Night Carp Fishing in Côte-d'Or

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Côte-d'Or on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 41 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

For UK anglers who enjoy canal carping, the Côte-d'Or — Burgundy's wine-country department around Dijon — is a natural fit, and it sits right on the motorway corridor south towards the Alps and the Rhône valley. Night carp fishing runs from 1 April to 30 November under the prefectural order in force, on two long canals fished pound by pound: the Canal de Bourgogne (from the Auxois around Châteauneuf and Montbard down through Velars-sur-Ouche and Plombières-lès-Dijon to the long run from Dijon to Rouvres-en-Plaine) and the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne along the Vingeanne valley, open in one continuous stretch from Beaumont-sur-Vingeanne to the Saône at Maxilly. The Saône adds river sectors at Heuilley, Pontailler, Lamarche, Auxonne, Saint-Usage–Losne and Trugny, the Brenne offers around 5,000 m at Montbard, and federation gravel pits (Beire-le-Châtel, Bressey-sur-Tille) and the Morteuil lakes near Beaune complete the picture. Rules to know before you travel: a federation night-carp vignette is required on top of the carte de pêche, only plant-based baits and boilies are allowed on leger tackle, every carp must be released immediately, and all locks in the department are no-fishing reserves (the chamber plus 50 m downstream).

Verified venues

Status verified against the current prefectural decree.

Night fishing rules — Côte-d'Or

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

Official list — Côte-d'Or fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Côte-d'Or, 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 Côte-d'Or a good destination for a carp fishing trip from the UK?

Yes, especially for canal specialists. The Côte-d'Or combines legal night carp fishing on the Canal de Bourgogne and the Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne with sectors on the river Saône, all set in Burgundy wine country with Dijon as an obvious base. The season runs from 1 April to 30 November under the prefectural order in force, on designated, signposted stretches only: leger tackle with plant-based baits or boilies exclusively, and immediate release of every fish caught at night. The departmental federation also details a night-fishing vignette on top of the licence — check its page before you travel. The Côte-d'Or makes a convenient overnight stop on the drive south towards the Alps or the Rhône valley.