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Montchanin is a compact 23-hectare reservoir in Bourgogne offering solid carp fishing alongside pike and bream, with the significant advantage of permitted night fishing for dedicated carpers. Located 313 miles from Calais, it's well-positioned for a longer French trip and allows both boats and float tubes, giving you flexibility to work different areas. You'll need a French fishing licence and should register with the local Fédération de Pêche de Saône-et-Loire before fishing.
Night fishing at Réservoir de Montchanin is authorised under Saône-et-Loire regulations. Night carp confirmed — Réservoir de Montchanin (Saint-Laurent-d'Andenay, 23ha) has an approved night carp parcours. Season: weekends only (Friday evening to Monday morning), 1 March–31 December. Boats and float tubes authorised. 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/ou-pecher/les-etangs/reservoir-de-montchanin/
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Réservoir de Montchanin.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Réservoir de Montchanin under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by Fédération de Pêche de Saône-et-Loire. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Réservoir de Montchanin holds carp, pike, perch, bream, 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 Réservoir de Montchanin — you will also need to be affiliated with Fédération de Pêche de Saône-et-Loire. Licences are available online before your trip.
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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 Réservoir de Montchanin, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with Fédération de Pêche de Saône-et-Loire is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online. Réservoir de Montchanin is 313 miles from Calais — plan for a full travel day from Calais.
Night fishing is permitted at Réservoir de Montchanin — always check the current rules with Fédération de Pêche de Saône-et-Loire 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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