Tips & Advice

In a sport awash with variables and choice, it’s perhaps the use of bait that gives most anglers cause to stop and think. As your hand wavers over your throwing stick or dithers next to your catapult the fundamental question remains – am I putting out too much, or too little? Carp, of course, can’t […]

There’s a lot of talk about the Shot on the hook rig. Is it new? Far from it. It’s been almost a quarter of a century since its inception. Conceived by the fertile minds of Frank Warwick and Jon ‘Shoes’ Jones on the banks of Birch Grove, it was designed to fish a pop-up or […]

Carp fishing with worms. Are they any good? In a word, yes. Carp find worms irresistible, and their use can be absolutely devastating. Worms have a distinctive aroma and ooze natural attractors and amino acids that man-made baits simply cannot compete with. While they might not smell sweet and delicious like your favourite pop-ups, carp […]

One of the most popular questions we get asked from anglers when booking a carp fishing holiday to France, is whether a food package is available. There are a number of reasons to opt for a food package such as, more time fishing, the reassurance of having good quality food (not your mate’s dodgy cooking) […]

For anglers looking for carp lakes in France near Calais, you are really spoiled for choice. Here are some of our favourite carp lakes in under 4 hours drive from Calais: Carp Fishing in France Near Calais Lac Baleine – 218 miles from Calais Three Islands Lake – 123 miles from Calais Cheshire Lake – […]

Getting good photos of your capture whether in the UK or carp fishing in France gives you something to look back on, provides material to show your mates and other anglers, and helps bring those memories flooding back. Of course, taking great carp photos are also essential to providing content in these days of social […]

One of the greatest aspects of carp fishing is its variety. Whether that’s in the strains and characteristics of the fish themselves, the environments in which we find them or the baits we use to catch them, carp fishing takes many forms and carp fishing with natural baits should not be overlooked. You should not […]

Carp fishing in weed – Anglers raised on the near-sterile environments of many modern commercial fisheries can get flustered when it comes to carp fishing weedy lakes, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Carp thrive in weedy lakes, weed is full of natural food for carp to eat and in the day time […]

We all want to catch fish that are in prime condition. Whilst out of their natural environment, the precious carp we catch are vulnerable, and it’s our duty to handle carp safely on the bank and ensure they are not harmed. Their time on the bank not only permits us to capture the moment but […]

Little compares to the excitement of stalking carp under the rod tip. Finding fish in the edge, watching them feed and then being in a position to observe what happens when they pick up your hookbait is likely to give any angler an adrenaline rush far greater than when sat behind a battery of rods. […]

Carp absolutely love silt, it is rich in natural food sources for the carp such as blood worms and other micro organisms. But which are the best rigs for fishing in silt? Why can it be better to fish for carp over silt than gravel? Whilst many anglers search out the lake-bed for harder spots […]

The opportunity for a week’s carp fishing in France either fishing solo, or with friends is a special event. Whilst the size of the lake is a personal choice, whether you are fishing alone or with a small group of friends the lake size can become an important factor, due to how carp react to […]

Spring carp fishing can be as easy as our hobby gets. It can also be seriously frustrating, but if you get it right then you can have some of the best sport of the year. With lengthening days and new growth all around us, the carp are also becoming much more active at this time […]

Do PVA bags help you catch more carp? When used in the correct way and in the right situations PVA bags will result in catching more carp. PVA bags are highly effective for ensuring a great presentation and having free offerings around your hookbait. You can be fairly confident that you will have a good […]

April is one of the best months of the year for carp fishing Carp fishing in April has got to be one of the best there is. Pretty much every carp in the land is awake and feeding by the end of March so you’re not fishing for torpid fish that are laid up in […]

If you don’t fancy the long drive and ferry crossing or taking Euro tunnel, then all inclusive carp fishing holidays in France are a fantastic option. All inclusive lakes generally offer bait, tackle hire, food packages as well as airport pick up and drop off.  Many of the lakes have swimming pools making them ideal […]

Brittany is a beautiful region and home to to some of the best carp lakes in France. Carp lakes in Brittany are easily accessable from the ferry ports of Caen, Le Havre and St Malo. Take an overnight ferry from Portsmouth on Friday evening and arrive at the lake before midday to truly make the […]

Your rods are cast out, carp are topping over your spots, you’re surrounded by stunning French countryside and your accommodation is just metres from the lake. Surely this is the perfect fishing holiday? We list over 25 of the very best private fishing lakes in France with accommodation, swimming pools and even hot tubs, all […]

In the UK, the otter population has exploded since the 1960 and 70s, when otters were close to extinction. Whilst most people would agree it is joyful to see otters thriving again in their natural habitat in the UK, if you are a carp angler or fishery owner, the sight of an otter may send […]

How To Tie The KD Rig and When To Use It Most bottom bait rigs utilise the principle of the hook turning and flipping to catch hold in a carp’s mouth and the palm test is our measure of how well a carefully tied presentation achieves this. There are, however, a few rigs that work […]

Crayfish pose an escalating challenge in carp angling. Once they get into a lake, given their rapid reproduction, if you do not use certain tactics including crayfish resistant terminal tackle, they can make fishing incredibly challenging. If you are fishing a crayfish infested lake, your choices related to tackle, rigs, swim selection, and bait strategy […]

Winter carp fishing offers a unique experience and a chance to enjoy some quiet time on the bank. With the right approach and preparations, you can make the most of this serene season. Winter Carp Fishing – Preparation Choose Your Venue Wisely Picking the right fishing location is crucial during winter carp fishing. Large, exposed […]

I fancy trying the Multi Rig. What do I need to know? The multi rig is favoured by a number a well known ‘big fish’ anglers both in the UK and by anglers fishing European carp lakes. Oz Holness the former British carp record holder with Two Tone which he caught at a massive 67lbs […]

Carp love hiding in snags just as much as anglers fear having to deal with these underwater obstacles. To the inexperienced carper, early encounters snag fishing for carp will usually result in lost fish and broken dreams. However, it is possible to fish safely and responsibly around these hazards with right approach and the right […]

Fishing a carp lake that you have never previously fished before can be daunting. Whether it’s a new club water, syndicate lake, commercial venue or a French carp lake, the same principles apply. This article sets out key actions you should take when approaching a new carp water to maximise your chances of success. Visit […]

You’re chances of catching a carp, whether fishing a water in the UK or a carp lake in France, are massively increased if you use a rig that is able to effectively present a bait in the situation you are fishing. We’ve put together 5 carp rigs that will cover the vast majority of fishing […]

We live in a country where the inhabitants of just about every stillwater are known and charted, so river carp fishing represents the last frontier of the unknown. They present many challenges to carp anglers, but the rewards include catching fish that may very well have never seen a hook before. In recent years river […]

Catching bigger and bigger fish is one of the main motivators for any carp angler and trying to improve one’s personal best is an ongoing quest. You could just trust your luck, however, if catching big carp is what motivates you, then going about it specifically gives you a better chance of success. How to […]

Feature finding is a very important part of carp fishing. However, to maximise the impact it will have on your fishing you need to know: what features to look that are likely carp feeding spots how to locate and identify above water and underwater features when is the right time locate underwater features what are […]

Zig Rigs. Loved and loathed in equal measure, this rig is much more than just that. It’s a complete method, a whole way of fishing and an incredibly effective one too. Most carp angling involves fishing either on or very near the lake bed. Whether it’s bottom baits, wafters or pop-ups we are presenting our […]

Carp, like most animals, are in-tune with the weather to a level that we humans probably cannot fully comprehend. These cold-blooded creatures are pushed and pulled by the atmospheric conditions, so it should come as no surprises that some weathers are better for fishing than others. The old saying ‘when the wind is in the […]

Fishing public carp lakes in France, or in any foreign country for that mater might sound like a daunting prospect, but the fundamentals are surprisingly simple and you may end up catching a fish you can guarantee your mates won’t have in their album. Here’s the good news: France is a large country with plenty […]

The Spinner Rig, or Ronnie Rig has definitely been the breakthrough set-up of the last couple of years, and its popularity stems from a number of aspects of its design. In 2022 it was widely acknowledged to responsible for catching more carp than any other current rig due to it amazing hooking and anti tangle […]

Carp Bait Selection What are we talking about when it comes to bait selection? Well, this could be anything from what type of bait and how much we take with us on a session to what we choose to use on one particular spot and anything in between. It’s all too easy to go on […]

The chod rig gained popularity a few years ago, thanks to the efforts of Terry Hearn and Jim Shelley. Initially, there were mixed reviews about the rig, as some anglers believed that using a chod rig was an easy way out for those who lacked the skills to present a rig in challenging fishing situations. […]

What’s the difference between watercraft and advanced watercraft? To some anglers watercraft is not part of the equation. They’re happy just enjoying the outdoors and the escape from everyday life that carp fishing provides. To a great many though, watercraft does form part of their thinking and simply means one thing – location. There can’t […]

I’ve heard people talk about fishing on the “spot within a spot” but I’ve got no idea what they mean. Well, you’re not alone. It’s completely understandable because the phrase is one that’s only come into usage fairly recently. It’s also one that is a little esoteric and interpreted differently by different people. In addition, […]

We’re off to France soon. What baiting strategy should we employ? Hold on! It’s never going to be as simple as that. There is no “one size fits all” policy as far as baiting strategies for a French holiday lake goes. There are lots of elements to take into account and things such as venue, […]

Long gone are the days of par boiled new potato’s side hooked and flung out into the lake in the hope a passing carp might show interest. Nowadays, one of the most effective and established baits in carp fishing is the boilie. With thousands of tonnes produced every year in the UK alone. It’s safe […]

There is no single best way to bait a swim. If you look any successful carp angler, the key to mximising your chances is to be adaptable. This means that you are likley to need to change your approach and tactics depending venue, stock, conditions and a whole lot of other factors that all go […]

Whilst carp location is the number one factor for any succesful angler, being able to present a bait on an effective rig is a very close second. Whether your fishing is on a club water in the UK targeting 30lbers, or you are setting off with the lads to an exclusive lake in France in […]

We know carp fishing with boilies or particles work, but which is best? There is no such thing as a best approach to baiting as there is always more than one way to skin a cat. Both a boilie only and particle approach are exceptionally effective in the right circumstances and it’s down to the […]

A bait hard on the bottom, right where your targets are naturally feeding, can be unbeatable. But what is the best rig to use to present a bottom bait? Although we tend to see carp fishing as angler against nature, on busy commercial waters it’s more often a case of angler versus angler, with each […]

If you’d have asked a carp angler 10 or 15 years ago to pick a destination for a fishing holiday, staying within the British Isles would have been seen as a very odd choice. France has long been the holiday hotspot of choice for travelling carpers, followed by an ever-growing list of European destinations and […]

In carp fishing, going against the grain and doing something different can produce unexpectedly good results, so one angler’s mistake is another angler’s master plan – but there are certainly some key fundamentals worth heeding on popular day-ticket waters or holiday lakes. Don’t opt for the most convenient swim – location is key There are […]

Standing on the bank gazing at the water can feel restrictive and limiting when you’ve tasted the freedom of gliding across the surface in a vessel, but using a rowing boat productively isn’t quite as straightforward as it might seem. Compared with bankside observation, being directly above the fish in a boat is obviously a […]

How to tie a helicopter rig? Helicopter rigs are relatively simple to construct and ideal for when fishing over bottom debris. With few components you’re unlikely to need to go and buy loads of bits and pieces. Essentials though are size 8 ring swivels, buffer beads and some form of stop or bead to fit […]

Braided lines have certain advantages over mono but the reverse is also true and they might not be the answer to your particular circumstances. Mono is probably better as an all round option but braid is far superior under certain circumstances. Okay. When is braid better? Braid can prove advantageous in heavy weed as it […]

We should all learn to love the D. It’s a simple but highly effective rig that lends itself to a number of applications. The classic D rig is tied with a stiff material, normally fluorocarbon, but sometimes monofilament, and is so called because of the D-shaped loop on which the bait sits. It’s a very […]

Fishing at distance is one area in which angling can legitimately claim to be a sport in the athletic sense of the word. Executing a series of accurate long chucks takes dexterity, power, timing and endurance. In short, it’s definitely an acquired skill, but the rewards can be huge. What is long range carp fishing? […]

I’ve turned up at the lake so where should I start? The simple answer is wherever you see fish. Carp location can be unfathomable at times and trying to guess their movements is always second best to actually witnessing them. Sometimes they are where we expect them to be however, just as often, they are […]

Stalking carp at close quarters is my favourite style of fishing. There is nothing more exciting than watching carp feeding feet or sometimes inches from the bank and waiting for the rod to wrench round. As much as I do enjoy sitting behind three rods waiting for a screaming bite alarm, turning up to a […]

The sharpest-possible hook is the best hook for catching more carp, right? In theory, maybe, but hook sharpening doesn’t come without drawbacks so, like many things in angling, it’s a trade off between the advantages and disadvantages. To set the scene it’s fair to say that modern hooks are pretty damn sharp straight from the […]

Spring is arguably the most exciting time of the fishing year, with freshly active carp and months of possibilities stretching out ahead of you. Sadly, although they may be more visible than at any point over the previous three or four months, the carp can be at their most frustrating at this time of year. […]

If it is your first time fishing in France then it can be little daunting with so many options to choose from. We’ve put together a guide to help you navigate some of the pitfalls and help you select venues that best suits your requirements. Right, we fancy fishing in France… Where do we start? […]

We’ve turned up at the lake so where should we start? The simple answer is wherever you see fish. Carp can be unfathomable at times and trying to guess their movements is always second best to actually witnessing them. Sometimes they are where we expect them to be however, just as often, they are somewhere […]

What’s the history of the Stiff Hinged Rig? There can be no denying the long-term success that many anglers have achieved whilst utilising the Stiff Hinged Rig. Lewis Read and Terry Hearn developed the rig from a less refined version that was being used on the Yateley lakes and it has never lost its popularity […]

Carp lakes in Northern France are easily accessable from the UK and hold some huge carp. The Euro Tunnel from Folkestone to Calais takes only 35 minutes and the ferry from Dover to Calais will get you there in  1 hour 30 minutes. Other ferry routes include Dover to Dunkirk which takes 2 hours or […]

Limoges in south west France is a haven for anglers looking to catch big French carp and there’s plenty of lakes to choose from. We’ve put together a selection of some of the best carp lakes in Limoges with lots of useful information to help you find your next carp fishing holiday. Lake Heritage – […]

Perhaps not quite as well known as the Ronnie Rig, the 360 rig is nevertheless an extremely effective carp-catching tool. It has similar properties to the Ronnie in that it can rotate freely, though it is arguably slightly more agile, hence its name. Learning how to tie the 360 rig requires a little bit of […]

The Knotless Knot is the cornerstone of most carp rigs and is essential for just about any Hair rig. If you are new to the sport, it may look a little complex and have a contradictory name, but tying the Knotless Knot is very simple. Its usefulness lies in the way it traps the hook […]

Successful winter carp fishing is all about preparation, and quite a lot of it is mental. Even those more spontaneous break-in-the-weather trips are made better and more rewarding with some degree of planning. Chose your venues carefully In fact, breaking down your winter campaign into routine and spur-of-the-moment categories is probably a good place to […]

A little bit like Zig Rigging, it can be hard to get your head around the concept of fishing with single hookbaits. But catch a fish on this method – particularly when everyone else is struggling – and your confidence should soar. The main psychological barrier to overcome is the nagging feeling that the carp […]

The Ronnie rig has been pivotal in the capture of some of the biggest carp in the UK. It is also used widely by anglers on French carp lakes and across Europe with tremendous success. Its immense hooking properties and ability to reset itself has made it a rig that so many top carp anglers […]

Angling pressure has a big effect on carp behaviour, so it’s important to approach pressured carp waters with that in mind. Carp that are regularly targeted can wise up to rigs, shy away from certain spots and feed only when they feel completely comfortable, but it’s not all bad news for the angler. These same […]

One of the simplest rigs in carp fishing is also one of the most effective. Fans of this presentation love the way the German Rig ‘reacts’ quickly to being picked up by a fish, leading to rock-solid hookholds and fewer missed opportunities. In this country, this setup was nicknamed the German Rig by Avid’s Mat […]

After the heat, exertion and the crowded banks of summer, autumn can descend like a soothing balm for the frazzled carp angler. Crisper mornings, dewy evenings and rapidly fading light signal the start of autumn carp fishing, which can be the best season of all for catching carp. The fish are often feeding heavily as […]

Carp are built to feed in silt – sticking their snouts deep into the sediment and sifting out any juicy bits of food – so it’s no surprise that these areas can often be the best places to present bait. Before you begin carp fishing over silt and searching out areas, it’s worth understanding what […]

Each season of the year throws up its challenges and incentives for catching carp. When carp fishing in the summer, the fish are certainly more active and are easy to spot, but that doesn’t always mean they are the easiest to catch. Being cold-blooded, the carp’s body temperature is regulated by the warmth of the […]

Just like their British counterparts, carp in France come in many shapes and sizes and are found in varied venues and circumstances, so there’s not a one-size-fits-all tactic to catching them. However, there are certain foundations on which you can build your French adventure. Applying these foundations to your tactics for fishing in France will […]

Surface fishing for carp is one of the most thrilling ways to fish, but it can take a fair amount of patience and cunning. Polarising sunglasses are essential for spotting fish Unlike most other aspects of carp fishing, location should be the easiest part of the jigsaw. If carp are in the upper layers of […]

Carp Fishing in France Checklist Preparation is crucial to all forms of angling, and a carp fishing holiday to France is no exception, ensure you have a checklist of essential kit. Making sure you’ve got everything you need is vitally important, as once you’re over there it becomes much harder to rectify your mistakes or […]

It’s a term that gets bandied around a lot in modern carp angling, but if you’re new to the sport or are returning after a break then zig rig fishing for carp might sound an alien concept. In essence, it’s the art of suspending a hookbait somewhere between the lakebed and the surface, normally between […]

Arguably the most underrated tactic available to carp anglers, stalking fish from close in is as exhilarating as it comes. Watching a carp pick up your bait is a rare sight in modern angling, but the chance to observe our quarry’s behaviour before, during and after a bite can be worth a thousand ‘blind’ captures […]

On the face of it, a low-stocked big pit is carp fishing’s ultimate challenge – but it needn’t be so daunting. In terms of hooking them, carp in tiny pressured pools are probably harder to catch than their free-range open-water cousins. The biggest problem is finding them in the first place. Locating carp in low […]

Part of the lure of carp angling is its unpredictability, but it’s certainly not a simple game of luck. Rigs and bait are undeniably important, but location is perhaps the key difference between catching and blanking. The concept of watercraft can be hard to pin down – though some anglers definitely have an innate ‘feel’ […]

The hinged stiff rig was popularised by the likes of Terry Herne in the 1990s and is now often the rig of choice for many UK and European Anglers. It is has superb hooking qualities is one of the best rigs for fishing a pop up over a softer bottom or slight wee. The rig […]

The blowback rig has been extremely successful for a number of years and uses a hair that is attached to a micro rig ring that is able to freely move up an down the shank of the hook. The free movement of the hair up and down the hook increases the rigs hooking potential. When […]

Choosing the right carp lake in France is critical to having a successful fishing trip and most importantly enjoying your time on the bankside. With many of us booking a trip to France, months or even years in advance, the anticipation, build up, sheer effort and preparation is huge. There’s the question of how much […]

Angler: Andrew Patterson Sponsors: Dream Carp Holidays UK PB: 37lb 6oz Mirror Introduction I was lucky enough to grow up in Ruislip which is only a 15 minute drive away from some of the most historic carp lakes in country such as Savay, Harefield and Farlows to name a few. I had been keen angler […]

Carp fishing is not the cheapest past time. It seem like you can rarely come out from the local tackle shop these days without having spent less than 50 quid on bait and a few bits of terminal tackle. That said, if you want to have a go carp fishing you can buy a good […]

Stalking carp at close quarters is my favourite style of fishing. There is nothing more exciting than watching carp feeding feet or sometimes inches from the bank and waiting for the rod to wrench round. As much as I do enjoy sitting behind three rods waiting for a screaming bite alarm, turning up to a […]