France has been a Carp Fishing mecca for the longest time, providing anglers with the chance to catch PB breaking fish year-round. While carp anglers become quite attached to their bivvies and bedchairs, there’s also a lot of carp fishing in France with accommodation at the lakeside to make your trip over the channel a memorable one. We’re going to explore these lakes, how to find them, what you’re likely to pay, and some of the best options for your next trip.

Why go carp fishing in France?

France has remained immensely popular with crap anglers for one reason – monstrously sized carp, and lots of them to boot. France’s climate is similar to the UK’s; however, the extra few degrees of warmth keep the carp feeding for longer throughout the year, leading to much bigger fish. French lakes are also larger than UK water’s in general, giving you far more space to fish in. Due to the popularity of French waters, the facilities found on many of them have evolved over the years to provide a unique experience that hasn’t yet been replicated in many other countries.

What type of accommodation is available?

Firstly, you can book a lake, or even just a peg, as you would in the UK simply fish at a French venue. These are often known as ‘Drive and Survive’ options in which you provide your own transportation, tackle, bait, and food, and bivvy up the duration of your stay, like you, would in any lake usually. You can also add food, bait, and tackle packages to these deals, which increase the price, but it does save you a lot of extra effort and expense in transportation and beefier tackle for the larger French carp.

If you’re looking for a more comfortable or social trip away to France, you should consider a lake with its own accommodation. With these sites, you book out the accommodation and the lake for a set period, usually a long weekend or a week at a time. Different sized lakes and accommodations suit different numbers of anglers, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find a venue that suits you perfectly with so many on the market. Some of these lakes even have a pool on-site for when the fish aren’t biting.

What does the accommodation look like?

The accommodation on the French lakes differs from complex to complex. Usually, they feature a house or gite, with the lake situated just a few steps from the building, allowing you to stick close by to your rods when fishing. The homes will feature everything any other home would, with a kitchen to prepare meals for everyone, a dining room to eat and talk tactics, nice beds for a good night’s sleep, and usually, they feature a nice patio area to have a few beers after a long day of battling whopping carp.

The standard varies from site to site, and of course, the more luxurious the accommodation is, the more expensive it tends to be. If you’re looking for a social trip with your mates, the likelihood is that you’ll be spending more time fishing and sitting around a BBQ than sitting inside the accommodation, but if you’re taking the family on holiday you may want to pay the extra for more luxurious accommodation and picking one with a pool would probably go down great with the kids!

How much are the lakes?

The price will vary from lake to lake, depending on a variety of factors from the lake’s size, the carp’s size, the quality of the accommodation, and the facilities on site. The price will also increase if you want to rent tackle or want to have bait and food waiting for you at the lake.

To rent an entire lake on a drive and survive package, you’re likely to pay in the region £600 – £1,500 for a smaller lake that suits around 2-6 anglers. For bigger lakes, it’s better to look at the price per peg, and work out the lake exclusivity from there. Usually, it’s around £450 per peg for the week.

Now, if you want carp fishing in France with accommodation, the price really begins to fluctuate. If you find a small lake, fit for 2 anglers, and a small accommodation to accompany it, you’ll probably pay about £900 for the week, but if you require a larger lake for more anglers and in turn a larger accommodation, you’re going to be around £2,500-£5,000 depending on the size of the complex. Of course, these rates can change throughout the year, as the summer months tend to be more expensive than the winter months.

Is it worth it?

If you’re a carp angler that hasn’t yet had the chance to sample the French carp scene, then any trip over the channel will be a memorable one for you. However, you can take this chance to get together with your friends and family to head over on a fantastic holiday, while also being able to fish for some of the best fish in the world. It’s a great opportunity to introduce children to the sport, give your non-fishing partners the chance to relax in a warm climate, and, of course, catch some terrific fish.

Carp fishing lakes in France with accommodation, our top 5 venue picks

There are literally thousands of carp fishing lakes in France with accommodation that are available for exclusive bookings, but here is a quick list of some of the best in the country.

1. Domain de Morgard

Domain de Morgard – Situated in Central France, this complex offers smaller lodges situated by the lakeside to enable you to fish a stunning French water, without having to pay for the lake exclusively. The carp go all the way up to well past 70lbs and you can book a 6-person lodge for the week for just £700.

2. Le Brande

Le Brande – Located in Brenne, Le Brande offers two lodges on a single lake, available to be booked out individually, or as a pair. The lake record stands at 50lb, and you can book both cabins and the lake for just over £2,000.

3. BelleVue Lake at Etang Marolles

BelleVue Lake at Etang Marolles – Etang Marolles offers luxury accommodation overlooking the BelleVue lake that can be hired out exclusively at £1350 per week. The complex is located just outside Fougeres, and the carp run to 45lb.

4. Dreamcatchers Lake

Dreamcatchers Lake – Dreamcatchers offers anglers lake exclusivity, beautiful accommodation, a covered pool and stunning fishing at a rate of £2200 per week. It’s quite a drive at 300miles from Caen, but you can fly straight into Limoges airport which is only 11 miles away. The lake has carp to 50lb and catfish to 40lbs.

5. Etang des Persats

Etang des Persats – One of the most luxurious destinations if you’re looking for carp fishing in France with accommodation. Etang des Persats has a 6 person Gite on-site which is perfect for large groups and families. The venue was recently featured by well-known anglers Carl & Alex on their YouTube channel. You can watch the full video below. With fish to over 50lb, this venue is a must-visit if you’re looking for a more relaxed carp fishing holiday in France.

Other French carp fishing articles on our site

• Sky Lake France, Sky Lake Review & Videos
• Cretelakes Carp Fishing in France, Cretelakes Review
• Carp Fishing In France Near Calais
• Crystal Waters France, Crystal Waters Review
• Les Etangs de Chantereine France, Etang de Chantereine Review
• Abbey Lakes in France, Abbey Lakes Review

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The Cretelakes complex is set over 130 acres and the lakes are the result of gravel pits being dug in the 1970s and stocked with carp and coarse fish. The venue offers an all-inclusive package for those anglers wanting a relaxing trip, without the need for cooking their own food. The clubhouse on-site sells all essential amenities and there is a small tackle shop on site which also sells bait, you can pre-order your bait so it’s ready for your arrival.

I visited Cretelakes in August 2011 with 3 other friends. We opted for the all-inclusive package which offers a pickup service from Dover. The pick-up, ferry crossing and drive to the venue all went smoothly and I was impressed by the service we received. We arrive at the venue early on Saturday morning, bacon baguettes and a hot brew were waiting for us.

The Cretelakes review video below gives a good overview of the venue and what you can expect from a week’s fishing at this venue.

After speaking to some of the departing Anglers, it seemed the previous week’s fishing had been slow due to the extremely hot temperatures currently sweeping the region. You are allowed to walk around the complex prior to entering the draw for swims and I was keen on an unfavoured swim (peg 7 ) on Lake 1.

I came out of the draw fairly quickly and took my favoured swim. After a short trip from the clubhouse to my swim, I was quickly settled into my new home for the week. Peg 7 on Lake is not for the faint-hearted, you’re not going to get a relaxing week fishing in this little bay. It requires locked up fishing under over-hanging branches on the opposite bank. The fish love the little bay area and travel the tree line regularly. You need to be very quiet and be willing to sit close to your rods to ensure you are on them as soon as a take arrives.

Tactics for my week at Cretelakes were simple. 2 rods are better than 3 in this swim. I was fishing one rod under the overhanging bushes on the far bank, driving the Microcat bait boat directly under the trees. Pellet and crushed Activ-8 boilies were all that were needed, fished locked up to stop the fish from running into the snags in the bay.

The other rod was fished directly in front of the swim on a gravel bar which runs out from the bank and into open water. Again, pellets and boilies were the staple choice throughout the week.

During my week in that little bay, I landed 18 fish, 10 over 30lb and the biggest 38lb. I lost 5 fish over the course of the week. One of them was very close to the net which was £50lb+. For over half of the takes, I ended up in the water coaxing the fish out of the bay from a different angle than what you can achieve from the bank. It’s exciting fishing and I highly recommend it.

The other lads didn’t have spectacular weeks in terms of numbers. 2 of the lads fished lake 4 and struggled and one of the lads started on lake 3 and then moved to lake 2 where he caught a running upper 30.

Since my visit to Cretelakes, lake 5 has opened which is much bigger than the other four lakes. The owners have set about creating sixty swims (including 9 doubles) over the site. The carp are typically fast-growing and the complex record is now a little over the magical £75lb mark.

The Cretelakes complex is open all year round and boasts much quieter fishing in the winter months so you can just book and go when the weather suits you!

Below is a short review of the lakes at Cretelakes

Cretelakes One

Key facts:

• 9 acres in size
• 5-12 feet depth range
• 10 swims (3 doubles)
• Approx 400 carp

Cretelake One is a beautiful lake with many weed beds and bushes. In the centre of the lake is a large plateau and it is home to carp, large pike and other coarse fish. You may even hook a few trout!
Within the carp stock are lots of 40lbs and 50lb fish for you to catch and for the lucky anglers, there are also some 60lb and a few 70lb fish! You’ll find many fish around the margins and those with precise casting and baiting capabilities can make huge hauls.

Cretelakes Two

Key facts:

• Just under 6 acres
• 7 swims
• 3-9 foot depth ranges

It may be the smallest lake but it packs in lots of features like reed beds, plateaus and snags. The carp are amazing in this lake as they have access to a lot of natural food from the amount of weed in the lake. Most fish in this lake are caught in between weed beds and the margins.

Cretelakes Three

Key facts:

• 8 acres
• 8 swims
• 3-8 foot depth range

A peaceful and beautiful lake that holds all the typical gravel pit features; weed beds, bars, margin shelves and bushes. You will be in heaven fishing here!

There is a large stock of fish here, with the biggest being over 60lbs! You’ll enjoy the challenge of following in the footsteps of other anglers and aiming for multiple catches.

Cretelakes Four

Key facts:

• 6 acres
• 6 swims (one double)
• 4-11 foot depth range

With fishing only allowed from one bank, you’ll be able to fish the far margins and go for one of the 60lb+ fish, multiple catches or large fish are not uncommon on Lake 4

The main features of this lake include gravel bars, reed beds, snags and weed beds. You’ll find bait boats are a huge plus when it comes to accurate far bank baiting!

Cretelakes Five

Key facts:

• 30 acres
• 28 swims
• 20 anglers max
• 7-8 foot depth range

At 30 acres, Cretelakes 5 is the largest lake with the highest number of swims. This lake holds over 600 Carp and has all the features to match its size; from gravel bars, huge plateaus and reed beds to gullies, snags and silt pockets – it really has it all! You can even enjoy the use of rowing boats which can be found in the swims. You would be crazy to not visit Cretelake 5 when attempting the largest multiple hauls.

The facilities at Crekelakes

There is a myriad of facilities available onsite that include: a clubhouse, a fully equipped kitchen, Sky TV, a fully stocked shop, a shower block and toilets (including an accessible toilet). In addition to this, there are bailiffs available to cook all the meals and look after everything you need. If you would like a bit of advice they will be available to discuss tactics and help you to find the best area in your pegs.

Meals are served at 9am for breakfast and 5pm for dinner. The breakfast is a delicious full English and the evening meals are varied every evening.

The shop is stocked with a huge range of bait, as well as drinks and snacks. Cretelakes thinks of everything, including having lots of British plug sockets for charging phones and bait boats.

How to book your all-inclusive carp fishing trip at Cretelakes

The booking process is straightforward and a booking form can be downloaded directly from the Cretelakes website. You can use the online availability calendar or call Debbie on 02083 026 866 to check the dates are free for your trip, then complete the booking form and send it off with a £100 deposit per person. It’s that simple.

Cretelakes offer all-Inclusive holidays that start from Dover! You arrive at 1am on Saturday morning, load your luggage and jump on the luxury coach. The coach boasts air conditioning, DVD player, onboard toilets and reclining seats.

After the ferry crossing, you have around three hours to relax on the coach before arriving at Cretelakes for 8.30am ready to look around and get stuck in. It couldn’t be simpler and Cretelakes staff are on hand at all times to make your fishing break away the best it can possibly be.

Cretelake Rules

There are some rules when at Cretelake but all are simple and put in place to ensure that everyone enjoys their visit. The rules, taken directly from the Cretelake website, include:

• No particles of any kind
• No mainline under 15lb breaking strain
• No lead core or shock leaders
• No sacking of fish
• Not exceeding the three-rod rule
• No barbed hooks
• Not leaving rods unattended
• No braided mainline

However, it is also important to note that bait boats are allowed.

Cretelakes Reviews

Cretelakes boasts a 5/5 status on their Facebook page and has so many positive reviews from happy Cretelakes customers. Some of the highlights include people raving about the size and quality of the fish to the outstanding service provided by the Bailiffs, interestingly lots of the reviewers are repeat customers and intend on visiting again!

My personal Cretelakes review is a positive one. It was my first all-inclusive carp fishing holiday in France and I loved every second. The food was simply incredible and plentiful. The bailiffs were helpful and always around the complex to help out. The shower facilities and on-site shop are very good and they sell all the essential items you need for a week’s fishing. There are beer and wine on sale in the clubhouse and you can take a few hours away from the rods and chill out around the clubhouse area while taking in the views of Lake 1.

Cretelakes caters for a range of angling abilities and the bailiffs will point you in the right direction if you’re finding the fishing a little hard going. Simple tactics along with regular and precise baiting will ensure your catch a few lumps during your visit to Cretelakes. I highly recommend a trip.

Tightlines,

Tom

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There are plenty of carp fishing lakes in France near Calais. All the lakes listed below are within a couple of hours drive from the French port.

Domaine des Iles – approx 2 hours from Calais

Domaine des Iles offers carp fishing in France near Calais, set in a stunning woodland environment. There are 2 lakes on this complex, the Main Lake offers fishing for up to 12 anglers with the very real possibility of some very large fish. The carp in the Main Lake go over 60lb with many large catfish also present. There are cabins available and electricity points around the lake.

The Back Lake is around 7 acres and offers fishing for up to 6 anglers with a luxury lodge available for those looking for a little bit of luxury. The lodge is fully equipped with all modern luxuries and has 3 bedrooms. The carp record is currently a 52lb common and there are several original carp still present around the 40lb bracket.

More information: www.domaine-des-iles.com

Directions: 9 Rue du Moulin, 80400 Offoy, France

Jurassik Carpe 1, 2, 3 (Domaine d’Halatte) – approx 2.5 hours from Calais

Jurassik Carpe offers serious big fish carp fishing in France near Calais. A collection of 3 lakes spanning 250 acres, Jurassik Carpe has something for everyone. Jurassik Carpe 1 is the big fish mecca of the domain with the current lake record standing at 71lb. The lake is 190 acres with fishing available for up to 22 anglers. It’s not an easy “runs” water, but the rewards are certainly there for those willing to put in the effort and wait it out. The lake is weedy and a boat is necessary to aid with the landing of large carp. This lake is suited to the experienced carp angler.

Jurassik Carpe 2 is much smaller at around 40 acres and is much less intimidating that Jurassik Carpe 1. However, that doesn’t mean it’s any less rewarding. Jurassik Carpe 2 holds carp to 62lb with the average catch carp caught being around 30lb, there are several 40lb+ carp landed each week. It is estimated that there are 300 carp between 30 to 45lb. With room for up to 11 anglers, each swim offers plenty of water to go at, rowboats and bait boats are allowed and it is possible to park your car at many of the swims. This lake is still challenging due to weed growth but the rewards are certainly worthwhile.

Jurassik Carpe 3 is the smallest lake on the Domaine d’Halatte complex at 17 acres and is suitable for 5 anglers. It’s a stunning carp lake that offers plenty of privacy and underwater features with a large stock of carp to around 55lb. This lake is suited to anglers of all availabilities with a large stock of carp present, rowboats and bait boats are allowed and you can park your car behind most of the swims. It is estimated that there are 150 carp between 30 and 45lb in Jurassik Carpe 3 with at least 5 of these over 45lb.

More information: www.jurassikcarpe.com

Directions: 60550 Verneuil-en-Halatte, France

Vallee Lake 1 & 2 – approx 1.2 hours from Calais

One of the closest big fish venues to Calais, the Vallee Lake complex offers 2 lakes of 13 & 24 acres with carp to over 70lb, catfish to over 100lb and sturgeon to over 90lb. These big fish are more suited to the experienced carp angler. Bivvy swims or luxury lodges are available on the complex along with fantastic facilities including a tackle shop offering tackle hire. Food packages are also available and can be delivered to your swim. Swim electricity is now available in all swims on the Valle Lake complex, ensuring you can charge essential items such as phones and tablets.

More information: www.valleelake.com

Directions: 76340 Nesle-Normandeuse, France

Beaurepaire – approx 2.5 hours from Calais

Beaurepaire is a natural gravel pit of 7 acres and offers fishing for up to 6 anglers, perfect for group bookings. The lake holds a good stock of carp to over 60lb. The average size of carp is over 30lb with regular catches of 40lb fish each week with the occasional 50lb & 60lb carp also making an appearance.

Beaurepaire is one of France’s best keep carp fishing secrets, offering fantastic fishing for anglers of varying abilities. Perfect for booking exclusively between a small group of anglers with a cabin on site with electricity and washing facilities. There is also a boat on site but please remember to take a life jacket should you wish to use it. Beaurepaire is definitely worth considering if you are looking for carp fishing in France near Calais.

More information: www.anglinglines.com/Beaurepaire

Location: 02160 Pontavert, France

Abbey Lakes – approx 2.5 hours from Calais

One of the most established carp fishing venues in France, Abbey Lakes is world-renowned for its stock of huge carp. With 6 lakes catering for all angling abilities, this complex is a must-visit french carp venue, just 2.5 hours from Calais.

Food packages are available and there are a bar, restaurant and shower facilities on-site with fresh bait also available to buy on-site. You can read our detailed Abbey Lakes review here.

There are some well-known carp to be caught at Abbey Lakes, many of which are over 60lb. You can find plenty of videos on YouTube which offer a wealth of information about the lakes, tactics and the stamp of carp in this well-known big fish complex.

More information: www.abbeylakes.co.uk

Location: Chemin de l’Abbaye, 60126 Longueil-Sainte-Marie, France

Summary

The above venues are all great options when looking for carp fishing in France near Calais. All venues are within 2.5 hours of Calais and offer easy access when driving. Please be mindful that you will need to take extra precautions when driving through France. Click here for more information.

If you would like to suggest a carp fishing venue close to Calais for inclusion in this then please comment below.

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The lake itself is around 25 acres in size with 2 large islands, with depths varying from 4-24 feet. The stock of fish in this place is incredible with absolutely loads of 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, with a lake record at over 80lb. The best way to get to Crystal Waters is one of their all in packages, where you get picked up from Dover.

Lee proper looked after us & the food was bang on, keeping you fuelled for those titanic battles with these French lumps. The price for a week of fishing all-inclusive cost £630 pp/pw this may sound steep but believe me it’s well worth it.

Once we arrived the draw was made, and I ended up in a swim called “The Compound”. Tucked away in a nice corner, with a tree-lined margin, an island at 100yds plus & the wind proper hacking into me. This seemed a logical choice with plenty of options, I’d seen a couple of fish too on our lap around the lake.

It didn’t take long before we were into the fish, I’d had a couple of mid 20’s by tea on our first day, things couldn’t have started better…

From this swim, I had 2 rods fishing along the tree-lined margin locked up & the other straight at the island, reasonably tight. This meant I had to practically sit on my rods due to not wanting to lose any fish & the nature of snag fishing. To get me accurately to my spots with the least amount of fuss I did use a bait boat. This would deposit my snowman rig pulled through a PVA stick of crushed boilie, along with free offerings to maximum effect. What resulted in the remaining week was steady action with a couple of new pb’s. Now let’s be honest that is what we all go to France for, with the size of the fish dwarfing what we have in the UK…

36lb common carp, from the tree-lined margin…

47lb mirror carp, from the tree-lined margin (pb at the time)

52lb mirror carp, from the island spot (current pb)

I can’t recommend Crystal Waters highly enough & if you’re unsure of where to fish in France, then check out their website & you too could be hooking into some French lumps.

Website: www.crystalwatersfishery.com

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So the time had come to make our yearly crossing of the channel, to fish a relatively unknown stock of carp in the hope of landing a French whacker. Our chosen destination this year was Les Etangs de Chantereine in France, having seen some of the photos of the stock, our 8 strong group of carp anglers couldn’t wait to wet a line.

Having travelled around 3 hours into France, we arrived at our destination. We were met by the bailiff, who was very helpful & passed on some info on how it fished the previous week. So a steady lap of the lake to familiarise ourselves with the swims & fish locations resulted in a draw for pegs. Unfortunately, I came out next to last, I chose a peg which no one fancied, but it meant I could get on the back of some showing fish “The Rickety Board Swim”.

With the swims now chosen we each set up camp, always keeping a close eye on the water looking for any shows. A few casts of the marker float enabled me to map out the swim & reveal what lay beneath. The lake bed was relatively weedy all over, with this in mind I decided to fish a chod set up. This would enable me to counteract the weed to a certain extent & ensure the best presentation.

It wasn’t long before all 3 rods were on the dance floor, with around 10 spods full of bait on each spot. After around 2 hours of being in my right-hand rod tore off, with what felt to be a sizeable lump. The fish kited right down the marginal shelf, I could feel it rolling, the line flicking off the dorsal, then ping, a cutoff! A few choice words later I was setting the rod up again. This time I switched to leadcore rather than naked, a choice which later resulted in all 3 rods being fished this way.

Feeling more determined the rod went back out, knowing there is fish in the swim & they were responsive to what I was putting in. It wasn’t long before the right rod went into meltdown again, after a spirited fight a 29lb 13oz mirror was in the net! Absolutely buzzing, it’s always nice to get the monkey off your back.

Over the next few days, it became apparent almost all my bites were coming between 6-9am & 5-8pm. By the end of the week I ended up with 10 fish from 15 takes, 7 x 20’s, 2 x 30’s, 1 x 40.

The venue is Drive & Survive, it had 2 toilets on site with shops nearby. What the venue lacks in facilities, it certainly makes up for with the stunning stock of fish. It really is a true credit to Andy the owner. I’d just personally like to thank Andy for letting us fish the venue, as well as Glyn from Burton Bait Rollers for supplying the bait. Thanks for reading, Ben.

For more information and booking please click here.

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Over the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting many venues across France. Sky Lake is one of the better known French carp fisheries, run by Andy, Bernie and Rob Morton. Situated in the Marne Valley, a well-known region to seasoned French carp hunters, Sky Lake is a serious player in the big fish arena. There are carp to over 70lb with several 60lb fish and lots of backup 50lb, 40lb and 30lb + carp present.

Getting to Sky Lake, the all-inclusive option

By far the easiest way of travelling to Sky Lake is to book one of their all-inclusive packages. They pick you up from Dover (where you leave your car in a secure car park) and drive you in the Sky Lake minibus over to the lake with all your gear in a trailer. The ferry crossing is included as part of the overall cost you pay along with breakfast and an evening meal. Its good value for money and operates in the same way as many all-inclusive French carp fishing venues. The all-inclusive package runs from Saturday to Saturday and the pick up is on a Friday night from Dover. The cost per week used to be £495 for the all-inclusive package, but please check with the venue to see if the price has changed in recent years.

Prefer to drive and survive? No problem, Sky Lake offer a drive and survive option for anglers to wish to take care of themselves. Please contact the venue for further information and information on pre-booking swims. You can also order several food packages as part of your drive and survive holiday.

Facilities at Sky Lake

There is a log cabin on-site along with toilets and wash facilities. There is a covered BBQ area and meet-up point behind the main cabin. You meet here for food and a general catch up. They have a limited supply of beer, water and some food items available along with end-tackle items which you may need during your trip. Andy and Rob will happily go to the shop during your stay if you require more beer, wine or other essential items.

They sell bait, such as particles and boilies (Sky Lake Specials) on-site and you are advised to use their bait. I typically go against the grain and decided to take my own boilies with me on my trip. I really struggled until I caved in and order a few KG of their own bait and I started to reap the rewards. Don’t make the mistake I did. Leave your bait at home, pre-order your bait with Andy and you won’t spend days scratching your head wondering why you are blanking.

The swims on Sky Lake are well maintained and very comfortable, with lots of room. There are a couple of double swims on the lake so best to pre-book these if you’re desperate to fish with a partner. The woods also offers a good option if you wish to fish with a partner.

There are limited phone charging facilities at Sky Lake but you will get a few hours to try and charge your phones.

Top tip! – Take a heavy-duty power pack

Charging your phone or tablet can be difficult at Sky Lake due to the limited power supply. It’s advisable to take a battery pack with you to keep your phones and tablets charged. I used the Fax Halo power pack which is perfect for charging phones and tablets.

What’s the fishing like at Sky Lake?

Don’t think for one minute you will turn up and empty the place. This is not a runs water. Multiple catches of very large carp are certainly possible in the right conditions, be advised, this is a not a “run a chuck” type of venue.

During our trip, there were 7 of us fishing, with 3 of the group fairly inexperienced anglers. Around 15 fish were caught during the week, with a couple of those grass carp. We went in the middle of August and the conditions were tough. Several of the fish were over 40lb.

You are not guaranteed to catch at Sky, and a few of the group did blank. The best advice is to listen to Andy and Rob, they know the place inside out and are happy to offer advice (don’t be afraid to ask). Use their bait, ask about hot spots for each swim and don’t try and empty the place by going opposite to everyone else. I tried that approach and it simply didn’t work until I changed mid-week.

When I fished Sky you had to use a certain lead-clip style setup which Andy would come round and check before you started fishing. I’m not sure if this rule is still in place, so please check with the venue. The lead-clips were sold on-site so no problem if you can’t find them in your local tackle shop.

Rowing boats are available to use at the venue. Although not needed for all swims, The weed can get heavy so rowing boats are sometimes needed to land fish and are ideal for baiting up in bulk.

The advised way to fish Sky Lake is boilies over a bed of particles. Many people buy particles from the venue and row out, spread 10KG over an area and then drop their baits over the top from the boat, topping the area up with more particles after every fish. I started this way and by the end of the week, I was just fishing boilies, using a throwing stick to distribute the bait over a larger area and casting from the bank. I struggled at the start of the week fishing over the larger beds of the particle but faired much better when I started casting and using a throwing stick to create larger baited areas. The particle approach certainly does work though and I would certainly start your approach this way and see how you get on.

Top tip…be patient!

Once you have created a baited area, leave your rods on it until a run comes. It will come… The fish seemed to move onto bait after 2-3 days. In many cases, you would have reeled in and tried another area. (I even moved swims!). When I came back to the original swim after a few days I started to see results. This was true for many of the guys on our trip. Simply leave the rod on the spot for 2-3 days at a time and the fish will move onto it.

I landed one of the named fish “The Mermaid” after moving back to my original swim after 2 days and fishing boilie only over the previously heavily baited particle areas.

My overall Sky Lake Review

Sky Lake in France is a decent venue, a lovely lake set within a stunning backdrop. The facilities are good and the food on the all-inclusive package will keep you well fed. Sky Lake is not an easy venue, but the rewards are there for those that are willing to listen to the advice of the owners. It’s newbie-friendly, although it is suited to the more experienced angler. The fish are BIG and Andy & Rob are very passionate about how they are handled. Any fish over 40lb must be left in the water until Rob or Andy arrive to help with the unhooking and handling of the fish.

If you’re after a new PB, which doesn’t look like an oversized football with a head and tail then Sky Lake is worth a visit. The fish here are lookers, some of the best in France! It’s not easy, but the rewards are certainly there to be had.

Pros…

• There are some seriously big carp to be caught
• Stunning venue
• The all-inclusive option is great
• Good facilities
• Bait, tackle, and supplies are available at the venue

Cons…

• It’s not easy, but don’t let that put you off
• Their bait is competitively priced and you will get through a lot of it if your catching

How do I book a trip to Sky Lake?

There are several ways to book a carp fishing holiday at Sky Lake. The website is not updated much but they do have an active Facebook group where you can keep up to date with the latest news and capture reports. All the information you need is below.

Telephone

Andy: 07509102469 / 07590473760

Email: andy@skylakefisheries.co.uk

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/130083643681058/

Sky Lake Videos

Here are a few videos from the Korda team tackling Sky Lake as part of the Thinking Tackle series.

• Thinking Tackle Season 4 show 5 – Penning, Fairbrass & Clarkey Tackle Sky Lakes France
• Thinking Tackle Season 4 Show 4 – Penning, Fairbrass & Clarkey Tackle Sky Lakes France
• Korda Thinking Tackle Season 2 – Part 4 – Sky Lake, France

Essential tackle needed for Sky Lake

The carp in Sky Lake are BIG. Don’t go unprepared. The fish fight hard and there is weed present depending on the time of year you visit. Here is a list of essentials.

• Strong carp rods, 12 ft, 3lb+ test curve are recommended for this venue
• A powerpack which will give you ample power for a whole week.
• A comfortable bivvy and bedchair along with a day chair are all essential for a comfortable week’s fishing at Sky Lake.
• Bite Alarms and Receiver are essential. The woodland around Sky can make hearing your alarms difficult when popping to your neighbour’s swim for a chat.

• 1mm Ultra-Sensitive Bite Detection with 40% Enhanced Sensitivity.
• All-Weather Waterproof Design (IP66 Rated on Cube; 100% Waterproof on Pro).
• Advanced Bluetooth Connectivity: 500m Range on Cube & 100m Range on Pro.
• Fully Customizable Alerts & App Integration for Tailored Bite Monitoring.
• Long-Lasting Rechargeable 10-30 Days Battery Life with Energy-Saving Standby Mode.

Where is Sky Lake and how long does it take to get there?

Sky Lake is located in The Marne Valley in central France. You can get directions using the Google Map below. It takes approximately 3.5 hours to drive to Sky Lake from Calais.

The post Sky Lake France, Sky Lake Review & Videos appeared first on Bait Boat World.

Since our first trip to France in August 2011, a group of friends from Stoke on Trent have embarked on our annual trip to France for a week of carp fishing. In 2012 Abbey Lakes was our destination, here is my account of our trip and a review of the Abbey Lakes complex.

After much deliberation between the 5 of us (Ben, Tom, John, Nev & Rob), we decided that our venue for 2012 would be Abbey Lakes. There is a wealth of information on Abbey Lakes on the internet and several great videos of the complex can be found on YouTube.

Abbey Lakes is made up of 5 main lakes, these being Heron, Fox, Kingfisher, Attila & Wild Boar, each lake has its own unique challenges and various stock levels to suit different levels of angling ability. We decided that Heron Lake would be our destination and we booked up for May 2012.

Heron Lake is the largest lake on the Abbey Lakes complex at 35 acres covering 22 swims. The lake is very much like an English gravel pit, with large open water, smaller bays and an island to target. According to the Abbey Lakes website, there is some 1000-1200 carp present, with an average weight of between 33-37lb. What really caught our imagination was the thought of catching Shoulders, an absolute monster which currently holds the complex record at a staggering 94lb 4oz. There are several 60lb plus fish present in Heron and we were lucky enough to see a few on the bank during our trip (more on that later!).

As the Friday rolled around we packed up the vans and headed off down to the Channel Tunnel. After an overnight drive, a blown tyre and some bad direction giving from Ben, our group finally rolled into the Abbey Lakes complex. We arrived very early in the morning, around 3 am, and tried to get a few hours of sleep in the van to no avail. As soon as the first light arrived we spotted an opportunity to hedge our bets by having a sneak around Heron Lake at first light before the rest of our group arrived, a decision which ultimately turned the week into a productive one for myself and Ben. We walked around the lake at around 6 am and there was little sign of action, anglers tucked in their Bivvies and dry unhooking mats all around.

As we walked around the lake it became apparent the fish were holding up in one small bay at the top end of the lake. As we walked around the lake to pegs 13 & 14 the water came alive, it was like a jacuzzi from feeding carp. One of the anglers was just returning a fish when we arrived and they had a few retaining slings in the water ready to take photos. They had a good week with a brace of 50s and they informed us the fish had been holding up there for a few days.

Throughout April and early May, there had been no prolonged periods of hot weather. I knew there was a high possibility the fish would be spawning when we arrived and with the fish starting to hold up in this small shallow area of the lake, I knew there was a possibility the fish would be staying here for a while.

After speaking with the anglers they informed us they would be packing up in 48 hours, we agreed with them that we would start to move our tackle behind them on their last morning so we could occupy the pegs when they left. Armed with this information we returned back to the car park waiting for the rest of the group to show up before we joined the queue at 10 am for our tickets for the week. Unlike most package holidays, there is no draw for swims at Abbey Lakes, it’s a first come first served basis for swims and you can get your tickets from 10 am on the Saturday of arrival. We kept quiet about our little find on our morning walk, knowing that there were only going to be 3 productive swims over the next few days.

Rob, Nev & John decided to fish swims 18, 19 & 20 while myself and Ben chose swims 9 and 16 respectively. Our chosen swims were the closest swims available to where to fish were holding up in front of pegs 11, 12 13 & 14. Peg 12 was un-fishable due to weed and peg 11 was occupied for the rest of the week. We knew we had 48 hours to try and sneak out a fish before moving into swims 13 and 14 in 48 hours. The next couple of days were very slow, we had mixed weather and violent thunderstorms and all of our party along with the rest of the lake really struggled, with just a couple of 20lb fish out in the last 48 hours on the whole lake.

During this quiet spell, we took a few hours out to do some stalking on the nearby Frog Lake. Frog Lake is part of the Abbey Lakes complex but is primarily for the local French anglers. The fish love a floater in there and we managed to winkle a few fish out each to upper doubles, a welcome bend in the rod while the lads on Heron were really struggling.

Back on Heron and the morning of our move had arrived… the anglers occupying swims 13 and 14 gave us the nod and we started to move in behind them. With all our gear packed up and moved before the first light, we set off to the shower block to freshen up before we started to set up in our new swims.

The weather had started to change and the sun was really starting to shine through, it was going to be a scorching couple of days and we instantly knew the fish would be starting to move around in the small bay we had just occupied. We flipped a coin for swims, with Ben winning and choosing peg 13 which commanded much more water including the point which was prolific the previous week. I was gutted, to be honest, I really wanted swim 13 but I knew I was in the second-best place as long as the fish would move past Ben’s lines and move into the bay towards peg 14.

As we started to set up in our new swims the water started to change in front of us. It was around 8 am and the heat was really starting to come down and the bay was coming alive. There were a few carp starting to show and the jacuzzi we has witnessed a few days prior was back, fizzing and bubbling all over the bay with weed starting to float to the surface where the fish were feeding.

The majority of the showing fish were coming from the point in front of peg 13, which is a short 70-yard cast. You can easily walk along the opposite bank to the point and we decided to bait up from the opposite bank to reduce the disturbance. One thing to note is that Heron lake is extremely weedy in places and this was especially true for our swims. There was a solid bank of weed between us and the areas we wanted to fish and we made the decision to marker and bait up from the opposite bank and then drive our bait boats over to the spots. This ensured pinpoint accuracy through the weed and enabled us to fish the exact spots over and over again by simply flicking our marker rods out from set points on the opposite bank.

Our chosen spots were around a 15ft from the opposite bank where the marginal shelf dropped off into a clear gulley that ran the length of the far bank and in front of the point that Ben was fishing too from peg 13.

We baited each spot with a few KG of mixed particles, mainly hemp, pellet, maize and crushed Activ 8 15mm boilies. After walking back to our swims after baiting up, I noticed some movement in the shallow water on the lake next to Heron (Fox Lake). After closer inspection, we noticed a good number of fish in a small bay which backed right onto Heron Lake. The water was crystal clear and we saw good numbers of fish which were moving around in the shallow bay on Fox Lake. We decided to throw some bait onto a few clear spots and check back later to see if the fish had fed on the spots. We headed back round to our swims on Heron and got our rods out, for the first time during our trip we actually felt like we were fishing properly and in with a chance of a few fish.

The bait we used at Abbey Lakes

After using bait boats to deliver our hook baits over to our baited spots on the far bank, we settled in for the afternoon to a few stubby bears from the local supermarket. At 3.50 euros for 20 small bottles, we were well happy in the sunshine. Our sunbathing was cut short a few hours later by the scream from Ben’s Delkim, after hitting into the fish it soon became stuck solid in the huge bank of weed that was in front of us.

We threw on the life jackets and headed out with the boat to play the fish. It soon became apparent from the boat that the weed was seriously thick in front of us and that any fish we hooked would be better played from the boat instead of trying to bring the fish through it. After a few tense minutes we managed to free the fish from the weed bed and Ben was in direct contact again from the boat. I managed to row us to a clear area where Ben could safely play the fish and after a few minutes, we netted our first fish from Heron, not a monster by Abbey standards but more than welcome after a tough few days. The fish was a scrapper 20 but the size was irrelevant at this stage, we knew our decision to move was justified and the chosen spots along the gulley were going to produce fish.

An inflatable boat and life jackets are essential items when fishing certain lakes at Abbey Lakes. They can only be used for retrieving ‘weeded up’ fish, NOT for baiting up! We recommend you do your own research and find a boat that is suitable for your needs. The following items will be suitable when fishing Abbey Lakes if you don’t already have a boat.

Recommended items for fishing Abbey Lakes

With Ben’s rods back out, we settled in for the evening and just a few hours into the darkness the soon familiar sound of Ben’s bite alarms was ringing out from peg 13. After a short battle, another fish was in the net and an upper double was soon slipped back into the darkness. Morning broke and the mist started to rise from the small bay we occupied, I was slightly surprised that my rods remained motionless through the night, I could hear the odd fish crashing but my luck seemed to be elsewhere on this trip.

I was now 3 nights into the session without a single run on Heron, I was starting to get a little worried that I could be returning to the UK with the dreaded “Wooden Spoon”. The Wooden Spoon is an extra-large spoon which says “Noddy No Fish” decorated in bright glitter, whoever catches the least fish on our annual trips has to wear the spoon around their neck during the trip home including the ferry journey. Not something I relished after seeing the humiliation that John encountered the previous year when he was unlucky enough to end up with the “Spoon”

As the heat started to break through the clouds around mid-morning I decided to go and check on the bait we had thrown into the shallow bay on the nearby Fox Lake. As soon as I turned up I could see several fish clouding up the water right on top of the bait. BINGO, an opportunity to sneak a fish out stalking and save my bacon. I headed back to Heron, reeled in the rods and grabbed a small bucket of particles, landing net and unhooking mat. I trickled in the odd piece of maize to move the fish away from the baited area temporarily, once the fish started to enquire about the maize falling down around them, I gently lowered my balanced double maize hook bait and lay the rod on the ground next to me.

There were fish all around me, maybe 15-20 fish in crystal clear water hoovering up all the particles, I could see my hook bait come in and out of view as big black shapes moved over the top of it. This was really exciting fishing and there were some real lumps down in the water just a few feet away from the hook bait.

Around 15 minutes later and my reel went into meltdown on the grass next to me, I could see the fish I’d hooked bolting away from the baited area and to my amazement, the rest of the group were still feeding, completely unaware that I had hooked one. I coaxed the fish away from the bay and soon netted a stunning mid 20 common. A real dark fish that looked like it could have come from an English estate lake. It was probably the smallest of the feeding group but I was more than happy. I returned the fish, baited up with a few more KG of particle and headed back to Heron with a smile like a Cheshire cat!

The perfect bait for stalking at Abbey Lakes

As our trip reached the halfway point, the other lads in our party had managed 2 fish between them, these were low 20s. The rest of the lake was also struggling with the majority of anglers down the other end of the lake all blanking. As I settled back into my swim on Heron, I was hopeful the second part of the week would be more productive.

As I got the rods out for my second night in peg 14 I was extremely confident my luck on Heron was about to change. The scream from Ben’s Delkim indicated the fish were back. “Tom get the boat ready” was an all too familiar cry from Ben over the next 72 hours. We took to the boat and gently played the fish as best we could without being towed around the bay.

The fish got stuck solid a few times in several of the thick weed beds but a bit of gentle pressure from directly above soon freed the battling carp into open water. Another one was soon in the net and although our average size was around the low 20lb mark, we were chuffed to see another Heron carp grace the bank.

And we didn’t have to wait long before we saw another Abbey Lakes carp in the net. It wasn’t long after we had baited up for the night and I had lit the BBQ that Ben was into another Heron lake carp. We needed the boat again as it was stuck solid just seconds after hitting into the fish, after a hairy 30 minutes out in the boat we managed to sink the net under mountains of weed in the hope a scaly carp was somewhere in the middle. I peeled back the weed and could see the golden scales of a stunning common nestled in the bottom of the net. After rowing back to shore and lifting the beast out of the water, it becomes apparent this fish was larger than the previous captures. The scales went round to 34lb and this fish was truly a stunning specimen, with golden scales and completely mark free. We took some pictures and released her back into the water. Time to get the BBQ back on and sink a few beers to celebrate.

A couple of hours after dark and my left-hand rod was away. The weed was less dense out in front of me and I was playing the fish in open water without too many problems. After a short battle, I managed to slip the net under my first Heron carp of the holiday. A heavily scaled 26lb mirror which was very welcome. After waking up Ben to take the photos we slipped the fish back hoping that one of his larger friends would be along soon. We were slightly disappointed with the average size of the fish so far but with the rest of the lake struggling, we were happy to take what came our way.

Ben managed another fish during the night (low 20lb again) and I lost a fish early morning. We got the kettle on a reflected on a decent 24 hours of fishing. We got a phone call from John who was fishing over in peg 18, one of our party members Rob had landed “White Tips” at over 60lb. We headed round to congratulate Rob and take a look at the photographs. We were made up for him as the fishing had been very slow down that end of the lake and this had made the whole trip worthwhile.

After a few celebratory coffees, we headed back to our pegs, stopping to check on my baited spots in the bay on Fox lake. There were still fish there in numbers so I went and grabbed a rod and followed the same routine as the previous morning.

After flicking out a couple of pieces of balanced maize I sat back and watched as the fish clouded up the water in front of me. The fish moved over the hook bait and some seemed to sit and stare at it for some time, it was amazing to watch the fish at such close quarters. I didn’t have to wait long before one of them took the chance and I was in. After a frantic battle trying to coax the fish away from the baited area I slipped the next under a spawned out 34lb mirror. This fish was defiantly much heavier later in the year but I was more than happy with my morning’s work. I rang Ben who quickly popped over and took the photographs. We were trying to be as discrete as possible as we were not sure whether I should have been fishing both lakes and the bay in question was not a “swim” as such. After baiting up with a few more KG of particle we headed back over to our swims on Heron.

The weather was really warm and there seemed to be more fish in the bay than ever. Shortly after introducing a few more KG of bait on the far margin, Ben’s Delkims were screaming again. Life jackets were on and we headed out with our boat to commence battle with an angry Abbey Lakes carp.

This was a real boat battle, the fish was hanging deep in the water and got stuck solid several times, we applied pressure by hand several times from directly above the fish and managed to free her into open water. A huge ball of weed came to the surface and we netted the whole lot in the hope a carp was in the middle. After peeling back the weed we could see a near leather mirror sulking in the bottom of the net. We rowed back to the shore and weighed a stunning 32lb mirror, we took the obligatory photos and slipped her back.

The rest of the day was prolific for Ben with a few more fish landed, up to mid 20s, from the point in front of peg 13. Although my rods had remained motionless, I was confident the fish would be moving further into the bay in the evening. My previous take on Heron was during darkness so I went to bed confident I would be woken by a screamer.

Around an hour after dark my middle rod signalled a drop-back from the far margin, I hit into the fish and after a short battle landed my second Heron carp of the trip at 33lb. I quickly got my rod back out to the spot and put the kettle on in the hope a few more fish would be coming my way. I must have nodded off as I was woken around 4 am by my left-hand rod, which was bent over as a hooked carp bolted off into the bay. The fish was plodding along the far margin and I gently started to guide it over the weed beds in front of me. After a patient 10 minute battle I slipped the next under my 3rd Heron Lake carp of the trip. When I lifted the fish out of the water I knew it was larger than any of my previous captures and was confident the fish was close to 40lb. I went and woke Ben who was snoring like a pig after his busy day. We weighed the fish at just over 37lb and I was well chuffed that my luck was finally turning.

Ben managed another fish very early morning but his average size was in the low 20lb bracket, which for Abbey standards is fairly low. We started cooking breakfast when John called to inform us that Nev had just landed Bruno at 64lb. We reeled in the rods and ran round to see this magnificent creature on the bank. Nev was beaming when we arrived, Bruno is a real dark looking carp that everyone came to Abbey Lakes to catch.

It was a great result for Nev and the lads got some great shots in the water. It had been a tough week down that end of the lake but the 2 60s they managed more than made up for the lack of action.

Seeing Bruno on the bank really got me fired up for our last couple of days at Abbey Lakes. We headed off back to our swims refreshed and raring to get amongst one of the Abbey Lakes A-Team! I took a quick look over in the bay at Fox Lake and could see a few fish moving around, nothing like the numbers that had been present over the last few days but there were still a few fish milling around. I decided there was a chance of another and grabbed the stalking gear from my swim on Heron.

I spent a few hours trying to sneak a fish out but they were much less interested today, just as I had given up hope I spotted a few fish moving slightly further down the margin towards me. I set the trap, a small handful of particles with a balanced maize hook bait over the top and waited for the group of fish to move towards me. As they approached the baited area a chunky common tipped upright over my hook bait, the water became cloudy as the fish started to feed hard on the particle.

The water exploded as the common hooked itself and bolted out into the bay. After a few minutes, I slipped the net under another stalked fish from Fox Lake. The common was in great condition and the needle on the Reuben went round to 34lb. I must admit I was rather enjoying the stalking on Fox but I didn’t want to push my luck.

I could see a few bemused anglers further up the lake wondering who this figure was who kept appearing from the trees every day. I was more than happy with the 2 30s and the smaller dark common I had managed to sneak out of Fox over the last few days and thought I better leave the fish in peace from now on.

Back on Heron and Ben had managed another mid 20 during the day. As the evening rolled around we lit the BBQ and sat back with a few cool beers. Abbey Lakes is a stunning fishery and the two pegs we occupied were particularly picturesque. We enjoyed a bottle of wine and some juicy steak from the BBQ and hit the sack for the evening. Ben managed another fish during the night but yet again his average size was in the mid 20lb bracket.

As the first light broke my left-hand rod ripped off and I was connected to another Abbey Lakes carp. This fish really had some power and I was powerless to stop the charges at times. I gently played this fish knowing it could one of the larger residents of Heron lake. After a 15 minute battle, I managed to coax a stunning looking mirror into the net. It wasn’t as big as I first hoped but it was a beautiful fish, really dark with a huge paddle. It went 35lb on the scales and after some great pictures by Ben, we slipped her back to fight another day.

The fishing had been incredibly slow down the other end of the lake. The rest of the party had caught 2 stunning 60s but had only managed a couple of other fish. Nev had managed 3 fish, Rob also caught 3 and John was still blanking after a frustrating week. There were a couple of anglers blanking around the lake but the lad in peg 11 had managed a good few fish including one of the A team at 60lb+.

The last day was fairly uneventful and I managed to lose a fish early evening on the last night. With me driving all the way back to the UK the next day I reeled in for the night to get a good night’s sleep. Ben reassured me he would stay awake for the journey home to help with directions. As morning broke, no more fish had been caught from our party and it was time to start the dreaded packing up process.

Within 5 minutes of saying our goodbyes and leaving the Abbey complex, Ben was fast asleep in the passenger seat, leaving me to reflect on a wonderful week’s fishing.

We finished the week as follows:

• Ben = 10 fish, 2 30’s and the rest 20’s and one high double
• Tom = 7 fish, 5 30’s and 2 20’s
• Nev = 3 fish, Bruno at 64lb 80z, 2 20’s
• Rob = 3 fish, White Tips at 61lb, 2 20’s
• John = Blank, Wooden Spoon.

Overall Abbey Lakes Review

Abbey Lakes is a great complex that caters for a variety of anglers. Heron Lake can be challenging but the rewards are certainly there with 3 different 60lb fish caught in the week we visited. Abbey Lakes is around 2 hours from Calais which makes it easily accessible. There is food available on-site and a tackle shop with all the basics you need. The local town is just a short 3-minute drive away which has a supermarket, bar, pizza takeaway and a petrol station. The shower block and toilets are very good and were kept clean throughout our week. I can highly recommend Abbey Lakes to others, but don’t expect it to be easy, you will need to work for your fish just like you would in the UK.

Abbey Lakes videos

• The Abbey Challenge
• Team Korda visit Abbey Lakes

If you have visited Abbey Lakes please comment below with your experience of the venue.

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