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Retenue de Quinson is a scenic 143-hectare Provençal reservoir offering excellent opportunities for carp alongside pike, zander and tench in crystal-clear southern French water — a refreshing change from the murky lakes many UK anglers expect. Night fishing is permitted but requires advance booking, and you'll have the option of exploring the venue by electric-motor boat to locate productive swims. This is a serious destination 537 miles south of Calais ideal for an extended trip; contact AAPPMA Verdon Colostre or FDAAPPMA 04-83 for mandatory night-fishing permits and current access arrangements.
Retenue de Quinson is 537 miles from Calais. For UK anglers willing to make the drive into Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur — a stunning region with mountain lakes, large reservoirs and excellent carp fishing in the south — the fishing is well worth it.
Night fishing at Retenue de Quinson 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 Quinson.
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Retenue de Quinson under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Required permits & cards: Var/04 card (CHI). Mandatory online peg reservation. No-kill mandatory.
Managed by AAPPMA Verdon Colostre / FDAAPPMA 04-83. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Retenue de Quinson 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 Quinson — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA Verdon Colostre / FDAAPPMA 04-83. 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 Verdon Colostre / FDAAPPMA 04-83) 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 Quinson, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA Verdon Colostre / FDAAPPMA 04-83 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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