau under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by AAPPMA Les Pêcheurs Mauriennais (St-Jean-de-Maurienne). Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac du Rateau 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 du Rateau — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA Les Pêcheurs Mauriennais (St-Jean-de-Maurienne). 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 Les Pêcheurs Mauriennais (St-Jean-de-Maurienne)) 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 du Rateau, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA Les Pêcheurs Mauriennais (St-Jean-de-Maurienne) is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Savoie is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in 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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