FAQs

Question 1

How to choose the best carp lake in France for you

Accepted Answer

Choosing the right venue can make the difference between a memorable carp trip and a frustrating week. To choose the best carp lake in France for you, consider:• Difficulty level• Average carp size• Type of holiday - social vs exclusive setting• Facilities (including accommodation)• Travel timeBelow we'll go through these main features in detail, so you can form a clear idea of the holiday you would like. You can then use our website to search over 50 tried and tested French carp lakes - using a number of filters such as fish size, number of anglers and travelling distance. Making finding the best carp lake in France for your own requirements easy.What you can be sure of is that all of these waters are well run - we vet them closely to make sure they have the fish and facilities advertised. You'll be able to read real angler reviews and watch videos from our experienced field testers. Our aim is to advertise every venue with as much detail and accuracy as possible, so what you see is what you get. We are constantly updating the information for all of our carp lakes, based on improvements and changes as they mature.When settling on what the priorities are for your own group, have a think about the following... 1. Difficulty level, average carp size and lake size:Are you looking for an easy runs water fishing lake or a big carp challenge? The best carp lake for you often depends on whether you prioritise catch rates or higher carp weights. Lakes with lower stock density but carp over 60lb or 70lb often produce fewer runs but higher average weights.If you are a relatively inexperienced angler, consider choosing a lake where there is a good bailiff who can offer advice or a water which shows consistently good catch rates and a large stocking of carp. The bigger fish waters are are places where you may be in for a wait between runs but when the rod goes it might be the fish of a lifetime! Consider if you're happy with that or if you'd prefer to be coming back with plenty of fish in the photo album.Regarding lake size, it is often down to personal preference - large lakes don't always automatically mean more difficult. A lake like Lepinet, at 29 acres, allows for long range fishing and boat work, but the large stock of carp and generally straight forward fishing means it is an accessible lake for less experienced anglers too.2. Type of holiday / atmosphere:Do you want a social lake (perhaps where you can even enjoy a meal package on-site), or one of the many small exclusive carp lakes in France where you and your group can enjoy total privacy?Lakes like Sky Lake and Jonchery are renowned for being great social big carp lakes in France, with group BBQs and plenty of time for socialising with fellow anglers in between some of the best carp fishing France has to offer. But if you want total freedom over where and how you fish, then consider a lake exclusive to your booking - we even have a range of lakes designed for as few as just one or two anglers.3. Drive time:How far are you prepared to travel from the port? All of our venues have a clear list of drive times from each of the French ports and when you go to get a quote for your holiday it will show you all the different crossing options, including costs and drive times.  Further down this page we go into more detail on crossings.4. What kind of facilities are you looking for: Are you happy simply bivvying up in a real back-to-nature environment, or do you perhaps need a lake where you can park your campervan behind your swim? Alternatively we have many customers who want to combine quality fishing with a family holiday, therefore facilities such as a swimming pool and luxury cabin or lakeside house are necessary.In summary (and what to do once you have a shortlist of venues)These are just some of the considerations that should shape your decision and our search filters then make it easy for you to narrow the best lakes down.  Importantly, once you have your shortlist of possible venues, take a look through the angler reviews to see how each lake fishes at different times of year. None of this feedback is altered and comes direct from the anglers. It will give you the truest representation of what you can expect to catch and the average weight of carp.Finally, if you want to call us for advice, please do. We're more than happy to help with expert advice on our venues.

Question 2

Travel options

Accepted Answer

From the UK you have a number of alternatives for travelling over to France. These are operated by several companies (all of which we work with):
P&O - ferries from Dover to Calais
Brittany Ferries - ferries from Portsmouth to Caen and St Malo, or Plymouth to Roscoff
DFDS - ferries from Newhaven to Dieppe
Le Shuttle - train from Folkestone to Calais

Our trips usually include your channel crossings, and you have complete control over choice of details and times when making your booking with us. Our website clearly advises you on the best crossings available to minimise driving time in France. On each lake page you'll find a list of the crossing ports, with the travel distance and time to the venue. Generally the best routes are...

For lakes in Northern/Eastern France:
P&O ferries Dover-Calais (90 minute ferry crossing) or Le Shuttle (35 minute train crossing). The Dover-Calais ferry crossings are often the cheapest and take around 90 minutes. The channel tunnel however is by far the fastest route, you'll be on the other side in 35 minutes.

For lakes in Central/Western France:
Consider Brittany Ferries, with their Portsmouth-Caen (crossings range from 4-7 hours) or Portsmouth-St Malo (around 11 hours overnight) routes. These are longer crossings, with the overnight crossing on a Friday very popular with our anglers that want to arrive at the lake well rested the next morning. Often the extra you'll pay for the crossings is balanced out by the extra fuel and tolls you would have to pay when driving from ports further east.

Question 3

Fishing Permits - do I need a license to fish in France?

Accepted Answer

If you come with us you don't need a licence to fish on 99% of the waters we run. If you do we'll sort it out for you - so you have no additional admin to do. The reason the majority of the French carp lakes that we represent DO NOT require anglers to hold a 'Permit de Pêche' or 'Carte de Peche', is because they are private venues on private land. If you were choosing to fish public waters, then you would need to cover yourself with a licence, which can be purchased here: www.cartedepeche.fr

Question 4

First trip to France carp fishing?

Accepted Answer

For your first carp fishing trip to France, preparation is key. Make a packing checklist, take quality tackle suited to bigger carp, and arrange bait in advance as most bait cannot be taken from the UK post-Brexit. Buy food locally instead or choose lakes offering meal packages, and ensure you carry required driving items such as insurance documents, warning triangle and high-visibility vest. With good planning, a French carp trip is straightforward and highly rewarding.

Find a more detailed explanation of all of the above in this article: A Beginner's Guide to Carp Fishing in France
You can also find plenty more helpful articles on our blog: First Carp Fishing Trip To France Articles

Question 5

Technical things to consider when preparing for carp fishing in France

Accepted Answer

When preparing for a carp fishing trip to France, it’s important to account for technical differences compared to UK waters. Whilst you’re usually absolutely fine with your UK set up on a French carp lake, you do need consider the size of the carp you’re fishing for. You may require stronger tackle or abrasion-resistant line depending on the lake’s features (i.e freshwater mussels, snags etc). Accurate feature finding and adapting baiting strategy to pressured or heavily fed carp can also make a major difference to success.Anglers should prepare for species more rarely encountered in the UK, such as poisson chat (very small catfish) and freshwater crayfish. These nuisance species are common place in many French carp lakes and can quickly nibble away soft hookbaits, meaning tougher hookbaits or protective bait mesh can be essential. Check the lake rules in advance to see if you need to amend any of your usual set up or tactics. These are clearly displayed for every venue on our website and the lake owner has already completed a detailed FAQ section to help with questions on bait, tackle and tactics. We aim to make your pre-trip research as easy as possible, ensuring your French carp trip runs smoothly and productively.The Angling Lines blog is also a great source of advice for all aspects of carp fishing, find 100's of articles here; Technical Carp Fishing in France Articles

Question 6

Passport & other documents

Accepted Answer

A valid passport is required for all travel to France, so make sure it is in date well before your departure. If travelling by car, you should also carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5C) and valid motor insurance details.Most channel crossing operators require passengers to complete Advanced Passenger Information (API) before travelling. This is a legal requirement and includes basic details such as passenger names, dates of birth and passport numbers. We will send you a reminder email with a secure link to complete this form prior to your holiday, ensuring everything is ready before your crossing.

Question 7

Is travel insurance essential for my fishing trip?

Accepted Answer

When booking a carp fishing holiday in France, personal travel insurance is essential. It protects you against unforeseen problems such as cancellation due to illness, job loss, or emergencies, covers medical expenses and repatriation, and can also include tackle theft or additional costs. Many anglers mistakenly assume insurance is only for medical cover, but deposits are often non-refundable if a trip cannot be taken. Taking out a policy at the time of booking ensures peace of mind and safeguards your investment, letting you focus on enjoying your French carp fishing holiday.

Question 8

Driving in France

Accepted Answer

Driving in France is usually a pleasure - the roads and motorways are not as crowded as in England and pass through some wonderful scenery. Make sure your vehicle carries your driving licence, V5C registration document, insurance details, warning triangle, and high-visibility vest.

French motorways are generally toll roads, so plan for these costs in advance. We recommend looking at Via Michelin - this website allows you to input your vehicle details and destination, calculating the approximate charges for fuel and tolls on route. If your route passes through a low-emission zone, usually around the bigger towns and cities, you’ll also need a Crit’Air sticker, which can be purchased online before you travel. Following these steps ensures a smooth journey to your chosen carp lake.

When you book a holiday with us we provide you with an info pack which includes the exact co-ordinates for the venue entrance - this is the best way to get you exactly to your destination. They can be copied into your chosen navigation app on your phone or sat-nav.

Question 9

Is the language barrier going to be an issue?

Accepted Answer

Even if you speak no French at all the language need not be a problem. Most venues are English spoken and because we have booked everything in advance there should be no real problems for you to contend with. You will always find the owners of the lakes helpful and welcoming and we remain only a phone call away at any time.

Question 10

Do you own the lakes?

Accepted Answer

No. We act as Travel Agents, representing the lake owners. We have chosen the venues very carefully and we constantly monitor their performance, both in terms of fishing & facilities. Every client is asked to fill in a feedback form & all of these are read, acted on if appropriate & then passed to the lake owner. In partnership with the owners we constantly strive to improve our venues & services.

Question 11

What if your company or the lake goes out of business before I take my holiday - what would happen to my money?

Accepted Answer

Well, it's not going to happen ... but for your peace of mind you need to know that all the money paid to us for the holiday is kept in our bank account and is not paid to the lakes until after your holiday is taken and in the event of our insolvency it would be returned to you. This is a critical safeguard and you should always ensure such arrangements are in place before you pay holiday deposits to any company. As a further protection Angling Lines are members of The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT). This provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. You can find out more about ABTOT here.

Question 12

Do you take bookings for part weeks?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but mainly at the start and end of season, or at the last minute. Most venues don't like to accept them as they know they can probably sell the whole week and therefore they lose out by accepting a part-week booking early. Between May & October you would need to ring us around 2 weeks before you planned to go & we'd do our best to help you.

Question 13

Do the lakes close in winter?

Accepted Answer

Some do ... but most don't.

Question 14

What happens if I arrive and the venue is frozen or flooded?

Accepted Answer

You have a choice; we will try to organise an alternative venue for you, or you can have your money back. If we know there is a problem we will obviously call you in advance and give you options - it may be that you can change the dates.. it's really up to you, but you will not be left dissatisfied.

Question 15

Are all your venues suitable for first time trips?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily all. Good anglers are good anglers whether they have been to France before or not. Inexperienced anglers are, well .. inexperienced! We try to give lots of information about the venues and how they are fished successfully. The more information someone has the better, it gives confidence and we hope it helps everyone to get the most from their trip. Because we can offer you so much choice we don't try to make your needs fit one lake - tell us what you're after & we'll suggest venues we think fit the bill ... but of course, at the end of the day, it's your decision.

Question 16

Is it important to take out insurance?

Accepted Answer

Only if you have an accident! Really and truly it is not worth taking the risk ... it doesn't cost much to have peace of mind. We can offer a range of insurance policies - ask for details.

Question 17

Do you favour certain lakes?

Accepted Answer

No, certainly not. We genuinely try to help the client find the type of venue they are looking for. Everyone has different requirements. We believe this is the major reason behind our success so far ...we have a large choice so we don't have to make one venue suit everyone.

Question 18

What do you do with complaints?

Accepted Answer

Thankfully, we have had very, very few. If there is a problem we need to be notified at the time. This can be done by ringing our office, our telephone number is in our booking pack along with directions to the lake. We will try to resolve problems there and then with the venue owner. If you are still not satisfied we ask you to inform us in writing within 7 days of returning to the UK. We then contact the venue to get the facts. If there is a justifiable complaint we resolve it by negotiation. If the venue has failed to fulfil their contract it may mean they remain unpaid and the client has a refund or other suitable compensation. Our track record for customer satisfaction is second to none and we aim to keep it that way by making sure that the venues are described accurately and honestly. It's one of the main reasons we like the feedback forms because we get a true reflection of peoples own experiences & perceptions of the venue. All feedback eventually goes back to the lake.

Question 19

What bait would you recommend for France?

Accepted Answer

Despite the ads for cheap bulk attractor baits in the mags, I would recommend a good quality bait from one of the reputed bait manufacturers e.g., Mainline, Nash, or Nutrabaits. Personally, I believe fresh bait definitely has the edge over ready-mades, but it does tend to go off quickly, unless it is air-dried or you have access to a freezer. Fortunately, many of our venues do have freezer facilities. Of the ready-mades, baits from the above-mentioned stables should be a good choice. I personally avoid any boilie labeled "Euro Boilies" as these are generally semolina versions of the fresh bait and rarely as effective. Other than boilies, I am a big Trout pellet fan and use them on virtually all my sessions. My preference is for Trouvite regular Trout Pellet in the 5-7mm size. This can be spodded, and PVA bagged and is a superb fish attractor. It can be scalded down to make a method paste as well. A truly versatile bait. Other pellets such as the Betaine and CSL pellets are also worth a look. I often concoct a mix of different pellets. On the particle front, I use mainly hemp, as it is quick and easy to prepare and a very effective attractor. Beware if the lake holds too many other coarse fish species as they all love it and can be a real nuisance. Partiblend with aniseed is another favourite and can be prepared very quickly simply by scalding the seeds. Maize has never been a big favourite of mine as it takes quite a long time to prepare, involving overnight soaking and 20-40 mins pressure cooking. It is very effective on virgin lakes though, but carp soon spook off it. Tigers are another bait that have never been very effective for me, but on the right water can be devastating. I always keep a tin of the Dynamite Tigernuts in my tackle bag as they are a very good bait on waters with crayfish and poisson-chats, or as an alternative when the carp are not having boilies.

Question 20

How much bait do I need for a trip to France?

Accepted Answer

Quantities of bait is always a difficult question. A lot depends on the space available in your car, but as a rule, most anglers overdo it on the bait front. If I were setting out for a week on a water in France I would take: 10kg bag of Trout Pellet; 100kg bag of hemp; 10kg of boilies.

Question 21

What type of rig should I use in France?

Accepted Answer

Rigs are a pretty personal thing and not everyone is in agreement as to what to use. Braid versus Nylon, Stiff rigs versus Combi-rigs, Barbless versus Barbed, etc., etc. To tackle most French waters I would use the strongest hook patterns I can find. For all but the weediest waters I prefer to crush the barb to improve hook penetration. I have not found this to be a cause for fish losses. Barbless hooks in any case are a requirement on most of our venues. (see individual lake rules). As most of the lakes we promote have fish to over 40lb it is only sensible to tackle up accordingly in case you are fortunate enough to hook one. I've seen people lose huge fish due to inadequate end tackle ... a 10lb hooklink with a size 8 may be okay on a local doubles and 20's water but hook a 30-40lb plus carp and it's a different story. Currently my preference is for a couple of rigs that I use for the majority of my fishing. * A 9 inch stiff rig made of 20lb nylon or fluorocarbon, with a Drennan Continental Boilie hook in a size 4, knotless knotted and attached to the swivel with a double over hand loop. A basic but effective rig that has rarely let me down. * A 9 inch combi-rig of 25lb Snakebite, in conjunction with a size 4 long shank nailer hook set-up blow back style. I strip the hair and about an inch of the rig. I attach a Drennan ring to the hair or alternatively use a loose fitting piece of silicon rubber to hold the hair in position. I find the dissolving rig foam to be useful with this rig to avoid the bait spearing itself on the hook point. This rig can be used for bottom baits or pop ups.

Question 22

What size hooks and line strength is required to tackle French lakes?

Accepted Answer

As I stated above I generally use a heavy pattern hook in a size 4 or sometimes size 2 or 1 on the big rivers and lakes e.g., Orient, Cassien, the Seine or the Saone e.g.: Drennan Continental Boilie hooks or Long shank nailers. I fish 90% of the time with 15lb nylon straight through. My preference being for Berkeley Big Game or Diawa Sensor, but any line from a reputable manufacturer will do the job. This type of set up will suffice for all my fishing up to about 90-100 yards. If I need to cast further I will drop the line thickness and add a shock leader with a 4-5oz lead. My reasoning for heavy line is that it is thicker and as such will be weakened less should it get damaged during fishing. Any damage noticed will be stripped off or re-spooled but sometimes one doesn't always see this, and the heavier the line the better my chances of landing a big carp. It also means I retain a higher knot strength.

Question 23

Do I need a French rod Licence?

Accepted Answer

The majority of the waters that we represent DO NOT require anglers to hold a French National fishing permit "Permit de Pêche", as they are private venues on private land. Should you travel independently to a venue that is not privately owned, you will need to purchase the correct Licence. These are available in fishing tackle shops or in tobacconists "Tabac". To night fish in the authorised areas you'll need the Permit Complet and possibly a night stamp too. Information and the requirements can be obtained from the point of sale.

Question 24

Can I night fish in France legally?

Accepted Answer

All the waters we promote DO HAVE legal night fishing in a secure environment - so all the hassle and worries are taken care of. All our waters are either privately owned lakes or have obtained permission from the local authorities to allow carp angling at night. However, generally speaking on public waters in France night fishing is NOT permitted. This includes most rivers and communal and club waters. Usually designated night sectors are available on venues, but these are usually only a few hundred yards of bankside, and not necessarily the best spots on the lakes or rivers. Information on the night sectors available can be obtained from the fishing Licence point of sale. A word of caution though - fishing outside the night sectors is a risky business and can lead to you having your tackle seized.

Question 25

What can I do about Poisson-chats and Crayfish?

Accepted Answer

Fortunately most of our venues don't have a bad problem in this area, but many waters in France do contain either crayfish or "poisson-chats" - horrible little catfish that devour everything in sight and can make fishing really hard. However, do not despair. Carp can still be caught by employing a few simple techniques: They are generally only active during the warmer months so you can risk boilies in winter and Spring time. Recast regularly. They don't eat Tiger Nuts so this would no doubt be a choice on at least a couple of my rods. You can also use a tiger + boilie cocktail so that even if they eat your boilie you are still in with a chance. Netting the hook baits is also a very effective method. I use hair net, ladies stockings or wedding veil, but you can get special netting from some tackle shops. I make up a dozen or so netted baits attached to hair braid and soak them in the relevant bait dip. It might look crude but it works. You can alternatively try hardened boilies (hardeners are available as an additive), but the pesky creatures will get the better of them in the end. I recommend a stiff hook link as they also have the habit of tangling the link up as they push the bait around, rendering it useless.

Question 26

What can I expect to catch in France?

Accepted Answer

I think it is fair to say most anglers go to France with unrealistic expectations on what they will catch in a week. Certainly the lakes we promote are all well stocked, and most hold huge carp to over 50lb, with large numbers of 20's, 30's and forties ... but unfortunately this doesn't mean you will haul on every trip. Think about your fishing at home. How often do you turn a water over in one week? Don't expect to do so in France. All the lakes we promote have seen some spectacular catches, but not every angler going will emulate these. If the action is slow or non existent it is rarely the fault of the water or the stock levels. Weather can play a big part and very few anglers question their own tactics. Explore a swim and use the techniques that are explained in the magazines and books. Marker floats and plumbing are essential. If you are losing fish, question your rig as it is obviously not giving you the right presentation. Play around with the length of the hook link, the hair material, bait shape etc. Just because it works at home doesn't mean it will necessarily work on a French lake. The lake bed, weed, silt levels and debris will certainly be different. This said you will very probably be on venues with fish far larger than you have faced before, unless you are fortunate or experienced enough to be on a top UK water. Thirty pound plus carp are common and some anglers catch several in one week. Forties and fifties are less numerous but many of our venues hold such fish. Set out with reasonable expectations and fish well and you should not be disappointed. We can guarantee that the fish are there but not that you'll catch them.... that's your part of the game plan! Feel free to contact me if you have any specific questions. Be bold, be lucky and tight lines!

Question 27

What do I need to do to take my pet with me?

Accepted Answer

First of all ensure that the venue you are travelling to will accept the animal(s) on site. If they do then you need to obtain a PETS passport! To be eligible, your cat or dog must: - be fitted with a microchip - be vaccinated against rabies - be issued with a pet passport by their vet - be treated for tapeworm (for dogs only), not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (between 1 & 5 days) before checking in with a PETS approved carrier for the journey back to the UK travel via PETS approved sea, air and rail routes Click here to go through to the official website for more information.