{"id":26314,"date":"2019-08-28T17:10:20","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T16:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/?p=26314"},"modified":"2026-02-17T13:03:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T12:03:02","slug":"in-pursuit-of-le-plus-grand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/in-pursuit-of-le-plus-grand\/","title":{"rendered":"In pursuit of \u2018le plus grand\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n


Gearing up for your next French PB carp…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\nall have our reasons for \u2018crossing the pond\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For\nsome it\u2019s all about the \u2018R&R\u2019: first and foremost, a holiday; a break from\nthe mundane; a precious chance to chill in the enchanting French countryside; either\nin blissful solitude or in a luxurious gite<\/a>\nwith family and friends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others\ntake to the channel in search of an all-too-rare bend in the rod: to blow away\nthe cobwebs of a gruelling UK season with an epic haul of 20-, 30- and maybe\neven 40-pound carp, from one of the country\u2019s more prolific \u2018runs\nwaters\u2019<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Augustin is a 17 acre French lake holding many 50 and 60lb carp. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Others still target real big fish waters<\/a>; fully expecting to work hard for their results \u2013 maybe even risking a week-long blank \u2013 in the hope of returning with something rather special for their Facebook feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To\neach their own. Do the potential rewards of big fish angling justify the all-too-real\npossibility of a fruitless trip?  Only\nyou can answer that one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But\nif you do decide to target your first 60- or even 70lber – on one of the trickier\nFrench venues – there are a few little tips and tricks you can employ to stack\nthe odds in your favour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\none really big one: choosing the right venue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lest\nwe forget, the old adage: if they ain\u2019t in front of you, you can\u2019t catch them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, Angling Lines offers a whole host of options for big-carp hunters \u2013 making France big carp fishing venues<\/a> a great place to start your search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here,\nyou\u2019ll find more than 20 lakes offering you the best possible chance of a\nwhacker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Villefond<\/a> for\nexample offers carp to over 76lb, plus \u2018consolation prize\u2019 50s and 60s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s\nno pushover. The residents of this mature eight-acre venue will test your\nangling acumen to the max. But carp are carp, wherever they swim. So get your location,\nbaiting and presentation right, and you\u2019ve every chance of nailing the fish of\nyour dreams at Villefond<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Many big-carp lakes contain crayfish; so meshed baits are advised\u2026<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Also a firm favourite with hardcore specimen hunters,  the 15-acre Laroussi<\/a> gravel pit boasts a truly mouth-watering stock of fish, including fully-scaleds, ghosties and linears to mid-70s. Not to mention grass carp to 50lbs+; and cats to 100lb+. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, whatever your interest \u2013 be it pounds and ounces, or proper old characters \u2013 Laroussi\u2019s got you covered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(For the record, Laroussi\u2019s owner, Mehdi Daho, has subsequently opened a second lake, Old Oaks<\/a>, with 50\u2019s gracing the banks seemingly each week.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stocking levels aside, your chosen venue should also reflect your preferred style of fishing, and your angling strengths. So if, for example, you\u2019re neither a big caster nor terribly confident in a boat, the larger gravel pits may not be the right choice for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather,\nyou may prefer one of the trickier, more intimate pools, where stalking tactics\naccount for the real gems.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If taking to\nthe water is not your thing,  a Smartcast\nor Deeper – and\/or a remote-controlled boat, where such things are allowed \u2013 offer\na fast track to fish location.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever\nyou decide, accepting that \u2018an hour in the right place is worth a week in the\nwrong\u2019, a little desk research now could save you hours lapping the bank; and\/or\nensure you make an informed choice, if your swim has to be pre-booked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carp\nare creatures of habit; so looking back at previous catch results \u2013 speaking to\nthe owners, bailiffs, the\nAngling Lines team<\/a> and previous visitors to\nthe lake (via the forums, and other social media) will help you pin down areas\non which to concentrate at given times of year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly,\nif you have a specific \u2018target\u2019 fish in mind, it would pay you to look into its\npast captures; the areas of the lake it favours, and the bait and approaches\nthat have proven successful. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Big French gravel pits like Laroussi<\/a> can offer big rewards.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

But be prepared for all your\nprior planning to go out the window, if conditions dictate\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\nthere\u2019s a south-westerly wind blowing (or forecast), you\u2019ll certainly want to\nfactor this into your thinking \u2013 possibly graduating to the northeast corner of\nthe lake, which will bear the brunt of a big, warm wind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On\nthe other hand, if the majority of anglers are congregated in a particular area,\nyou might consider heading for the other end of the lake: to get away from the inevitable\ndisturbance and go about your business in as stealthy a manner as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wherever your instinct, watercraft and research lead\nyou, having committed to an area – for the first day or two at least – you\u2019ll\nwant to  get your tactics straight, and\nyour baits in the water, in short order. So waste no time either in launching the\nboat; or casting around with a lead or sonar \u2013 locating likely \u2018spots\u2019 to position\nyour hook baits. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigate\ndifferent depths, distances and features – silty gulleys, gravel bars, weed beds,\nsnags and so on; eyes permanently peeled for \u2018signs\u2019 of showing, maybe even\nfeeding, fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\ndone, and spots sorted, experiment with different bait options – bottom baits, wafters,\npop ups, snowman presentations and (often overlooked, and thus a pronounced\nedge) natural baits too; including \u2013 if \u2018nuisance\u2019 fish permit – maggots,\nmussels, worms, corn and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nis not the time to \u2018fill it in\u2019: apart from anything else, you can\u2019t know how\nmuch bait the previous occupant of the swim has deposited on the lakebed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So\nkick proceedings off with singles, stringers and\/or small mesh bags: get a feel\nfor the mood of the carp; remain alert to liners and other signs. Then if you\ncatch right away, start introducing a little bait \u2013 and build from there.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Bait choice is critical when targeting wily carp; do your homework to determine what\u2019s working.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If there\u2019s a \u2018lake boilie\u2019 \u2013 which is fed regularly by the anglers and owners (and thus may be deemed a \u2018natural\u2019 food source by the carp) \u2013 it makes sense to try this on at least one rod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear\nin mind though that many of these French venues are home to sometimes\nprodigious numbers of crayfish; and these voracious creatures love boilies too –\nso hardened, meshed and even artificial hookbaits should all have a place in your\narmoury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of\ncourse, if you do have crayfish feeding in your swim, chances are the carp\nwon\u2019t be far behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But\nthe last thing you want to do is spend hours locating those dinner plate \u2018spots\nwithin spots\u2019, baiting up, watching carp crash and boil with gusto \u2013 then\nwinding in a bare hook the following morning.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
The lakes are rich in snails, shrimps and other naturals; so selecting a bait that mirrors the carp\u2019s normal diet can be a real advantage\u2026<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As\nthe session draws on, you could choose to sit it out in your chosen \u2018big\nfish swim\u2019 \u2013 one of the pegs that has produced the big fish in the past \u2013 or,\nif you start to get itchy feet, you might elect to \u2018play the percentages\u2019: to\ntrack down and move on to showing fish, resolving to catch whatever is in front\nof you; the theory being: every fish you catch will lead you a little bit\ncloser to catching the one(s) you really want. Statistically speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this scenario you will probably decide to \u2018give \u2018em some\u2019 \u2013 which is fine. Just bear in mind, the bigger, wilier fish will, often, hold back; leaving their smaller brethren to act as cannon fodder, hoovering-up your bait whilst they forage cautiously around the edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With\nthis in mind, a bait cast a short distance from the main baited area can often\naccount for the larger specimens. And in the meantime, there\u2019s no better\nconfidence booster than banking fish \u2013 validating the effectiveness of your\nrigs and baits.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
A  boat with sonar and electric outboard can be invaluable, both for feature finding and baiting up. <\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Confidence is key, when\ntargeting big carp. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inevitably,\nthe temptation, after a few blank days, is to chop and change. Do this only\nwith good reason; and even then only incrementally tweaking, rather than\nfundamentally altering, your approach and presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All\nof which leads us to the final piece of the jigsaw: rigs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And\nthe inevitable question: what constitutes a big fish rig?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nanswer, in my humble opinion, is: there\u2019s really no such thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather,\na dependable, tangle-free presentation \u2013 utilising a strong, sharp hook \u2013 is\nall that\u2019s really needed to get the job done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put\nthe right bait in the right place – in the carp\u2019s natural larder (where they\nfeel most confident getting their heads down) \u2013 and you\u2019re in with the best\npossible shout of achieving your goal: nailing that coveted French PB; and maybe\nbagging a few bonus \u2018special ones\u2019 for the album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your\nbest next step to your French PB:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out the Angling Lines<\/a> website, where you\u2019ll\nfind a definitive list of proven big carp waters, together with detailed venue\ndescriptions, pics,  maps, and\nindependent reviews from previous visitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

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

Gearing up for your next French PB carp… We all have our reasons for \u2018crossing the pond\u2019. For some it\u2019s all about the \u2018R&R\u2019: first and foremost, a holiday; a break from the mundane; a precious chance to chill in the enchanting French countryside; either in blissful solitude or in a luxurious gite with family […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26353,"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":[925,1,79,1113,931],"tags":[1117,1078,1120,1119,1121,1124,1114,1123,1116,1115,1118,1125,1122],"class_list":["post-26314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-monster-carp","category-carp-fishing-news","category-laroussi","category-steve-calder","category-villefond","tag-angling-lines","tag-carp-fishing","tag-carp-fishing-france","tag-carp-fishing-in-france","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\/26314","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=26314"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29908,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26314\/revisions\/29908"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}