Location:  Pays de la Loire, MayenneWebsite Address: www.anglinglines.com/docs/ourvenues/lakes/sauvelliere

Description: Sauvellière is a 3.5 acre lake set in the Mayenne countryside, less than 100 miles from the ferry at Caen. This venue is extremely private set in it's own fenced grounds in a tranquil and peaceful area of Normandy. Staying here really is like having your own carp lake in your own garden and is immediately inviting the moment you pass through the entrance gate. The lawns are beautifully kept with a mature trees and bankside vegetation – it’s a little piece of heaven!

The lake can comfortably fish up to 4 anglers and the on-site accommodation has room for four also. You can book the lake exclusive for your party (up to 4 anglers) but they also accept bookings from pairs of anglers who are happy to share the facilities. The venue is owned by an English couple, David and Chris Ayress, who live nearby and are very welcoming and friendly.

Lake: Sauvellière is a mature 3.5 acre lake surrounded by grassy banks and established trees, dammed at one end and with an island providing a natural haven for the carp at the chalet end. It is fed by a natural spring so the water quality is excellent. The lake shape is varied and interesting and 4 anglers will be able to fish comfortably without fear of impeding each other.

The depth of the lake varies, averaging 2 to 3m in the centre, down to less than 1m in the shallows by the island. David tells us that stalking carp in these areas can be very productive. The lake also holds tench, perch and trout as well as good head of roach and rudd.

Stock: As the venue has never been seriously carp fished it's difficult to ascertain the existing carp stocks, but fish of double figure to low twenties were deffinitely present, as was a good head of mixed coarse fish. The owner has undertaken a new stocking of larger carp, the first batch of which were introduced on the 15th December 2005 and consisted of 30 carp for an average weight of around 23lb.

7x 22lb; 3x 23lb; 3x 24lb; 2x 25lb; 6x 26lb; 1x 28lb; 1x 30.5lb; 1x 34lb; 1x 35lb

A further stocking took place on the 19th December 2005 when 12 carp, all over 20lb, were added to the lake. The owner did not finish there and a large 42lb mirror was stocked in January 2006.  Click here to see pictures.

In November 2006 the professional netsmen came to Sauvelliere to remove some of the unwanted small carp. This was followed in December 2006 by additional carp being added to supplement the existing stock. This consisted of 56 fish…. 4 x 33lb+ (largest 36lb), 20 x 26lb to 32lb & all the rest 22lb+. This short video clip shows the additional stock being introduced – following the carp from leaving the fish farm to entering their new home.Fish Stocked: Carp{rokcomments}

Location :  Pays de la Loire / 30 mins from Le ManWebsite Address: www.etangdeslandes.co.uk

{rokcomments}

 Location:  Lillypool is a carp fishery situated in the Pays-de-la-Loire region of France and is a drive and survive complex taking as little as 2 hours from the France port of St Malo. Calais or Boulogne is only 4-5 hours away via the new motorway.

 Website: www.lillypool.co.uk

Description: The 4 acre carp fishing lake is located within 10 acres of beautiful French countryside. It has its own private entrance and is completely self contained. Suitable for 4-5 anglers. All swims give maximum access for catching the lakes resident carp. The banks are flat, grassy and perfect for pitching your  bivvy, ideal for your carp fishing holiday in France.

The closest village to the fishing lake for amenities is Villiers-Charlemagne, with the local supermarket being 7km at Chateau-Gontier.

Lake: The Lake is spring fed with average depths of 3-8 feet; features include margin plants, lilypads, shallow and deep margins and an island.

 Stock: You don't have to worry about crayfish or poisson chats there are none! The lake has been drained and prepared ready for the new arrivals. Carp have been added to Lillypool ranging from 20-40lb, guaranteed to be a brilliant runs water for our opening season 2010.

 All the new fish were supplied by Michel Bigot pisciculture in France. Michel's family run business came highly recommended as one of the finest carp suppliers in France. All the fish were handed picked by ourselves with Michel's expect knowledge and guidance.

The facilities: at the fishery include a very well equipped fully fitted kitchen and the following:

Gas cooker, Microwave oven, Fridge/ freezer BBQ, Full set of kitchen utensils ,Hot & cold mains water, Toilet and shower.{rokcomments}

Location: Pays de la Loire, Sarthe

Website: www.anglingfrance.com

Description: A truly outstanding venue for the family angler. That’s not just our opinion, it’s what our customers keep telling us – again and again. Whether you are an experienced angler just looking for a relaxed quality fishing holiday with the family, or whether you are a group of friends who fancy getting started on some bigger carp, Oakview caters for both. Tucked away in the country lanes of the beautiful Mayenne countryside, the two and a half acre lake with its luxury lakeside lodge is two and a half hours from Caen and five hours from Calais.

At the 2 lodge swims, anglers can enjoy a drink or a meal together on the lodge terrace without even having to reel-in. Oakview’s flat curving banks also make it comfortable for 4 anglers to tuck themselves out of sight and still have access to the island, margins and plenty of open water.

The accommodation often attracts family anglers, so the lake doesn’t tend to suffer from continuous pressure fishing. The 2009 season saw great catch reports from experienced anglers and countless PBs from those newer to the French fishing experience

Lake: The Lake was completely drained and de-silted in November 2007 and the carp were introduced in stages throughout 2008. It’s roughly pear-shaped with a central island in its bulge, meaning that 100% of the water is fishable and 4 anglers will all have attractive swims.The banks are grassed, flat and wide and mature trees surround the whole complex, making it a haven for wild animals and birds amongst the surrounding farmland.

The swims are located near each corner of the lake and each of the 4 main swims has a sister swim on its adjacent bank. So every angler can switch banks at any time to take advantage of changing wind and conditions. In the 2 home swims you can enjoy a drink or a meal on the lodge terrace without even having to reel in!

The lake bottom is mainly clay. There are deeper areas at both ends of the lake and a deeper trench running the length of the lake - so there’s plenty of underwater ridges and features to fish to. The depth range is between 4 and 7 feet and although the water level normally drops a foot over the summer months, there is very little silt, so there aren’t any shallow no-go areas.

Stock:  Average size of carp stocked in November 2008 was 20lb 4oz. Average catch in 2009 was 25lb and the catch reports saw plenty of 30s on the bank. The 2009 lake record was 39lb 8oz and the most fish out by single anglers in a week were 37 and 21. Nuisance fish (small carp) were removed in July 2009.{rokcomments}

Website Address: www.lalunelake.co.ukEmail Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Fish Stocked: Carp{rokcomments}

Location:  Pays de la Loire, SartheWebsite Address: http://www.anglinglines.com/docs/ourvenues/lakes/bletiere/index.phpDescription: La Bletiere is a beautiful little venue in the heart of the French countryside, around 2.5 hours from the ferry at Caen, where you can have a well stocked carp lake all to yourself and stay in a high quality gite on the banks of the lake. It’s owned by English couple John & Lesley London who live on site and are always on hand for help and advice. A maximum of 4 anglers can fish the lake but John prefers 3 as that gives you options to move around a little.

Bletiere gets its name from the French word for wheat, ble, because it was once part of a large cereal farm. The 2.5 acre lake sits in 16 acres of woods and fields giving you real seclusion. You reach the property down a long track and it’s totally enclosed by other fields and woods, not over looked at all – the feeling of exclusion & tranquillity is palpable. There’s always been a lake here - it can be found on maps back as far as 1833 – and over the years it’s been extended to its present size and shape Fish Stocked: Carp (mid 20's to 39lb){rokcomments}

Website Address: http://www.heatherlakes.com/Description: Heather Lakes is a French carp venue that offers large good quality gorgeous looking carp and a venue that has a friendly and intimate feel to it. Heather Lakes are located in the Brittany region of France and are less than 1 hour from Roscoff and less than 2 hours from St Malo. We offer carp fishing trips on a week long basis, especially suited for "Drive & Survive" purists

Fish Stocked: Carp, Catfish, Pike, Tench, Roach, Perch{rokcomment

Location: Pays de la Loire, MayenneWebsite: www.etangmaisonverre.comDescription: We discovered this beautiful stream fed three and a half acre lake in August 2004, having previously been stocked with an excellent head of more than 200 fast growing carp and catfish from the Champagne region of France. The lake is very well stocked and holds Cats to over 75 lb and Carp to 43 lb.

Access to the secluded property is via a private road, surrounded by wooded farmland. The tree-lined lake and cottage are in a secluded tranquil setting, the lake has the look and ambience of a typical estate lake. You will have exclusive use of the cottage, lake and grounds, which are very private and situated at the end of a farm track, covering four and a half acres in total.

Fish Stocked: Carp, Catfish{rokcomments}

Location:  Pays de la Loire, MayenneWebsite Address: http://www.merault.co.ukDescription: In the Mayenne Loire Valley, near to Brittany and Normandy. The house is set in 3 acres of landscaped grounds, with a lake of half an acre. The property offers complete tranquillity and seclusion, yet is situated only 2 miles from a town with all amenities

Fish Stocked: Carp{rokcomments}

Location: Pays de la Loire, SartheWebsite Address: www.anglinglines.com/docs/ourvenues/lakes/morganeDescription: Morganes is owned by one of Frances most respected fish farmers, Michel Bigot, so the lake is managed exceptionally well. The stock is constantly monitored and a recent netting of the carp lake showed a superb stock of fish running from 15 to 55lb, with great numbers of big fat commons. The cats range from 40 to 120lb and will provide plenty of exciting and tense moments... and monumental fights!

The lakes are totally private with no public access and the shops are only 2 minutes away.

Fish Stocked: Average mid 20‘s, loads of 30’s and several 40’s. Lake record mirror is 53lb. Catfish lake: Cats 40lb to well over 100lb.

Book through:  http://www.anglinglines.com/docs/ourvenues/lakes/morgane/{rokcomments}

Location: Pays de la Loire, Mayenne

Website: www.anglinglines.com/docs/ourvenues/lakes/genets/index.php

Description:  Genêts is situated in the idyllic, peaceful countryside of the Pays de la Loire region, near Mayenne. Although easy to find with the directions supplied it is set well away from busy main roads - the only neighbours you'll be likely to see are cows grazing in the nearby fields - making this an ideal setting for a quiet week of fishing away from it all.

The Lake: This is a 40 year old man made lake of approximately 5.5 acres, fed by a natural spring, with a silt over clay bottom. The owners have retained its natural look with trees and bushes overhanging the water, giving shade and shelter to both anglers and fish. There are 9 single swims & 1 double for 5 anglers maximum to choose from, so there's plenty of room to move around if you wish. All the swims are on one side of the lake and are well drained with good cover and plenty of space for large bivvies. The bank you fish to is mostly tree and bush lined and there are lily pads at one end of the lake.

Owners Larry, Steve & Heather live on-site so there is always someone available should you need any help or advice. The property is securely fenced in and there is a car parking area. Larry & Steve can help you transport your tackle to your swim if you wish.

Facilities: There is a comfortable lodge overlooking the lake where breakfast and evening meals are served. The food package includes a full cooked English breakfast with cereals, toast and as much tea and coffee as you can drink... or a breakfast baguette delivered to your swim, and a two-course evening meal... main course and sweet. We're told nobody has ever left hungry, so be prepared to put on a bit of weight!!

Breakfast & evening meals are served in the lodge… or, weather permitting, at the seating area overlooking the lake. For those hardy fishermen who don't want to reel in they are more than happy to serve your evening meals at the gazebo situated close to your swims{rokcomments}

Location: Pays de la Loire, Mayenne

Description: Lac Louvetiere is a stunning 5 acre carp lake situated deep in the scenic Mayenne countryside. Owned & managed by former professional footballer Ty Gooden & his wife Michelle.

Beautiful secluded tree lined venue, packed with features. Mature lake, fully established & un-fished for 10yrs prior to purchase.

Over 1 tonne of carp to over 30lb added to original mystery stock. The lake also holds some MYSTERY sized catfish. Price packages to suit all. New intimate 2 acre venue opening later this year

Lake: The picturesque 5 acre lake is full of features.Trees line the whole of the far bank giving anglers fishing anywhere on the other 3 banks plenty of fish holding areas to aim at.There is an island in the middle offering yet another fish holding area within reach of many swims on the venue.The carp tend to patrol the far bank, the island, plus the nearside margins,so wherever you are on the venue, the fish are within casting range. The deeper area near the sluice is also a good target area.The fish that have been caught so far have come from all areas of the lake so there are no favoured swims or sought after as yet

Fish Stocked: Carp{rokcomments}

Location: Pays de la Loire, SartheWebsite Address: www.anglinglines.com/docs/ourvenues/lakes/oldoaksDescription: Old Oaks is a 34 year old virgin gravel pit of around 5 acres, situated just opposite Laroussi, around 3 hours from Caen. It had never been fished before 2006, being left wild and undisturbed since it was dug. A delightfully pretty little water it will comfortably accommodate 5 anglers and will accept single bookings... or you can book it exclusively just for your party.

Fishing is from one bank and is certainly exciting with a host of features including, plateaus, weed beds, gullies and overhanging vegetation that just scream ‘carp’. Vehicle access is possible along all of the fishing bank.

In the past Poisson Chat have been a nuisance in the summer months (mainly June & July) but they were hardly present at all in the 2009 season. Just go prepared in case they do make an appearance

Stock: The Lake does hold a significant number of original fish. These carp are mostly very dark mirrors, averaging around 25lb in weight, as well as a few smaller commons.

Additional fish were added in November 2005. This was followed by more stockings in early 2006. Each time only top quality fish were introduced - all handpicked by Mehdi. As the catch reports show the stock levels are very good - there's certainly no shortage of fish.

Take a look at the catch returns and you’ll see that Old Oaks delivers a lot of 30’s... and we know of at least 4 different forties; a 43lb mirror , 40lb 6oz mirror , 42lb mirror and an immaculate 41lb common.

Plastic corn above a bed of hemp and partiblend has proved to be a very effective method and a baitboat gives you a great advantage.

Fish Stocked: Carp{rokcomments}

Location: Situated in a beautiful part of Normandy, only 2½ hours from Le Havre and 1½ hours from Caen.

Website: www.lelacstmichel.com

Description: Carp breeding fish farm never seriously fished. Acquired November 2002; now taking bookings for 2007. Very heavily stocked with first class Mirror, Common and Grass carp up to and including 40 pounds in weight. Owned and run by an English couple with lifelong fishing experience

Excellent accommodation if required - half board, full board or self catering. No more than two rods per angler. A third rod may be used at the discretion of the owner at a fixed charge in relation to the number of anglers that week. No rods to be left unattended at any time.

Fish Stocked: Carp{rokcomments}

Website Address: www.etangsdebreton.co.uk

Location: Of five lovely carp and catfish lakes on a very private estate in north-west France. Collectively known as Etangs De Breton-

Description: The lakes contain an excellent head of both common, leather and mirror carp. These include carp to well over 40lb, with many 20lb and 30lb specimens. The lakes contain Wels’ catfish to 120lbs plus. The catfish are very powerful and will put up a fight which is second-to-none, so please bring your heavy tackle if you are targeting these. The aim is to provide interesting big carp and cat fishing on five beautiful small lakes set in very private tranquil surroundings.

The Lakes: Poplars Lake and Birch Lake are both now well-established with UK anglers, many of whom return to the lakes year after year. Both Poplars and Birch can be booked exclusively for up to three anglers with non-fishing guests going free. Two of the lakes - Eagle Lake and Peter's Pool - are now only available exclusively to single parties of up to four anglers who have both lakes to fish! Orchard Lake is absolutely georgeous and has it's own private lakeside chalet accommodation suitable for two carp anglers, a fishing couple or the small family.All the lakes are classic English-style estate lakes, and are all stream-fed and rich in natural food. Although all the lakes are close together you cannot see one lake from the other. This is an excellent feature. Once you set-up, you and your party has total privacy, and you are free to come and go as you please. The five lakes lie in tranquil and very private woodland surroundings set in rolling French countryside. The estate is entirely enclosed by fencing and secure gates, and the acres of woods and mature trees which surround the lakes provide complete seclusion and quiet.The property lies off a quiet back road; there is no noise other than the resident wildlife, which includes red squirrels, kingfishers, ducks, deer and birds of prey.

Although off the beaten track, you are less than five minutes drive from the nearest village, with its traditional French shops, supermarkets and bars. The nearby village also boasts a clean inland beach for swimming and sunbathing. There are lots of things to do and see in the area, and the Brittany coast is just over an hours drive away.The major city of Laval and the historic medieval town of Vitre are just fifteen minutes away. Laval is noted for its large hypermarkets and shopping facilities. It also has one of the best carp tackle shops in north-west France! Enjoy this site and contact me via email for more information if required!

Facilities: Boats - All lakes are equipped with a small boat for each parties exclusive use (1 boat for Eagle Lake & Peter's Pool) Although boats are not really necessary as you can walk around to bait-up each swim, you can use the boat for baiting up or for rowing the rigs out if you wish.Bait boats are welcome at Etangs De Breton. Chargers can be plugged into the mains in the mobile homes(s)

Unhooking Mats - Each swim will be equipped with a large unhooking mat which should be used. This also saves space as it will not be necessary to take your own

Toilets - There is an English flush toilet on each site.

Shower - washing facilities - Each lake has its own shower. The shower at Birch is in the outbuilding whilst on Poplars it is in the mobile home. On Eagle & Peter's this in the chalet.

Drinking Water/Water - Although there is running water on site, we do not recommend you drink it. Please bring your own drinking water. Drinking water can also be purchased locally from all supermarkets in 5 litre containers for under a Euro (64p).

Storage Space/Fridge - Each lake has a fridge freezer/bait freezer. Barbecue Equipment  Each lake has its own barbecue and furniture. Car Park - All cars must be parked in the designated car parks.

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.{rokcomments}

Location: Pays de la Loire, Mayenne

Website: http://www.anglinglines.com/docs/ourvenues/lakes/margot/Description: Margot has definitely become established as one of the premiere big fish waters in France - its combination of rural tranquillity and truly awesome stock of very large carp make it a very popular destination for specimen anglers. Situated in a rural and agricultural landscape, Margot is around 12 acres in size and within 2.5 hours drive from the port of Caen. It is possible to book the lake exclusively

Lake: 12 acres in size, Margot has 8 pegs for a maximum of 8 anglers It’s a relatively shallow lake ( 2 to 8 feet ) with a clay/fine silt bottom. The maximum distance you probably need to cast is just under 100 yards but most fish get caught within 30 yards of the bank. There are three boats on site which are available for your use.

Stock: Margot is owned by one of France’s most respected fish farmers, Michel Bigot... so as you can imagine the carp stocks are awesome. Put quite simply he has readily available what most lakes just cannot get their hands on – an almost limitless supply of big carp.

The current stock is over 400 carp up to 66lb. At least 100 fish are over the 30lb barrier and around 30 over 40lb. The current record is an awesome common carp that weighs in at 66lb. The Koi carp go to 36lb and the grass carp to 45lb+. The current sturgeon record is 67lb.

Because he is a fish farmer Michel regularly adds new stock and he did just this on the 24th of February 2009.

In total 70 large carp to 49lb and four Koi were introduced to this prolific venue. The vast majority of the carp were in the high 20’s to low 30’s with the jewel in the crown being a magnificent 49lb common, what a superb fish!! So now there are two very large commons in this famous lake including the lake record of 66lb. Quite a target to go for!

Facilities: There is cabin on the bankside for the use of anglers which includes eating area, full kitchen facilities, English style toilet & shower.  There are also BBQ facilities outside.  Mini markets are within 2 minutes of the lake and hypermarkets 10 minutes away{rokcomments}

Website Address: www.anglinglines.com/docs/ourvenues/lakes/laroussi/index.php

Description: In 2005 Laroussi burst onto the big fish scene with a bang...the catches were simply stunning. For example, over seven days in April 2005 six different 50lb+ fish were caught - exceptional fishing which made headlines in most of the Carp Press. Well 2006, 2007 & 2008 was no different and the fantastic catch reports kept rolling in.

The lake is a 34 year old virgin gravel pit set in the heart of the beautiful Pays de la Loire countryside. It lies close to Le Mans, famous for the legendary 24 hour motor racing circuit, and is within 3 hour’s drive from the ferry at Caen.

Lake: Laroussi is a mature, natural looking lake of around 15 acres with many interesting features including plateaus, overhanging trees, lily pads, shallows and gullies up to 5m deep. The average depth is around 3m, with a gravel, sand and clay bottom and there are no crayfish or poisson-chats present. There are 7 swims (some doubles) for a maximum of 8 anglers - giving each one over one acre of lake to themselves! It is possible to book the lake exclusively. All the swims are easily accessible and comfortable. The lake is fenced and tree lined making it totally private - it has been left as natural as possible giving a real feel of seclusion.

Stock: Laroussi was not open to the public in the first 33 years it existed, giving the original stock fish plenty of time to mature - it now offers exceptional big carp fishing. Most of the carp are between 30lb and 40lb, with more than 30 different forties, 13 different fifties, 3 sixties of 61lb, 64lb, 65lb and a huge 75lb 2oz, the current lake record.{rokcomments}

Location: Situated in the Mayenne region, near Laval, in the lush agricultural countryside of rural north western France, it is about 2.5 hours from the ferry port of Caen

Website: http://www.bigotlakes.co.uk/commons

Description:  He’s replicated Morganes as closely as possible – a lake you book exclusively for up to 6 anglers, complete with mobile home accommodation and stuffed full of large, pristine carp. Morganes is virtually booked out 12 months in advance so we had no reason to suspect that Commons would not be the same... and so it’s proved.

Lake: Around 3 acres in size the lake is roughly square in shape. Overall depth is fairly shallow with an average of 1.5m to the left, shallowing up to around 1m on the right hand side. The lake bed while silty is fairly firm and clear. There are no snags or weed beds, but the far and right hand margins have over hanging trees that act as good holding areas for the carp. Access is possible to the mobile home by car and on foot all around the venue. The right hand side is flanked by fields and fishing is not possible from this bank.

Stock: Like its sister lakes, Morganes & Margot, Commons Lake is owned by one of France’s largest fish farmers, Michel Bigot, so the fish stocks are excellent. As its names suggests, the stock consist of 80% common carp and these include several 40lb+ specimens – a relative rarity in most lakes. The majority of the carp are twenties and thirties and there are a number of 40lb+ mirrors too. Catches of 60+ fish in the week are common... and 100+ not unknown!

Other species include around 15 catfish to nearly 60lb, several of which are the rare Mandarin variety. There’s also a large diamond backed sturgeon of around 55lb. In total the stock numbers over 120 fish, ensuring excellent action as well as the possibility of banking a few superb specimens.

Facilities:  When you book this lake you get full use of the mobile home which sits right at the water’s edge. It has a fully fitted kitchen (with fridge freezer, cooker and oven), shower and toilet with hot water. There’s one double bedroom and one bedroom suitable for children with two bunk style beds. The living room sofas also double as single beds for two people. The living area has both UK and French wall sockets installed. This is basic accommodation – if you take partners and they’re looking for a bit of luxury they would be disappointed – but as a shelter and cooking station for anglers it’s perfect!

Outside the mobile home is decking and a shelter with garden furniture that provides a perfect social areas while fishing the near bank.{rokcomments}

Location: Pays de la Loire, SartheWebsite: www.loirefishing.comDescription: Le Poire's lake was stocked with over 250lbs of carp in 2004, to add to the already impressive stock. No fishing permit is required to fish at Le Poire, but you will need one if you wish to fish off site. With almost 2 acres to fish, you won't have any trouble finding a peg on Le Poire Blanc's spring fed private lake.Fish Stocked: Carp{rokcomments}

Website Address: www.holiday-in-france-2005.comEmail Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Fish Stocked: Carp, Pike, Roach, Perch{rokcomments}