{"id":26275,"date":"2025-07-01T05:14:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T04:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/?p=26275"},"modified":"2025-12-17T17:11:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T16:11:11","slug":"planning-your-first-french-carp-fishing-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/planning-your-first-french-carp-fishing-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning your first Carp Fishing in France trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your French carp fishing adventure starts here. Planning your inaugural continental carp trip? Do your homework before you book and find your perfect carp fishing in France lake…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any European road\ntrip requires a modicum of preparation. An angling trip demands so much more, bringing\nwith it a whole host of questions, variables and imponderables. Not least: What\u2019s\nmy goal for the trip? Non-stop action, targeting 20s and 30s, or a new PB? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of\nhardware \u2013 rods and reels, leads, line and hooks \u2013 will I need? And what and\nhow much bait should I take?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is my chosen venue close to a tackle store,\nrestaurant and shops? Or  will I need to\ntake the kitchen sink (not to mention, the fridge, stove and cookware)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact is, whether you\u2019re considering a family break with all the comforts (view our French carp lakes with accommodation here<\/a>) <\/em>or going \u2018back to basics\u2019 – chasing monsters in the back of beyond (view our French lakes with huge carp here<\/a>)<\/em>\u2013 thorough planning is key to an enjoyable, and successful, angling getaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your first port of call… <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Angling Lines<\/a> website, which \u2013 through detailed descriptions, stocking information, maps, pics and impartial angler reviews – provides all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding the right venue for you.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Lepinet
Lepinet – a 29 acre French carp lake with carp to over 63lb<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Personal recommendation\ntoo can be worth its weight in bragging rights; so if possible solicit the\nopinions and experiences of your angling buddies, both directly and online, via\nyour extended circle of Facebook fishing friends and forum members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell them the kind\nof holiday that interests you \u2013 in terms of ease of access, travel times,\naccommodation, stock levels and so on \u2013 and get their recommendations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chances are, they\u2019ll point you in the direction of any number of lakes in the Angling Lines portfolio, which comprises around 40 diverse, proven and established French carp lakes; enabling you to find a water that suits your preferred fishing style, your abilities, and your objectives \u2013 including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drive and\nsurvive venues<\/a>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venues with accommodation<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big carp venues<\/a> and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family friendly venues<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comforts and conveniences aside, I would recommend, for your initial trip\nat least, that you select a runs water<\/a> within easy driving distance of the ferry port; a\nvenue with a substantial head of fish, combining the best possible chance of a\nbend in your rod with a better than average chance of a chunk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before starting your shortlist, take a moment to consider the carp fishing you do at home; and the styles of angling you enjoy. <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you usually\nfish at relatively close range, and have tackle to suit, then rocking up at a\n40-acre pit, where you may need to consistently cast 100 yards are more into\nstrong winds, may not be the right choice for you<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather, you should select a water that allows you to fish to your\nstrengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cut your teeth, and gain your confidence, on this kind of venue; then\nconsider one of the tougher, more challenging waters next time around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rest assured there are plenty of lakes in the Angling Lines \u2018stable\u2019 where many a chunk has been caught just inches from the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next consideration: will you be travelling alone, with family, or with your angling pals? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s the latter, be warned: gaining consensus on venues and dates from a group of carpers can be tantamount to herding cats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you\u2019re in charge of the coffers, be sure to get a firm commitment \u2013 and a substantial deposit \u2013 before you book. You have been warned.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"easy
Jonchery<\/a> 8 is a good venue for a first trip to France<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

That said, and if you are <\/em>travelling\nwith a group (or have sufficient funds at your disposal), you might consider a\nlake exclusive booking \u2013 enabling you to focus your efforts on targeting carp, rather\nthan working round, and competing with, other anglers. And the really good news: prices,\nper person, may be far lower than the cost of a single slot on one of the\nlarger, more commercial venues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If on the other hand you\u2019re travelling alone, you may prefer  to fish in proximity to other anglers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a social, safety and convenience point of view this certainly has merit \u2013 if nothing else ensuring there\u2019s always someone around to take a pic or keep an eye on your gear whilst you pop to the shop, shower\u2026 or elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Eau
Eau de Vie North<\/a> is a great lake for your first trip to France<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In\ntheory, more established, commercial venues offer visiting anglers an equal\nchance of catching in numbers. But as in the UK, the fish often have other\nideas \u2013 frequently favouring certain areas over others for no better reason,\nseemingly, than carpy contrariness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shallower areas\nfor instance may fish better early in the season. This can work to your advantage\nif there are only a couple of you, and you can move around the lake; but if the\nlakes fully booked, some anglers may get a better night\u2019s sleep than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So a little prior\nresearch, into not just the venues themselves, but the swims and successful\napproaches rigs, bait, and so on, will afford you a pronounced edge; either\nwhen you arrive or when pre-booking your peg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this in mind, seek the advice of the Angling Lines team and\/or the owners and bailiffs, whose job it is to ensure you have the best and most productive holiday possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going equipped: gearing up for your chosen carp fishing in France venue…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The right tackle and bait are central to a\nsuccessful trip and should be informed by your chosen venue; taking in to\naccount the size of the lake, stock, topography, snags, access, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, if you are restricted to one pre-booked\nswim for the duration of your stay, then it\u2019ll be relatively easy to choose and\npack exactly the right gear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If on the other hand you have the \u2018right to\nroam\u2019 \u2013 and plenty of water to go at \u2013 you face a difficult compromise: striving\nto cover all the bases, whilst taking only the minimum of kit, so optimising\nmobility (which can be important when fishing a week long session). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, you\u2019ll need to be \u2018tooled up\u2019 for\nthe task at hand: if a big chuck\u2019s likely to be required, you\u2019ll require rods\nand reels, line and leads that are up to the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, if larger cats are present, you\u2019ll\nrequire hardware capable of bullying these 100lbs+ beasts to the bank. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If in doubt, my advice would be erring on the side of caution – with 3lb (minimum) rods and dependable big bit reels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact is, you can\u2019t \u2013nor should you – take an\nentire battery of rods with you. Carp are carp, wherever they swim. And they\u2019re\nwont to respond to angler pressure by \u2018doing the off\u2019. Which means, assuming\nthe rules permit, moving every couple of days could help you stay two steps ahead\nof your more sedentary fellow anglers.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Beaurepaire<\/a> – a French lake with huge carp & catfish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The less gear you have to shift, the more\nresponsive you can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With this in mind, before you start packing, check what the fishery itself provides: many these days supply boats, barrows, weigh slings, cradles, and so on. Meaning you don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider too the nature (and amount) of\nterminal tackle that you\u2019ll – really – need. (Though they may not take up much\nroom, leads for example will put a big dent in your weight allowance if you\u2019re\nflying.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t scrimp: if you\u2019re some distance\nfrom a tackle shop, you won\u2019t want to spend the latter part of your break jury-rigging\nstones to your lead clips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generally, you\u2019ll only need three or four\nspools of hooklink material \u2013 a coated braid, a fluorocarbon, maybe a zig link\nand a supple braid – the diameter of which should be determined by the quarry, the\npresence of catfish, the lakebed, snags and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hooks-wise,  generally I\u2019d go with a strong, sharp,\ndependable pattern that you know and trust, in sizes 4, 6  and 10 (the latter, for surface\/zig fishing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As to mainline, if you\u2019re fishing a venue\nwhere you need to cast long distances, then your line needs to be of a relatively\nnarrow diameter (possibly accompanied by a shock leader). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ll be coping with tough terrain,\nabrasion resistance is key. And on smaller spookier venues, I\u2019d go with a fast\nsinking fluorocarbon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And take a couple of (freshly) filled spare spools, since big cats have a habit of stripping line from a reel faster than you can say \u201cWhere\u2019s my head torch?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"carp
Go well prepared with spare bits of end tackle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

And then there\u2019s bait.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With space at a premium, you might\ninvestigate what if any baits \u2013 boilies, pellets or particles – are provided by\nthe fishery owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they\u2019re offering for sale a bait that\nforms part of the carp\u2019s natural diet \u2013 at a reasonable price \u2013 then, really:\nwhy wouldn\u2019t you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, you can add a few pots of your favoured\nhookbaits. But why risk the wrath of the DVSA solely to \u2018try something\ndifferent\u2019? (It bears repeating: fisheries want you to catch fish; they want\nyou to come back. So you can bet their advice will be good.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Failing this, the extensive range of palatable, nutritionally balanced \u2018catch anywhere\u2019 shelf life boilies from the likes of Nash, Nutrabaits, Pallatrax, Sticky et al eliminate the problems previously associated with maintaining fresh baits in good condition throughout longer sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other essentials to take on your carp fishing in France trip…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Other essentials that you may otherwise overlook on your first trip (and almost certainly will never overlook again) include mosquito repellent (depending on the time of year); and in the unlikely event that your venue doesn\u2019t offer charging facilities, a power pack and solar panel to keep your phone, camera etc fully-juiced throughout the week.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Deux
Some venues, like Deux Iles<\/a> offer extensive facilities on site.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Assuming you\u2019ll be driving to your chosen venue, you\u2019ll\nalso need to carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document and\nmotor insurance certificate (which must of course cover you for driving on the\ncontinent).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A UK sticker should be clearly displayed on the back of your car. And you\u2019re also required to carry a warning triangle and fluorescent safety vest (to be worn in the event of a breakdown)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll also need to adjust your headlight beam\npattern to suit driving on the right (so that the dipped beam doesn’t\ndazzle oncoming drivers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be aware too that French laws prohibit drivers from\ncarrying any device capable of detecting speed cameras. So be sure to disable\ncamera alerts on your sat nav. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike in the UK, it is also illegal to use a mobile phone whilst driving (even hands-free). And, though not mandatory, international breakdown cover and holiday insurance are also strongly advisable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For everything else you may need to know \u2013 about, for\ninstance, toll charges, restaurants and service stations along your route – visit\nwww.autoroutes.fr<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For all other issues relating to carp fishing in France, Angling Lines has you covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow their\nadvice and you can be confident your first French carp fishing trip will be\nhassle-free; fruitful\u2026 and the first of many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your European carp fishing adventure starts here<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Calder<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Your French carp fishing adventure starts here. Planning your inaugural continental carp trip? Do your homework before you book and find your perfect carp fishing in France lake… Any European road trip requires a modicum of preparation. An angling trip demands so much more, bringing with it a whole host of questions, variables and imponderables. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[835,1113],"tags":[1117,1078,1120,1119,1126,1121,1124,1114,1123,1116,1115,1118,1125,1122],"class_list":["post-26275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-first-carp-fishing-trip-to-france","category-steve-calder","tag-angling-lines","tag-carp-fishing","tag-carp-fishing-france","tag-carp-fishing-in-france","tag-carp-fishing-tips","tag-carp-france","tag-carp-rigs","tag-fishing-france","tag-fishing-holiday","tag-fishing-holidays","tag-french-carp","tag-french-carp-fishing","tag-french-carp-lakes","tag-lakes-in-france"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26275"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29400,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26275\/revisions\/29400"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}