Night carp · 45

Night Carp Fishing in Loiret

Venues sourced from the prefectural decree in force.

venues
12
rivers and canals
4
public lakes
4
private waters
4

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Loiret on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 12 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

Étang du Puits

Cerdon · 180 ha

See the venue

Verified venues

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

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Night fishing rules — Loiret

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

Official list — Loiret fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Loiret, 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 Loiret (45) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

Yes, if you want a big wild river rather than a stocked lake. The prefectural order in force opens the entire departmental course of the river Loire to night carp fishing all year, fished from the banks only — islands and boats are prohibited, and reserves are excluded. Canal options are the Canal de Briare from the Gazonne lock at Ouzouer-sur-Trézée to the Yonne boundary and the old Canal latéral à la Loire between Châtillon-sur-Loire and Saint-Firmin-sur-Loire, both on the counter-towpath side. Stillwaters: Lac des Closiers at Montargis, and the Île Charlemagne lake at Saint-Jean-le-Blanc outside the swimming zone on dates fixed annually. Rules to plan around: plant baits only, ledgered lines, four rods maximum, immediate release of every fish caught at night, no carp kept or moved, and no camping or bivouacking in the Saint-Mesmin national nature reserve or its buffer zone.

If the idea of night carping a genuinely wild river appeals, the Loiret is one of the most striking options in France: the whole departmental course of the Loire — the last big untamed river in western Europe, with its shifting sandbanks and braided channels — is open all year under the prefectural order in force. The catch is that you fish from the banks only; the islands and boats are off limits, which keeps it a proper roving, boots-on job. Canal anglers get the Canal de Briare above Ouzouer-sur-Trézée up to the Yonne boundary and the old Canal latéral à la Loire between Châtillon-sur-Loire and Saint-Firmin-sur-Loire, both fished from the towpath-opposite bank. For a settled session there is the Lac des Closiers at Montargis and the Île Charlemagne lake on the edge of Orléans, open outside the swimming area on dates set each year. Orléans is straight down the A10 from Paris and the châteaux of the Loire start just downstream, so it doubles well as a family trip. Rules: plant baits only, ledgered rigs, four rods maximum, immediate release of everything caught at night, and no carp retained or moved.