One of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes's natural lakes, Lac Pavin in Cantal covers 45 hectares and is open to coarse fishing under French public fishing regulations. Lac Pavin holds Carp, Catfish, Pike, Perch, Zander, Tench and Bream, and has built a reputation on the French carp fishing circuit.
Lac Pavin operates as a day-only venue — worth noting for anglers planning longer trips. Regarding boats: Only rental boats from the local restaurant are permitted. Anglers are permitted to bivvy overnight in line with French public water regulations.
At 380 miles from Calais, Lac Pavin requires a longer journey from the UK, but Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes — one of France's most varied fishing regions, with venues ranging from Alpine lakes to lowland reservoirs — rewards the trip.
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Lac Pavin holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, bream. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers, with fish present throughout the venue.
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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 d'Allanche et Murat) before fishing. French fishing regulations can change seasonally.
Cantal is home to numerous fishing venues accessible to UK anglers. PiscaMaps covers lakes, reservoirs, rivers and canals across all Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes departments, with full rules, species and access information for each venue.
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