Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Tarn and across all of France.
Retenue de la Bancalié is a substantial 87-hectare reservoir in southern France (495 miles from Calais) offering excellent mixed fishing with healthy carp stocks alongside catfish, pike, and zander. Night fishing is permitted on designated linear sections, and the electric-motor-only boat policy keeps the water peaceful—ideal for stalking or feature fishing. You'll need a valid French fishing licence and membership with AAPPMA Bancalié to fish here.
Night fishing at Retenue de la Bancalié is not permitted. Night carp not confirmed on this lake. Tarn's designated night carp plans d'eau are: La Borde-basse, Lac du Lézert, La Piscine and Le Camping (Dourgne), Les Roques and Lac de Técou (Gaillac), and river sections. Check pechetarn.fr/reglementation-activite-de-peche-tarn-81.php for the full current list. Source: pechetarn.fr Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Retenue de la Bancalié. Reservoir — boats permitted.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Retenue de la Bancalié under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Tarn card (CHI). Carnassier quota 1/day. See pechetarn.fr.
Managed by AAPPMA Bancalié / FDAAPPMA 81. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Retenue de la Bancalié holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, bream, 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 Retenue de la Bancalié — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA Bancalié / FDAAPPMA 81. Licences are available online before your trip.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Retenue de la Bancalié 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 (AAPPMA Bancalié / FDAAPPMA 81) 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 Retenue de la Bancalié, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA Bancalié / FDAAPPMA 81 is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Tarn is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Tarn or explore all of Occitanie.
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 Retenue de la Bancalié on PiscaMaps: