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.
Filter by species, size, night fishing, boats and bivvy. Find venues near Var and across all of France.
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.
Join to unlock full rules, night sectors, access notes and local camping spots for Retenue de Quinson and 10,000+ venues across France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
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.
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.
Other public fishing venues near Retenue de Quinson on PiscaMaps: