Night carp · 69
Night Carp Fishing in Rhône
Venues sourced from the prefectural decree in force.
- venues
- 17
- rivers and canals
- 15
- public lakes
- 2
- private waters
- 0
The essentials in 20 seconds
Night carp fishing is legal in Rhône on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 17 verified night venues in this department, with maps, access details and angler reports — in English.
Verified venues
Venues sourced from the current prefectural decree; private estates follow their operator's rules.
- Decree-sourced
Lac du Bordelan – Villefranche-sur-Saône
- Decree-sourced
Lac du Colombier – Anse
- Decree-sourced
Rhône – Gauche (canal de Jonage) – PK 14,100 au PK 8,900
- Decree-sourced
Rhône RD – PK 26,000 au PK 24,500
- Decree-sourced
Rhône RD – PK 28,500 au PK 27,000
- Decree-sourced
Rhône RD – PK 33,380 au PK 32,000
- Decree-sourced
Rhône RD – PK 4,500 au PK 3,000
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD – PK 24,450 au PK 22,500
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD – PK 30,500 au PK 25,000
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD – PK 31,500 au PK 31,000
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD – PK 34,650 au PK 36,300
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD – PK 64,000 au PK 63,450
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD et RG – PK 14,000 au PK 9,500
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD et RG – PK 15,500 au PK 14,000
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD et RG – PK 22,500 au PK 17,485
- Decree-sourced
Saône RD et RG – PK 9,500 au PK 6,900
- Decree-sourced
Saône RG – PK 24,120 au PK 22,500
Night fishing rules — Rhône
Always check the departmental fishing federation's official list before your session.
Frequently asked questions
Is night carp fishing legal in Rhône, 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 Lyon area a good destination for a carp fishing trip?
Yes — the Rhône department combines legal night fishing on two major rivers, the Saône and the Rhône, with the accessibility of France's second-largest urban area: direct motorways, high-speed trains and Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport. Sectors are spread between Villefranche-sur-Saône and the south of Lyon, plus two seasonal lakes (Bordelan and Colombier). Note that night fishing is only legal on the stretches designated by prefectural decree — check each spot's map before setting up.
The Rhône department is built around Lyon, one of France's largest cities, making it one of the easiest destinations to reach — by motorway from the north or via Lyon-Saint Exupéry airport. Night carp fishing here means big-river fishing on two axes: the Saône, with ten authorised sectors between Villefranche-sur-Saône and the northern edge of Lyon (one of them weekend-only, Friday evening to Monday morning), and the Rhône itself — right-bank stretches south of Lyon, the Bas-Rhône at Pierre-Bénite, and the left bank of the Jonage canal up to the Grand Large lake. Two stillwaters open seasonally (1 Feb–24 Apr and 1 Oct–31 Dec): Bordelan lake at Villefranche-sur-Saône and Colombier lake at Anse (seven marked swims, 96-hour limit). Bank fishing only, vegetable baits only, and every stretch is precisely defined by prefectural decree.