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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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In reply to Post #20
Wear your best camo on the boat.
Walk round like you own the boat
But seriously, treat it as a holiday
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In reply to Post #12
This! Best tip ever...
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Definitely lake exclusive booking, with friends or others with a similar mindset to yourself.
Piling the bait in isn't a guarantee for success, start off fishing for a bite
Don't forget your ehic/ghic card.
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In reply to Post #1
Lake exclusives only
Take More bait than you think you ever need
More clothes than you need
Extra nets
And buy more beer than you think you need
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In reply to Post #11
Ahh les rivets, been there 2 times before bad luck hit them.
But i guess it's still the same idea now, relatively shallow at the house end, deeper at the dam end. But what i most remember from the place is an extremely friendly bailiff who almost outcaught me on my bait  and very friendly owners, adrian and his lovely missus. And i think any questions about the lake will be promptly answered by them.
Fishing wise i did well in the middle in what i guess must have been the bed of the stream before being dammed, and the bailiff did well on certain spots near the bank opposite to the house.
Very nice place, might be going again myself.
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In reply to Post #14
All good here in Sandbach
I'm over it now, just a bit of fatigue.
My sense of taste and smell is back. (I bit into a lemon 🍋, nothing. I sniffed some petrol ⛽ out of the lawn mower nothing but all back thanks to ❓
My good lady is through the worst too.
Cheers Mike
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In reply to Post #13
re passports or anything of value...
Dont leave them on show if you stop at a services.
My mate had passport, cash, driving licence, bank cards stolen from his van whilst they were at the back of their van having a sandwich
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In reply to Post #13
Good advice Mike, hope you are keeping well m8!
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In reply to Post #12
Don't drive through the night.
Catch an earlier boat 🛥 or cho cho 🚉 train.
Hotels are not that expensive (don't use an F1)
You can have a good night's sleep and get to the lake wide eye'd and bushy tailed.
It's a holiday not an endurance.
Tight lines
Ps
Keep your passport 🛂 in the front not buried underneath a mountain of tackle ❗
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In reply to Post #1
I would never go back to a pay lake and enjoy the public venues. There you have more freedom to pick a swim, pack up and follow the fish.
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Thanks for all the tips. We've booked Les Rivets for 2 weeks. Lake exclusive and there will be 4 of us on it. Struggling to find any information on the lake that's relevant as it was fully drained and dug to remove snags and silt in 2018 so all information ore then wouldn't apply. Anyone fished it recently?
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In reply to Post #1
Going in the first place as it's totally addictive. I first went fishing in France over 30 years ago and have now moved over here. I wouldn't have it any other way but be warned it can be a costly experience! Whatever you do, enjoy and take in the French way of life.
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I think the biggest mistake that people make is the mind set of I am going to France this is going to be easy. As other have said book a lake with a few like minded friend relax and enjoy.
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In reply to Post #5
Agree to whole lake bookings. The only way to go
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In reply to Post #5
Same lesson here. As I don't fish with many mates (bit of a loner with my fishing) I look at smaller lake exclusive options and usually suitable for a family (got family trip to Golden Oaks next year) so choosing the right venue for you/your party is essential. At the end of the day you are carp fishing so unless it is extreme venues so same gear as your UK fishing and no need to take the kitchen sink. In terms of tackle make sure you have plenty of hooks and leads, and always take a bit more bait than is needed as you can always take it home
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In reply to Post #1
Choose your venues wisely and always have a few spare euros just encase, I found the best tarts are in Rouen (not the ones you eat)(well you can if that is your thing). 
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In reply to Post #1
most lakes are not alot of different to fishing in the UK, unless you are going to places like cassien, Salagou etc
biggest lesson learnt for me
1) i used to take far too much kit
2) i'll only fish whole lake bookings
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Do as much research as you can on chosen lake, river etc...
I always write a full list of everything needed , car bits, forms/covid requirements, tackle and kit,food and so on...
Then just relax and enjoy the time away...
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In reply to Post #1
you going to a established organised pay lake or somewhere wild in the middle of nowhere ?
If a more commercial place, just your normal gear, insect repellent and powerpack(s) for charging your phone and if using a boat your own life jacket.
Treat it as a holiday
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In reply to Post #1
Relax it’s a holiday
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All,
After having a few trips abroad cancelled due to covid, some arguments and lost deposits, we have now rebooked and in the process of planning what to take etc. I'm mostly confident with tackle, bait, travel etc. But I don't know if that's just my first time naivety.
This forum has FAR more experience than I will ever have, and the best lessons are often made from experience and mistakes. So to those who have been to Europe far more than I, what do you know now that you wish you knew on your first trip across?
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