Right, you have booked your first carp fishing trip to France, you know the location of the lake, you may have read about other angler’s adventures at said lake, but do you know what tackle to take? Well, this is arguably one of the most important parts of planning a successful carp fishing trip to France. You need the right gear to tackle every situation you may come across at this new water. You will need to also fit it in the vehicle you’ll be taking. So, here is our guide on the tackle to take to France on your first carp fishing trip.
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Do your research
Now, just before we get to tackle, it is important that you know how big the lake is. Without knowing the size of the lake, you can’t prepare the tackle need. So, do your research about the lake you’ll be visiting. How big is the lake? How big do the fish go? These are two simple questions to answer, and they can make a big difference to which tackle you bring.
Small lakes present their own problems that require certain tackle. For example, a lot of the small lakes in France can still house monsters. So, just because you are used to fishing smaller lakes in the UK, it doesn’t mean that you’ll be faced with the same carp. On most lakes in France, you are either facing a head of carp that is way bigger in average weight than the heads of carp in UK lakes, or you are dealing with lakes that hold 50-60lb monsters. Your tackle needs to be able to comfortably handle all of the carp, the snags and the distances that you may need to cast.
Onto the tackle
Bearing in mind that you’ll likely need to beef up most of your tackle for your French fishing frenzy, let’s go through some essentials that you shouldn’t leave the UK without. I won’t be discussing the typical carp fishing tackle here, bedchairs and sleeping bags and stuff, those should already be packed ready to go. However, do make a check-list, forgetting your sleeping bag can really dampen the mood!
Bivvy: You may be used to a smaller bivvy which works well in the UK. However, if you are visiting a drive and survive carp lake in France, your bivvy is your home for a week or more. Sure, you may rent a cottage at the lake too, but every moment you spend in the cottage, your lines aren’t in the water. If all you own is a small bivvy, it might be time to shop around for a decent-sized one. The weather is unpredictable in France, and you don’t want to have to move to the cottage in the middle of the night and miss out on the biggest carp of your life. In a bigger bivvy, you’ll be more comfortable, have a bigger place to shelter and have more room for all the stuff I am about to recommend that you bring with you!
Rods: For most lakes in France, your UK setup will be fine. Many feel comfortable with a rod with about a 2.75lb test curve, and that will help you land fish in most lakes in France. However, a lot of the waters in France hold carp bigger than 60lb, and you have a real chance of catching one of those monsters. I wouldn’t tackle those waters without a rod that had, at least, a 3lb test curve, perhaps even 3.5lb! With these rods, you’ll at least know that you have something in your arsenal that can cope with the monsters. Also, a lot of lakes in France allow for 4-rod setups. You do not want to rely on an old carp rod you’ve had knocking about in your shed for years as your fourth! The chance of a 55lber getting hooked on that rod is just as great as it getting hooked on your brand new 3lb test curve rods!
Reels: Balance is key. Please don’t make the mistake of beefing up your rod and putting your old reels on them. You need to balance that beefier rod with a reel that can tackle the same distances with just as much comfort. If you do step your rods up to 3lb or 3.5lb test curves, you’ll want a “big pit” type reel. There are some excellent and really robust reels on the market that are perfect for these test curves. Remember, you’ve got to be confident in your set up to land the carp. If you aren’t confident that your reels can tackle the carp you are about to face, it is time to invest in some new ones!
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Line: Most lakes in France have rules to what line you can use, so check these first. Many, in fact, most of the waters in France don’t allow braided mainline and most insist on a breaking strain of no less than 15lbs!
Rigs: French carp are no different from English carp when it comes to rigs. If you have caught carp over here on certain rigs, chances are you’ll catch them over there too. With rigs, you’ll want a variety so you can swap them around when the conditions call for it, but you want confidence in your rigs too. It’s best not to use a rig that you have never used before as you don’t want to have to figure out the best way of casting, placing and tying a new rig while you’re on the banks of a French lake watching your mates catch 50lbers with rigs they have been using in the UK for years. Keep rigs simple and keep to what you know.
Hooks: Again, keep to hooks that you know and trust. Now, a lot of bent hooks are banned on French waters, so do make sure you can use the hooks you are taking on the lake you are going to. However, at least use the same brand of hook that you trust and have caught plenty of carp on.
Rod support: A lot of lakes in Europe have swims that are made of concrete and other really hard materials. Take a rod support with you, just in case it is impossible to get your bank sticks in the ground without the use of a jackhammer!
Bait boats: Love them or hate them, bait boats offer a lot of advantages on the bigger waters in France. Now, I am not saying that you MUST have a bait boat, but they can help. They provide a great way of getting to areas of lakes that cannot be reached with casting and make baiting up swims easy. Plus, many bait boats now have an echo sounder on board, and so they can help you locate fish.
Clothing: Clearly, clothing isn’t tackle, but it is vital to ensure you have a fun trip and aren’t shivering your whole trip! Trust me, you won’t want to wear the same smelly carp clothes all week, either! Bring plenty of clothes and layers, so you aren’t going to be cold. Bring more socks than you’ll need, wet and cold feet is a sure-fire way of you heading back to the rental for a beer in the evening rather than staying by the lake waiting for a bite!
So, that is about all of the tackle choices that you should consider before your fishing adventure in France. Before I leave you to head to your local tackle shop and buy some new rods, I’ll leave you with this. As I have said, you need to be confident in your tackle. So, if you do invest in some new rods, reels, hooks and whatever else for your carp trip, use them before you go. Try and get to a lake that is at least similar to the one you’ll be fishing in France, where you can cast somewhere close to the distance you’ll need to. Get used to your new rods and reels. Get some practice in using the methods and rigs you’ll be using.
Practise, preparation and planning are all keys to a successful carp fishing adventure in France!
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