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Retenue de Ste Foy I is a modest 24-hectare reservoir in the Pyrenean foothills offering solid mixed fishing, with carp and catfish as headline species alongside pike and tench. Night fishing is permitted (shared with the adjacent Ste Foy II), making it worth considering if you're targeting bigger fish in summer, though this remote Occitanie location sits 516 miles south of Calais—a serious commitment for a weekend trip. Bank fishing only, so pack accordingly, and you'll need a French fishing licence plus AAPPMA membership for Haute-Garonne (contact FDAAPPMA 31).
Retenue de Ste Foy I is 516 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 Ste Foy I 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 Ste Foy I under standard French fishing law — one rod, within 10m of the water, no open fires.
Managed by FDAAPPMA 31 / Fédération Pêche Haute-Garonne. Always verify current rules with the AAPPMA before your session — regulations can change seasonally.
Retenue de Ste Foy I holds carp, catfish, pike, perch, 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 Ste Foy I — you will also need to be affiliated with FDAAPPMA 31 / Fédération Pêche Haute-Garonne. 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 (FDAAPPMA 31 / Fédération Pêche Haute-Garonne) 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 Ste Foy I, you need a valid Carte de Pêche (French fishing licence), available online at cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK — affiliation with FDAAPPMA 31 / Fédération Pêche Haute-Garonne 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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