Night Carp Fishing in Loire

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Loire on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 26 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.

The Loire department is an unusual one for a travelling carper because the permission is written the other way round: rather than listing a handful of swims, the prefectural order in force opens the whole river Loire and the Grangent and Villerest reservoirs to night carp fishing all year, then names the few stretches that are excluded. Villerest is a 35 km serpentine reservoir in a gorge upstream of Roanne, Grangent is its wilder counterpart below Saint-Étienne with a castle on an island in the middle of it — both are big, deep, scenic waters that reward anglers willing to walk. For a more managed session, the Soulage and la Rive reservoirs above Saint-Chamond run eight numbered swims, four per water, two anglers each. Practicalities matter here: no boats at all for night fishing, bank only, and no fishing from the islands, so bait placement is down to what you can cast. Saint-Étienne and Roanne are both on the motorway network and Lyon airport is close. Baits are limited to plant baits and boilies, every carp goes straight back, and live carp over 60 cm may never be transported.

Verified venues

Status verified against the current prefectural decree.

Night fishing rules — Loire

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

Official list — Loire fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Loire, 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 Loire (42) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

Yes, if you like big reservoirs and don't mind walking. The prefectural order in force opens the entire river Loire and the Grangent and Villerest reservoirs to night carp fishing all year, with only four named exclusions — part of lot A13 at Grangent, all of lot B6 between Cuzieu and Montrond-les-Bains, 620 m of lot B21 at Matrat on Villerest, and two stretches below Villerest as far as the Roanne dam. The Soulage and la Rive reservoirs at Saint-Chamond offer a more structured alternative: eight numbered swims, four per water, two anglers per swim. Rules are strict: plant baits and boilies only, no livebaits, deadbaits or lures, immediate release of every carp, no boat use at all for night fishing, bank only and never from the islands, and no transporting live carp over 60 cm. Saint-Étienne and Roanne are the practical bases, both easy to reach on the motorway network.