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Retenue de la Verne is a scenic 56-hectare reservoir in Provence offering solid populations of carp, tench and bream in a stunning Mediterranean setting—ideal if you're exploring southern France beyond the Loire. Bank fishing only with no night option (it's a drinking water reserve), but the calm, clear water and good-sized carp make it worth the 575-mile haul from Calais for a longer trip. You'll need to contact AAPPMA La Belle Mouchetée de Fayence for permits and access details before visiting.
Night fishing at Retenue de la Verne is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Var requires specific prefectoral authorisation on designated parcours. Check current authorised sites at pechevar.fr before fishing at night. Source: pechevar.fr
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Retenue de la Verne. EDF barrage — boats permitted.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Retenue de la Verne under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Var card. Mandatory online peg reservation. No-kill for carp.
Managed by AAPPMA La Belle Mouchetée de Fayence / FDAAPPMA 83. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Retenue de la Verne holds carp, 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 Verne — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA La Belle Mouchetée de Fayence / FDAAPPMA 83. 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 (AAPPMA La Belle Mouchetée de Fayence / FDAAPPMA 83) 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 Verne, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA La Belle Mouchetée de Fayence / FDAAPPMA 83 is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Var is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Var 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.
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