Night carp · 18

Night Carp Fishing in Cher

Venues sourced from the prefectural decree in force.

venues
19
rivers and canals
9
public lakes
6
private waters
4

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Cher on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 19 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

Positions shown to within 1 km. The precise swim map is for members.See the map

Featured — largest lake

Plan d'eau du Val d'Auron

Bourges / Plaimpied-Givaudins · 73 ha

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Verified venues

Venues sourced from the current prefectural decree; private estates follow their operator's rules.

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Night fishing rules — Cher

Always check the departmental fishing federation's official list before your session.

Official list — Cher fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Cher, France?

Yes, on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Geocarp lists these venues with maps, access details and angler reports.

Do I need a French fishing licence?

Yes. A valid French fishing licence (carte de pêche) is mandatory and can be bought online at cartedepeche.fr. Some venues require an additional night carp option from the local angling club (AAPPMA).

What baits are allowed at night in France?

Vegetable baits and boilies only. Any carp caught at night must be released immediately — keeping or transporting carp at night is prohibited by French law (decree 2004-599).

Is the Cher (18) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

It works best as a stop on the way south rather than a week-long destination, but what it offers is unusual: legal all-year night carp fishing on a large lake on the edge of a historic city. The prefectural order in force opens the Val d'Auron lake at Bourges and Plaimpied-Givaudins from 1 January to 31 December each year, fished from the bank only in the permanent authorised zone, with a second zone opened for club events on prior notice. The night rules are stricter than average: plant-based hookbaits, baits and groundbait only, boilies included, one simple hook per line, and compulsory immediate release of everything caught at night with no keepnets or retention of any kind. Zone boundaries are signposted on the bank by the local club. Bourges is around two and a half hours south of Paris on the A71.

The Cher sits in the Berry, the quiet agricultural heart of France, and its designated night carp water is a genuine city lake: the Val d'Auron, a large second-category stillwater on the southern edge of Bourges, shared with the neighbouring commune of Plaimpied-Givaudins. The prefectural order in force allows carp fishing at any hour from 1 January to 31 December each year in the permanent authorised zone, fished from the bank only, with an additional zone opened for club events on prior notice. That combination — legal all-year night fishing within walking distance of a cathedral city on the UNESCO list — is rare, and it makes the Cher a sensible stop on the drive south rather than a destination in itself. The night rules are tighter than average: plant-based hookbaits, baits and groundbait only, boilies included, and a single hook per line. Everything caught during the night goes straight back — no keepnets, no keepsacks, no retention of any kind. Bourges is two and a half hours from Paris and sits at the junction of the A71 and the roads west into the Loire valley.