Carp Fishing Holidays In France – Some Helpful Hints For Your Vacation
More UK carp fishermen are venturing to another country for their carp fishing holidays with France becoming the most well-liked. 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 big carp. You will find now many companies offering guided carp fishing in France on commercial waters with travel and food catered for as well as many private waters where you can book a swim or hire out the lake exclusively on a drive and survive basis.
Many french carp lakes and waterways contain large carp with the climate in France being perfect for carp growth as well as the big quantities of high protein bait becoming introduced on a regular basis both contributing to carp growing to record sizes. With the carp record now over 90lb and most waters offering 40lb plus carp France provides the carp angler on holiday fish far larger than their UK counterparts.
So you have chosen your dream carp fishing holiday venue in France and booked your ferry what items of tackle and bait do you need?
If you have selected a commercial type venue or an estate type french venue for your holiday then your tackle may not differ too much from the gear you use within the UK. Rods of 2.75-3lbTC being probably the most well-liked, baitrunner kind reels or large pits in the event you anticipate to cast some distance are the norm. A 42″+ landing net and large unhooking mat will be necessary as well as your bivvy, bedchair, sleeping bag and all the normal camping gear you use for a session within the United Kingdom. If you have selected a big reservoir then you might have to think about a boat and echo sounder to fish the carpy areas, 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 venue and stock levels so guidance ought to be taken from the owner or organiser but boilies and pellets are 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 in your peg if necessary. If you’re taking large quantities of boilies with you on your holiday and you will find 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 have chosen your carp fishing holiday venue and the needed baits its now time to investigate the going pegs and the winning tactics to ensure your holiday is a triumph. Talk to the owner/organiser for any guidance they may want to divulge (after all its in their interest to help you score so you’ll tell all of your mates what a great week you had), the many message boards on the internet are also a good reference point for gathering inside information.
The time of year you plan to fish might affect the peg options e.g. spring/early summer fish might be gathering in the shallows in preperation for spawning, late summer autumn the deeper areas might 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 locations, inflows etc.
On arrival make a detailed map of your chosen swim noting all depth modifications, bars, weed growth, locations of silt/gravel and reference points within the distance for accurate casting within the dark. Attempt to guess the carp’s patrol channels and natural feeding locations and select ambush points to present your bait. Keep your eyes peeled and ears alert the fish will normally 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 all through your session and don’t pile it in on day one (you cannot take it out !). If you are receiving action continue keep the locations topped up with bait after every fish which includes all through the night to keep the fish interested.
Another essential thing to think about are line angles, try to keep your lines as unobtrusive as possible 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 would be to rest areas in quiet periods, take the rigs out and let the fish gain confidence within the bait.
When you have different depths in your swim it’s a great concept to put your traps at various depths, if one region is consistently productive it might be worth searching for that depth in an additional area of the peg clearly a comfy feeding depth. Also various bottom make ups, attempt one within the silt, one on a hard or gravel bottom. Weed beds are always magnets for carp so baits placed subsequent to weed are a good bet in any swim.
Be consistent, experiment with locations and baiting methods and if you discover a successful technique stick with it and haul them. Good luck with your carp fishing holiday in france, don’t forget your camera and sun lotion and enjoy your self!
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