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Retenue de Lavalette is a substantial 197-hectare reservoir in the Auvergne region offering excellent mixed fishing for carp, catfish and pike in a scenic mountain setting, though it's a considerable 416-mile haul from Calais. Night fishing and bivouacking are strictly prohibited here, making it a day-trip venue, but electric-motor boats are permitted for exploring the deeper water. You'll need to contact AAPPMA du Puy-en-Velay for a local day ticket or annual permit before fishing.
Night fishing at Retenue de Lavalette is not permitted. Night carp not authorised on this lake. Haute-Loire is predominantly 1st category (salmonid) waters. Source: peche-hauteloire.fr Anglers must leave the bank before dark.
Boat fishing: Boats are permitted at Retenue de Lavalette. Boats (barque, float-tube) permitted by reservation. Verify with local AAPPMA or tourisme-hauteloire.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Retenue de Lavalette under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires. Standard French bivouac law applies.
Required permits & cards: Haute-Loire departmental card (CHI reciprocity).
Managed by AAPPMA du Puy-en-Velay. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Retenue de Lavalette holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, zander, tench, bream. 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 Lavalette — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA du Puy-en-Velay. 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 du Puy-en-Velay) 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 Lavalette, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA du Puy-en-Velay is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Haute-Loire is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Haute-Loire or explore all of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
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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