Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Alpes-Maritimes and across all of France.
Lacs de Vens is a scenic high-altitude reservoir in the Mercantour mountains offering bank-only carp fishing in pristine Alpine surroundings – a refreshing change from lowland French venues. At 11 hectares, it's intimate and relatively underpressured, though day-fishing only means you'll need to plan sessions carefully around the mountain climate. You'll need a valid French fishing licence and permission from FDAAPPMA 06 (Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes) – contact them ahead as this is a managed, high-altitude fishery with specific regulations.
At 516 miles from Calais, Lacs de Vens requires a longer journey from the UK, but Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur — a stunning region with mountain lakes, large reservoirs and excellent carp fishing in the south — rewards the trip.
Night fishing at Lacs de Vens is not permitted. Night carp not authorised in Alpes-Maritimes. The department has no prefectoral arrêté authorising night carp on lakes. Source: peche06.fr Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boat access is restricted at Lacs de Vens.
Bivouac & overnight camping is not permitted at Lacs de Vens. Night fishing not authorised.
Managed by FDAAPPMA 06 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Lacs de Vens holds carp, pike, perch, tench, black bass. 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 de Vens — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 06 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Lacs de Vens and 96,200+ venues across France, Belgium, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Czechia.
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 06 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes) 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 Vens, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 06 / Fédération Pêche Alpes-Maritimes is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Alpes-Maritimes is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Alpes-Maritimes 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.
Other public fishing venues near Lacs de Vens on PiscaMaps: