Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Mayenne and across all of France.
Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie is a compact 11-hectare reservoir in Mayenne offering quality carp and tench fishing in a peaceful, intimate setting—ideal if you prefer smaller waters where you can cover ground from the bank. Day fishing only means you'll need to plan your sessions carefully, but the mixed coarse fish population and bank-accessible margins make it worth exploring as part of a broader Pays de la Loire trip. You'll need a valid French fishing licence and AAPPMA permit from Fédération Pêche Mayenne (available locally or online); it's roughly 230 miles south of Calais, making it a feasible overnight destination if combining multiple venues.
At 233 miles from Calais, Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie is a popular destination for anglers exploring Pays de la Loire, a region with diverse fishing including carp lakes, river pike and coastal species.
Night fishing at Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Mayenne is authorised on about 10 designated night carp parcours, mainly on the Mayenne river and specific plans d'eau. Check the interactive map at fedepeche53.com for the current list. Source: fedepeche53.com
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Mayenne departmental card (EHGO).
Managed by FDAAPPMA 53 / Fédération Pêche Mayenne. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie 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 Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 53 / Fédération Pêche Mayenne. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie 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 53 / Fédération Pêche Mayenne) 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 Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 53 / Fédération Pêche Mayenne is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie is 233 miles from Calais, around 4 hours from the ferry or tunnel.
Mayenne is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Mayenne or explore all of Pays de la Loire.
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 Plan d'Eau de la Chesnaie on PiscaMaps: