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Lacs d'Épervans is a compact 10.7-hectare reservoir in Burgundy, around 321 miles from Calais, offering solid carp and tench fishing with the bonus of night sessions in designated zones. The electric-motors-only rule keeps the water peaceful, and you can fish from a boat if needed, making it a quieter alternative to busier French venues. You'll need an AAPPMA permit from Chalon-sur-Saône – Darses Épervans/St-Marcel before fishing.
Night fishing at Lacs d'Épervans is authorised under Saône-et-Loire regulations. Night carp confirmed — Les Darses de Saint-Marcel et d'Épervans are on the official Saône-et-Loire parcours list. Season: 1 March–31 December. Priority given to navigation (public waterway). Bank fishing only. Vegetable baits/boilies only. Silure and sandre strictly prohibited at night. Immediate release — no keep-sack. Carpe >60cm: no live transport. Source: peche-saone-et-loire.fr (Arrêté 2026-0031-DDT) Source: peche-saone-et-loire.fr/peche-pratique/extrait-de-la-reglementation/
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lacs d'Épervans under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Saône-et-Loire card (CHI/EHGO/URNE).
Managed by AAPPMA Chalon-sur-Saône – Darses Épervans/St-Marcel. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lacs d'Épervans holds carp, pike, perch, tench. Carp are the primary draw for visiting UK anglers. All carp should be handled with care and returned promptly. A landing mat and unhooking mat are essential kit for any carp session.
A valid Carte de Pêche is required to fish Lacs d'Épervans — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA Chalon-sur-Saône – Darses Épervans/St-Marcel. 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 Chalon-sur-Saône – Darses Épervans/St-Marcel) 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 Lacs d'Épervans, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA Chalon-sur-Saône – Darses Épervans/St-Marcel is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Lacs d'Épervans is 321 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Night fishing is permitted at Lacs d'Épervans — always check the current rules with AAPPMA Chalon-sur-Saône – Darses Épervans/St-Marcel before your session, as night carp regulations can change seasonally and vary by sector on larger waters.
Saône-et-Loire is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Saône-et-Loire or explore all of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
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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