The Solo Adventure: Canal Carp Fishing in Belgium and France
By Liam Harbour
The trip started with full intention to fish a certain stretch of canal in Belgium for a very special carp I had seen the year previous, but unfortunately on arrival I knew that plan would have to wait.
The stretch was coloured and looking pretty barren compared to normal, making it near impossible to locate carp. Rather than force it, I made the decision to travel down into France to a set of lakes I had visited a few years back — but this time give it a proper go.
Change of Plan Leads to French Lake Carp Fishing Success
That lake was looking good. Fish were active, weed was high and the water was clear — ideal conditions for spring carp fishing and a mobile angling approach.
I decided to set up in a small bay where I had seen a few fish. I placed the rigs in small holes in the weed with a handful of Arctic Crab boilies over the top.
Within half an hour the left-hand rod went.
Landing a 52lb Common Carp
After a mental fight in the weed, I landed a 52lb common carp, and I was absolutely blown away.
The 10ft Retractable Riots paired with the Extremis 6000 reels proved a perfect combo for this style of mobile carp fishing — compact, powerful and ideal when fishing weedy lakes.
When the Bites Slowed Down
Unfortunately, after a good start the fishing slowed down and bites became harder to come by, but that’s often the reality of targeting big carp on unfamiliar waters.
Still, a trip that began targeting Belgian canal carp ended with an unforgettable French lake carp capture, proving that sometimes a change of plan can lead to something even better.
Carp Fishing Tackle Used
- 10ft Retractable Riots
- Extremis 6000 reels
- Arctic Crab boilies
For anglers interested in mobile carp fishing, big carp fishing in France, or canal carp fishing in Belgium, this trip was a reminder that staying adaptable can make all the difference.
