Michael wrote:
This is going to be my 1st adventure of France. I have been carp fishing a few years and know the basics that get me by in the UK. I was looking for advice mainly on essential fishing in France obviously a lot of the fish are much bigger than what i catch. Do I need braid if so where can i find info on braid never used it before and don’t know much about it? What’s the average rig everyone is using there and what size hooks etc etc, any advice you can give me for my 1st trip would be great.
thanks

Gareth Watkins replies

Hi Michael,
I don’t actually know the water you are going to so can only give you a few general pointers on fishing in France.
If you check out this blog “Carp Fishing Tips“, I have already written a number of articles on what you need for France. But I shall try here to answer your questions more directly. Personally I don not like braided main lines, which I assume you are meaning. In fact you’ll more than likely find that they are not allowed on your water. They need a certain time to get used to also, as they have no stretch. You have to be ultra careful when you have a fish under the rod tip not to pull the hook. This in turn causes unnecessary mouth damage and is the principal reason for lakes banning them.

I use a good tried and trusted nylon. I would recommend either Nash Bullet 12lb, which breaks at around 18lb or if you have weed and snags in the water Berkeley Big Game or Daiwa Sensor 15lb would be my choice. All these are excellent lines and won’t let you down.

As for rigs, well just because you are in France doesn’t change anything, use a good tried and tested rig. A holiday venue is not the time to start experimenting with new rigs. I like the combi-braids for hook links, such as the Korda Hybrid or the Kryston Snakebite in 20lb or 25lb. You’ll need to probably go up a hook size or two if the lake holds good sized carp over 30lb. I recommend either the Drennan Series such as the T6 models in a size 6 or 4, or the Korda widegape. These are available in both barbed and barbless depending on what you are required to fish with. I usually tie a regular knotless knot and strip a small amount of the coating, a couple of inches say, just above the knot to give you a combi-rig effect. I have literally caught hundreds of carp on this rig.
Hope this helps
Regards
Gareth

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Grosley sur Risle is a well established and mature venue set in the Normandy countryside near Evreux. As its name suggests it lies in the Risle valley and is flanked by rolling hills and a railway line on its far bank – this does see some rail traffic, but nothing too intrusive.

The Large Lake is around 25 acres with an island in the centre and 15 numbered swims around its perimeter, some of which are doubles.
Grosley has excellent facilities including a very good bar & restaurant. It serves breakfast, lunch, evening meals and snacks, as well as a selection of wines, beer & soft drinks.
The Large Lake has a good head of carp of a decent stamp – take a look at the photo section to see that there were some lovely fish caught last year. The Large Lake record currently stands at 48lb: