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In reply to Post #35
Lessons - think outside the box I fished a rod in a rarely fished area with 2 grains of maize boom had a 70
Don’t follow the herd
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Biggest mistake is thinking that French lakes are easy-ish. Some are but most are not these days. Do your research.
Take plenty of bait but use wisely and slowly at first.
Baitboats generally work against you - if you use them to drop a big pile of bait in one spot.
Remember that you are fishing for big fish so up the hooklink BS and its length.
As someone said below, you are on holiday, so enjoy.
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Mistakes: None in over 25 years of travelling to France for fishing holidays.
Lessons: Abide by the law!
That is all. 
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Never have I been pulled over for speeding between the tolls,they are all automatic as far as I know
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In reply to Post #30
I can't disprove you but I can tell you what happened. We were a party of 2, a van and a car, the van got pulled. I can't say if there was a Gendarme at the entry or exit but what I can say is that when my friend protested the Gendarme asked to see his toll tickets as they are date and time stamped, he didn't protest anymore (perhaps he should have done...lol). I have been suspicious ever since and won't risk it.
Edit A quick search of Google agrees with both of us...lol...I'm still suspicious.
Contrary to a sometimes-heard myth, toll tickets machines are not used to compute a car’s average speed between two points. However we have been told that sometimes French police check your toll ticket as you’re leaving a toll road and from this they will be able to calculate your speed over a long distance.
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In reply to Post #30
when i went to les man the french coppers encouraged us to pull wheelies when leaving the tolls  
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In reply to Post #27
If you do speed bare in mind a lot of tolls are average speed checked and a lot of them have Gendarmaries (sp) and you'll be pulled over there and then. Don't pull off at tolls without 1st putting your seatbelt on if you've taken it off.
Sorry - that's not true.
I've been going for over 30 years now I've never had it happen or seen it happen. I work at a motorsports venue 2 or 3 times a year and none of the clients have ever seen or heard of it (plenty been had by radar guns and some lost their cars though)
They will wait just before the entry and exit to the peage with speed guns which may be why people think its done on average speed.
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In reply to Post #28
As a veteran of many French trips, advise from Vossy below top notch, the Police are very hot on speeding,
I would add, an exclusive is by far the best way, you can work as team (if you are all mates)
I would also add, dont expect fish to jump in your net, it can be tricky just like the UK, work it out and enjoy
Remember, you are also on holiday!
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In reply to Post #27
Totally agree
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No real mistakes but like a lot on the forum I've been going for near 3 decades and you do learn some things.
Speed cameras, that last layby on the Nord Pas de Calais on the way to Calais, odd how at weekends they're nearly always in there...waiting! If you do get caught there they'll escort you off the motorway and if you don't have the money to pay the fine they'll take your keys and tell you to find a bank (Mrs Mistake)
If you do speed bare in mind a lot of tolls are average speed checked and a lot of them have Gendarmaries (sp) and you'll be pulled over there and then. Don't pull off at tolls without 1st putting your seatbelt on if you've taken it off.
Living in Manc I always used to have to go after work on a Friday, that always meant driving through the night. Now that does wipe you out for the 1st night but I prefer driving in the night around France, especially around Paris, the roads are usually dead although there are sometimes road works. A couple of years ago we did go which meant Paris at around 9am...never again, outer or inner periphique regardless!
Check your sat nav/phone settings carefully before going and as always don't always trust it, never set it on shortest route. If you do get lost pull over and check your settings unless you want a repeat (been there).
Do your own thing at the lake unless it's a highly pressurised venue. Too many anglers from the U.K approach French waters like English ones, a lot of the time it's not needed and may be a hinderence. If it's a standard dammed silty lake put out a good bed of bait and be prepared to wait, certainly on 1 rod, it may take them a day or 2, 3 max but they'll find it while you play with locals on the others.
Take some time out during your week. I used to be fanatical about being on the lake 24/7/7, but as I've got older I've realised how much I haven't seen where I've been. It's easy to burn out and that can make the whole experience a unhappy one.
Be prepared for a blank, it happens in spite of your best efforts. It's only happened to me twice and both times on a lake I'd fished multiple times and knew like the back of my hand. Also if it's a drive and survive venue be prepared for the previous party to have ruined your trip by their actions, sad but it happens.
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In reply to Post #25
That's a top tip about the speed cameras, they're everywhere!
Fortunately the fine's only about £40 and no points on your licence but still not the welcome home you want when you get back to the UK
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In reply to Post #1
Don't eat on the ferry, really not pleasant.
Watch for mobile speed cameras, they are just as sneaky as UK plod
Buy your grub and beer out there, it's better and cheaper
Don't assume it's much different to UK angling, it's really not on your average water (obvs some exceptions)
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In reply to Post #23
and try to explain to everyone how you make your munga!!
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In reply to Post #21
Mike got to be realtree 🤣
Talk really loud about how you are going to smash it too
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In reply to Post #21
That’s so true!
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Venues (Foreign)