Night carp · 89

Night Carp Fishing in Yonne

Venues sourced from the prefectural decree in force.

venues
27
rivers and canals
16
public lakes
8
private waters
3

The essentials in 20 seconds

Night carp fishing is legal in Yonne on designated stretches defined by prefectural decree. Vegetable baits and boilies only, catch-and-release is mandatory. Geocarp lists 27 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

Lac de barrage du Bourdon

Saint-Fargeau, Moutiers-en-Puisaye · 153 ha

See the venue

Verified venues

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

Explore on the Geocarp map

Night fishing rules — Yonne

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

Official list — Yonne fishing federation

Frequently asked questions

Is night carp fishing legal in Yonne, 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 Yonne (89) a good destination for a night carp fishing trip from the UK?

Yes, particularly if you like river and canal fishing. The prefectural order in force allows night carp fishing all year on the entire public-domain course of the river Yonne, both banks and with no stretch limits, plus the Canal de Bourgogne, the Canal du Nivernais, the Canal d'Accolay and the Canal de Briare on the same terms. Stillwater options include the Bourdon and Crescent reservoirs and several lakes near Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, Saint-Aubin-sur-Yonne and Sens, some of which are open Friday to Monday only. Rules to plan around: plant-based baits only, immediate release of every fish, no carp kept or carried at night, and no fishing within 50 m below locks, weirs or water intakes. Auxerre and Sens sit straight down the A6 from Paris, which makes the Yonne an easy first leg of a longer trip south.

For a UK angler who likes big, navigable water without the crowds, the Yonne is one of the most generous departments in Burgundy. Night carp fishing is open all year under the prefectural order in force, and the headline is the river Yonne itself: the whole of its public-domain course is authorised on both banks with no stretch limits, along with the Courlon, Gurgy and Joigny bypass channels. Four canals are open on the same terms — the Canal de Bourgogne, the Canal du Nivernais, the Canal d'Accolay and the Canal de Briare — which makes roving sessions genuinely practical. Add the Bourdon reservoir at Saint-Fargeau, the Crescent reservoir at Marigny-l'Église and a handful of lakes around Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, Saint-Aubin and Sens, and you have a department that suits both mobile canal fishing and settled lake sessions. Auxerre and Sens make easy bases, both on the A6 corridor south from Paris, so it is a realistic first stop on a longer drive. Know the rules before you go: plant-based baits only, immediate release of everything caught, no carp held or moved at night, and nothing within 50 m below any lock, weir or intake.