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This peaceful 40-hectare reservoir in rural Gers offers solid carp fishing alongside catfish, pike and tench in a quiet, less-pressured setting around 530 miles south of Calais. Bank fishing only with day-fishing restrictions, so it suits anglers after a relaxed session rather than round-the-clock campaigns. You'll need an AAPPMA licence and permission from FDAAPPMA 32 — contact them ahead as access details can vary seasonally.
Retenue de Saint-Frajou is 854 miles from Calais. For UK anglers willing to make the drive into Occitanie — a region of warm summers and excellent coarse fishing, particularly for carp and catfish — the fishing is well worth it.
Night fishing at Retenue de Saint-Frajou is permitted but with restrictions. Night carp in Haute-Garonne requires specific prefectoral authorisation. The department has a mix of lowland retenues (mainly near Toulouse) where night carp is authorised and Pyrenean waters where it is prohibited. Check the 2026 guide at fede-peche31.com/5969-guide-de-peche-annuel-du-31.htm for the full list. Source: fede-peche31.com
Bivouac & overnight camping is permitted at Retenue de Saint-Frajou under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by AAPPMA locale (Haute-Garonne) / FD 31. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Retenue de Saint-Frajou 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 Saint-Frajou — you will also need to be affiliated with AAPPMA locale (Haute-Garonne) / FD 31. 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 locale (Haute-Garonne) / FD 31) 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 Saint-Frajou, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with AAPPMA locale (Haute-Garonne) / FD 31 is included in the purchase process. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
Haute-Garonne is home to numerous public fishing venues. Browse all venues in Haute-Garonne 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.
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