Regulations

The fishing opening dates

Fishing conditions are determined by the Environmental Code and prefectural decrees.

The fish categories

To reflect the biology of species, streams, canals and lakes are classified into two fishing categories :

• 1^st category includes those that are mainly populated by salmonids such as the brown trout, as well as waters where special protection of the species haboured (mainly salmonids) seems beneficial.
• 2^nd category includes all other rivers, canals and lakes (dominantly populated by cyprinids).

When to fish?

Fishing can be exercised from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset.

Fishing times of day, calculated standard time are listed undermentionned.

However, fishing night carp is the subject to a specific law. In Aisne, it's possible to fish night carp between January 1 and Decemberber 31 on some spots defined by prefectural. The detention of a Fishing Licence is required.

Fishing is allowed every day from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset.

Opening times

The opening times are chosen in adequation with the breeding season of the various fish species, which explains why some fishing methods are forbidden during a certain period every year. Those periods depends on the fishing category (see above), on the species and sometimes also on the department of France.

The periods during which fishing is allowed in our department (Aisne) are as follows :

• General situation :

- 1^st fishing category : from the second Saturday of March to the third Sunday of September

- 2^nd fishing category : from the first of January to the thirty one of December

• Specific cases :

Which fish to fish ?

Catch quotas and Legal Sizes

Legal catch sizes: For certain species of fish, a mandatory catch-and release decree applies below and/or above a certain size. Theses policies have been implemented to ensure sustainable reproduction.

A fish must be measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the elongated tail.

• Trout (Brown and Rainbow) : minimum 25 cm
• Grayling : minimum 30 cm

A maximum of 5 salmonid fish per day and per angler can be kept, of which only one can be a grayling (so 1 grayling + 4 trouts, or 5 trouts).

• Northern Pike : subjet to a fishing slot, can be kept between 50 and 70 cm
• Zander (Pike-perch): minimum 60 cm
• Black-Bass : minimum 30 cm

A maximum of 2 predator fish per day and per angler can be kept, of which only one can be a pike (for example, 2 zanders, or 2 black basses, or 1 pike + 1 zander).

• Edible frog : minimim 0,08 cm

However, some AAPPMA define larger minimum catch sizes in their internal regulations.

Mandatory "Catch-and-release" areas

A prefectural decree defines graciation areas on which all fish caught must be released alive. These areas are called "No-Kill" or "Catch and Release".

- Anglers catching a fish in these areas must release it alive, without injuring or marking it.

- In order to increase the chances of survival, anglers must handle them with care (it is strongly recommended to wet one's hands beofre handling the fish, to not squeeze them too tightly, and to hold them as much as possible in the water). The release must be done as quickly as possible.

- The use of barbless hooks or hooks with crushed barbs is strongly recommended in the «No-kill» areas.

Procedures and fishing methods

Authorized

• An angler is allowed to fish with only one rod on 1^st category waters and with up to 4 rods on 2^nd category waters.
  On each line can be attached a line with a maximum of 2 hooks or a maximum of 3 artificial flies.

• All the rods must be within 20 meters of the angler.
• To catch crayfish, an angler can use up to 6 crayfish nets, each with a maximum diameter of 30 cm and a minimum mesh size of 27mm.
• The use of a jug (or a bottle) to fish for minnows is authorized in waters of the 2^nd fishing category. These tools should not contain more than 2 litres.
• Fishing with the "vermée" (fishing method) is authorized.

Prohibited

• It is forbidden to fish with traps, trimmers and nets.
• You cannot use as bait or primer :

- Any fish subject to a minimum catch size (pike, zander, trout, etc.); as well as crayfish, frogs, or any species of fish likely to cause biological issues (pumpkinseed, etc.) or any species not naturally present in French freshwaters (grass carp...), and finally, any protected species (barbot, lamprey...).

- fish eggs (natural or artificial, fresh or canned, mixed or not with other bait...).

- maggots and other Diptera larvae in 1^st fishing category waters.

• During the period where pike fishing is forbidden, fishing with dead or live fish, artificial fish or any lure likely to catch these fish non-accidentally is prohibited in the waters of 2nd fishing category. The above-mentioned lures are: spoons, soft lures, swimmers, jigs, sinkers, streamers and any other lure of this type. The use of shiny leads ("waddles", worm handle...) is therefore strictly prohibited, even to target perch.

Fishing Reserves

Fishing is regulated near the locks:
- Upstream, it is possible to fish with 4 rods. However, carp fishing at night is prohibited;
- Inside the lock, fishing is prohibited;
- In the first 50m downstream from the lock, it is possible to fish but with only one rod.

Certain areas are also defined as fishing reserves by prefectoral decree. These reservations are listed in the document below.

Public River Domain

- Only pedestrians are authorized on the towpaths.
- No vehicle must park or travel on towpaths or service roads, which must remain free for VNF services (French navigable waterways services).
- Access to the footbridges and outbuildings of the navigation works is strictly regulated and prohibited to fishermen and other users.
- Any holder of a fishing license has the possibility of fishing with 1 line on the entire French river public domain, without having to pay a surcharge when changing departments.
- In the case of carp fishing at night, it is strictly forbidden to fish near the locks and structures in the area delimited for each structure (50 m upstream and downstream, counting from the gates or closures).

Fishing Leaflet 2023

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