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Lac Napoléon is a tiny, intimate mountain lake in the Ubaye valley offering something different from France's famous carp circuits—pristine alpine surroundings and a chance to target pike and tench in solitude. Bank fishing only, no night sessions, so this is a daytime-only venue 496 miles from Calais suited to anglers seeking a quieter experience away from busy lowland lakes. Contact the local FDAAPPMA 04 for day-ticket information and confirm access requirements before planning your trip.
Night fishing at Lac Napoléon is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this mountain/alpine lake. Only 4 specific lowland plans d'eau in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence have night carp authorisation (Lac de la Forestière, Buissonnades Est/Sud, Lac du Brunet, Retenue de Castillon). Source: AP n°2025-029-006 — peche04.fr Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lac Napoléon under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence card (CHI).
Managed by FDAAPPMA 04 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lac Napoléon holds pike, perch, tench. 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 Napoléon — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 04 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. 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 04 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) 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 Napoléon, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 04 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence or explore all of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
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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