Public Fishing in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France

Carp Fishing in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté is arguably the heartland of French public carp fishing for visiting UK anglers — a region of large reservoirs, productive canals and well-stocked rivers running through Burgundy's famous agricultural landscape. The Auxois reservoir chain in Côte-d'Or (Grosbois, Cercey, Panthier, Tillot) draws thousands of UK carp anglers each year, offering reliable public fishing in some of the most scenic countryside in France. The Canal de Bourgogne and the Saône river add excellent river and canal options. With 38 venues permitting night fishing across 8 departments, the region offers a strong variety of session types — from overnight reservoir fishing to day sessions on the canals.

Species found across Bourgogne-Franche-Comté's public waters include Bream, Brown Trout, Carp, Catfish, Perch, Pike, Rainbow Trout, Tench, Zander. A valid Carte de Pêche and affiliation with the local AAPPMA are required at all venues. Annual, weekly and daily licences are available online — buy before leaving the UK.

Planning a Trip to Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté sits around 4–5 hours from Calais via the A6 autoroute. The Auxois reservoir chain in Côte-d'Or — Grosbois, Cercey, Panthier, Tillot — is the jewel of the region for UK carp anglers, though all operate as day-only venues. Overnight fishing is available on the Canal de Bourgogne and selected river stretches. The Saône offers excellent piking in winter. Buy your Carte de Pêche at cartedepeche.fr.

Rivers & Canals in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

The Saône is the region's standout river — running south through Chalon-sur-Saône, it holds large pike and zander alongside carp on excellent public stretches. The Canal de Bourgogne permits night fishing on selected secteurs and is well suited to bivvy sessions. The Doubs and Seille add further river options in the east.

PiscaMaps covers 290 rivers and 18 canals in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté — each with full rules, night fishing details and local AAPPMA information.

Departments in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté

Select a department to see its fishing venues, night fishing rules and species information.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many public fishing venues are there in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?+
  Bourgogne-Franche-Comté has 190 public fishing venues listed on PiscaMaps, spanning 8 departments. These include lakes, reservoirs, rivers and canals — filter by species, night fishing and bivvy permissions on the map to find the right venue for your trip.
• Is night fishing allowed in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?+
  38 venues in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté permit night fishing. Night carp rules in France are set at departmental level and can change seasonally — always check the individual venue page and verify with the local AAPPMA before planning an overnight session. A valid Carte de Pêche and AAPPMA affiliation are required for night fishing.
• What fish species can I catch in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?+
  Public waters in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté hold Bream, Brown Trout, Carp, Catfish, Perch, Pike, Rainbow Trout, Tench, Zander. Carp are the primary target for most visiting UK anglers — all carp must be handled carefully and returned. Species availability varies by venue, department and season.
• Can I bivvy camp at fishing venues in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?+
  185 out of 190 venues in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté permit bivvy camping under standard French bivouac rules — one rod, within 10 metres of the water, no open fires. Check each venue page for specific conditions and any additional AAPPMA requirements.
• Do I need a fishing licence for Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?+
  Yes — all anglers fishing in France require a valid Carte de Pêche, available from cartedepeche.fr before you leave the UK. You also need to be affiliated with the local AAPPMA for the specific water you are fishing. Annual, weekly and daily licences are all available online.
• How do I find the best carp fishing in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté?+
  Use the PiscaMaps interactive map to filter venues in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté by species (select Carp), size, night fishing and bivvy permissions. All public venues with carp are listed with full rules, access notes and distance from Calais. Larger waters — reservoirs over 50ha — tend to produce the biggest carp on public banks.

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