The Lake
This
stunning lake of 16 acres was
stocked in 2005/ 2006 as a new
venue
with totally virgin carp and an
incredible amount of big cat fish.
Although it stands in the very
peaceful
and
beautiful
French
countryside,
it
is
just
five
minutes
away
from
the
shops,
restaurants
and
bars.
The
lake
is
completely
surrounded
by
trees
and
there
are
plenty
of
pegs
on
the
lake,
with
islands
and
many
features
to
fish
to.
After
a
2
year
restocking
program
by
the
owners,
and
our
initial
test
fishing,
the
lake
has
shown
to
be
just
what
our
new
partners
said
it
would
be
for
fishing,
as
it
was
thought
that
the
unpressured
carp
would
prove
easy
to
catch
once
they
got
their
heads
down.
On
site there are toilets, showers, electricity, fridge and freezer,
and as it is looked after by the
Carp
Runs team on a daily basis,
bait can be arranged if it’s needed,
or if you run out.
The
mighty River
Saone runs close
by to the lake, and is less than
five minutes away for those who
fancy a bit of river fishing.
A
Cat fishing guide is available
(for limited days only) for the
river.
The Fish Stocks
The carp were introduced
in 2005 / 2006 ranging from around
the 20lb mark to the low 50s,
with good numbers of huge grass
carp. We have already taken grass
carp in excess of 50lb during our
early sessions on the lake, but
the owners tell us that much bigger
fish do live in the lake.
There
are
a
good
number
of
big
commons
in
the
lake,
and
some
very
stunning
partially
and
fully
scaled
mirrors.
The
owners
have
told
us
that
there
were
already
carp
in
the
lake,
and
as
it
is
a
very
old
French
lake,
we
think
that
although
there
may
be
a
few
smaller
carp
in
the
lake
it
may
have
a
few
surprises
in
store
for
some
of
you.
A
massive
head
of
Cat
fish
from
40lb
to
140lb
have
also
been
introduced
in
to
the
lake,
and
we
have
caught
and
weighed
fish
well
in
excess
of
100lb
so
far.
During
the
making
of
the
Carp
Runs DVD,
myself
and
friend
James
Peacock
took
16
cats
in
less
than
3
days.
Cost for Self Drive
Please see bookings info
Fishing on the lake
With so many new lakes opening up each year in France now, we are all now very much spoilt for choice. As you will know, some are good, and a lot are, well, say no more. Although Niroux is well stocked and is amongst the more recent to open, we know that it will have to earn its own reputation by its fishing.
The fishing so far this year has given us a good indication that it too will be a truly top flight lake, and that it will be a pleasure to fish, as is the case with our other lakes.
For those anglers that are looking for some serious cat fishing, it’s probably one of the best lakes that you will find anywhere in France with its huge stocking. This year has seen plenty of multi cat catches, with stacks of 50lb to100 lb + fish out to those who have been prepared to sit and wait for these fascinating creatures. Some anglers have arrived at the lake and have been lucky enough to have found the cats feeding when they arrived, and have taken big fish within a few minutes of setting up. One cat angler took 6 cats over 60lb in one night, had 2 upper 40lb mirrors on the bank at the same time. He also had so many runs in 3 hectic days that he went home 2 days earlier than scheduled due to overtiredness.
The carp fishing in general on Niroux is not difficult, but like all lakes, and carp, the lake can switch on and off a bit. It would be fair to say that although it is well stocked, it is not a runs water.
Popular this year have been anglers that have arrived at the lake and edged their bets, putting out carp rods as well as cat rods. They have not only taken cats in large numbers on the cat rods, but decent bags of big mirrors to 50lb on boilies as a bonus, fishing for both species at the same time.
The carp in Niroux are some of the hardest fighting fish that I have ever encountered in France over the past years, and the huge grass carp with their immense fighting power have proven to have been very popular with the carpers. There have been good numbers of grass’s out to almost 60lb on a regular basis, with 40lb +fish commonplace.
Etang Niroux is, itself absolutely stunning. Setting that to one side, to have the opportunity to fish a water containing huge fish in it, that have never ever seen a carp anglers hook, and that have no silly names, is to me, what fishing is all about. Also the unknown has a certain appeal.
If you have been to France a few times and you are looking for something “that bit different,” then why not take a trip to the wild and natural Etang Niroux.
We won’t promise you any thing other than, that you won’t be disappointed.
