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Commons Lake
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.