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Lacs de Cournères is a intimate high-altitude mountain lake in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques offering brown and rainbow trout, pike and perch on bank fishing only — an ideal spot if you're after a change of pace from lowland French carp waters. Located 537 miles south of Calais, this small 1.4-hectare venue suits anglers seeking solitude and stunning scenery rather than specimen hunting. Note: day fishing only, and you'll need a valid French fishing licence plus AAPPMA membership for Département 64.
At 537 miles from Calais, Lacs de Cournères requires a longer journey from the UK, but Nouvelle-Aquitaine — a vast region stretching from the Dordogne to the Basque Country, with outstanding fishing across its many departments — rewards the trip.
Night fishing at Lacs de Cournères is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this mountain lake. Pyrénées-Atlantiques mountain lakes (>1000m altitude) are classified as 1st category waters where night carp is not permitted. Source: federation-peche64.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/fd64_mememto_2025.pdf Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Lacs de Cournères under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Pyrénées-Atlantiques card (CHI).
Managed by FDAAPPMA 64 / AAPPMA locale. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lacs de Cournères 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 Lacs de Cournères — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 64 / AAPPMA locale. 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 64 / AAPPMA locale) 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 de Cournères, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 64 / AAPPMA locale is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Pyrénées-Atlantiques is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Pyrénées-Atlantiques or explore all of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
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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