Some Hints and Tips For Your Carp Fishing Holiday In France Many more UK carp fishermen are venturing out of the country for their carp fishing holidays with France being the most popular. France has so much to offer the carp fisherman with masses of lakes and reservoirs and hundreds of miles of rivers most of which contain large carp. You will find now numerous businesses providing guided carp fishing in France on commercial lakes with travel and food catered for as well as many private lakes exactly where you are able to book a peg or hire out the lake exclusively on a drive and survive basis.
Numerous french carp waters and waterways include big carp with the climate in France being ideal for carp growth as well as the large quantities of high protein bait being introduced on a normal basis each contributing to carp growing to record sizes. With the carp record now over 90lb and most lakes providing 40lb plus carp France offers the carp angler on holiday fish far bigger than their UK counterparts.
So you have picked your dream carp fishing holiday venue in France and booked your car ferry what items of tackle and bait do you'll need?
If you have selected a commercial type venue or perhaps an estate type french venue for your holiday then your tackle may not differ an excessive amount of from the gear you use within the UK. Rods of 2.75-3lbTC being the most well-liked, baitrunner kind reels or large pits if you expect to cast some distance are the norm. A 42"+ landing net and big unhooking mat will probably be necessary as well as your bivvy, bedchair, sleeping bag and all of the regular camping gear you use for a session in the UK. If you have selected a large reservoir then you might need to consider a boat and echo sounder to fish the carpy locations, research you french holiday venue and be ready.
The bait and also the quantity you take on your carp fishing holiday in france will differ from venue to lake and stock levels so guidance ought to be taken from the owner or organiser but boilies and pellets are well-accepted from the off on most french carp waters as well as seed and nut type baits (make certain these are correctly prepared). Remeber a big shoal of 30lb+ carp can mop up a great deal of bait so make sure you have sufficient amounts to keep them feeding in your swim if they are there. If you're taking big quantities of boilies with you on your holiday and there are none or restricted freezer facilities than you might wish to think about air drying your boilies at the venue or before you go away to stop them spoiling.
So you've chosen your carp fishing holiday venue and also the required baits its now time to study the going swims and the winning tactics to ensure your holiday is a success. Talk to the owner/organiser for any guidance they might want to divulge (after all its in their interest to help you score so you'll tell all your mates what a good week you had), the many forums on the internet are also a good reference point for gathering inside information.
The time of year you aim to fish might affect the swim choice e.g. spring/early summer fish might be gathering within the shallows in preperation for spawning, late summer autumn the deeper locations may be more effective, try to understand as much concerning the topography of the venue prior to arrival and take into consideration the prevailing wind direction, heavily pressured areas, inflows etc.
On arrival make a detailed map of your chosen swim noting all depth changes, bars, weed growth, locations of silt/gravel and reference points within the distance for precise casting in the dark. Attempt to guess the carp's patrol channels and natural feeding locations and choose ambush points to introduce your bait. Keep your eyes peeled and ears alert the fish will usually give the game away at some point, make a note of all fish shows, and try a single attractor bait in these locations if they're off the baited patches.
Apply your bait gradually throughout your session and do not pile it in on day one (you can't take it out !). If you are receiving action continue keep the areas topped up with bait after each fish including throughout the night to keep the fish interested.
An additional essential thing to think about are line angles, attempt to keep your lines as unobtrusive as feasible and if you are fishing a fairly even bottom then backleads or slack line tactics will probably be useful as a tight line through the swim will spell danger to the carp. Another great tip is to rest areas in quiet periods, take the rigs out and let the fish acquire confidence in the bait.
When you have various depths inside your peg it's a good concept to put your traps at various depths, if one region is consistently productive it may be worth searching for that depth in another region of the swim clearly a comfy feeding depth. Also various bottom make ups, attempt one in the silt, one on a hard or gravel bottom. Weed beds are always magnets for carp so baits placed next to weed are a good bet in any swim.
Be consistent, experiment with areas and baiting strategies and if you discover a successful method stick with it and haul them. Great luck with your carp fishing holiday in france, don't forget your camera and sun lotion and enjoy yourself!
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