Formed by damming a river valley in Loire, Retenue de Soulages is a small public reservoir covering 16 hectares and one of the more significant fisheries in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Species include Carp, Pike, Perch, Tench and Bream — with carp fishing the primary attraction for travelling anglers.
Night fishing is not permitted at Retenue de Soulages, so plan accordingly. Regarding boats: Bank fishing only. Overnight bivouac camping is authorised, ideal for multi-day carp sessions.
At 400 miles from Calais, Retenue de Soulages requires a longer journey from the UK, but Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes — one of France's most varied fishing regions, with venues ranging from Alpine lakes to lowland reservoirs — rewards the trip.
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Retenue de Soulages holds carp, pike, perch, tench, bream. Carp fishing is the primary draw for visiting UK anglers, with fish present throughout the venue.
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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 (FD 42 (Fédération de Pêche de la Loire)) before fishing. French fishing regulations can change seasonally.
Loire is home to numerous fishing venues accessible to UK anglers. PiscaMaps covers lakes, reservoirs, rivers and canals across all Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes departments, with full rules, species and access information for each venue.
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