How to carp fish Gigantica Lake in France

Gigantica is one of the most popular carp fishing holiday destinations in Europe, and is renowned not only for the huge carp that it contains, but also the quality of the whole fishing experience overall.

This well established fishery is located at Saint Christophe Dodinicourt, in the champagne region, has two lakes on site, which are both very different in terms of the type of fishing that they offer and the experience level of angler that they are aimed at.

Gigantica Main Lake

Both are home to some very large carp, including the highly sought after Immaculate Common, which lives in the Gigantica Main Lake and was last caught at 98lb and could well top the 100lb mark if caught at the right time of year. In addition to that carp, there are also three mirrors which top 80lb, along with a further eight fish that are over 70lb, and 18 known 60s, with fish piling on the weight all the time and adding to those main target carp.

Both offer different types of fishing, with the Main Lake being the more challenging of the two, both in terms of your chances of catching and also the style of fishing, as some swims require very accurate fishing and baiting at long range (bait boats aren't allowed) – although there are also swims where the fish are caught much closer in, including margin spots along the treeline if you are in a corner. So, the Main Lake is probably best for the more experienced angler.

Gigantica Road Lake

The Road Lake has also seen the fish growing well, and is now home to two mirrors that top 70lb, plus 13 known sixties, plus 50 fifties – and that is just the ones that have been caught and weighed recently, as others are coming through all the time.

On the Road Lake you still need to get it right if you are going to catch, but it has a very good head of fish and you are never that far away from them, plus the style of fishing is the same as what you’ll have experienced at home on many lakes, with no need to fish at range – the maximum you will be casting is around 80 yards or so whichever swim you end up in.

Everything you need to know about how to fish the lakes

When it comes to advice on which specific spots to target in each swim, then our on site bailiffs are the people to ask, as not only are they there all the time and see what is going, but are also keen anglers themselves – even our top Team Korda anglers, and Danny Fairbrass himself, don’t make the mistake of ignoring information from the bailiffs.

There is a draw for swims at the start of each week and the bailiffs will do a walk round first, pointing out all the spots and also explaining the ranges that you need to fish at - so don't choose a long range swim if you haven't got the gear or techniques to fish those spots properly. It is much better to fish very effectively in a swim you are comfortable in and which suits your angling style.

In addition to that, and the information on the Gigantica website, venue regulars Danny Fairbrass, Neil Spooner, and Rob Burgess have released two fantastic videos telling you everything you need to know about the venue - both the Main Lake and the Road Lake - including advice on the type of tackle you need, tactics, baiting, rigs, hookbaits, and all sorts of other info which will not only make your holiday go more smoothly, but will also help you to put more fish on the bank.

If you are planning a trip to Gigantica, either an upcoming one or are looking to book for the future, then these videos – one specifically about each lake – will give you all of the information that you need. If you still have questions then. You can contact the Gigantica booking team and they are always happy to help and give you all the details.

Regular updates also appear on our Facebook page, Instagram and our other social media, plus both lakes have appeared in various Masterclass, Thinking Tackle, and Monster Carp films over the years, and you can watch these on YouTube or via this website.

What facilities are onsite?

Gigantica runs on the basis that you get yourself and your kit to the lake, but once there everything that you need is onsite – although there is a decent sized local town, Brienne-le-Chateau, close by.

Facilities include toilets and showers, plus a tackle shop that is well stocked with Korda and Mainline products, should you have forgotten anything or run out during your session, plus a club house.

A food package includes breakfast (delivered to your swim) plus an evening meal – lunches are also available to purchase separately – which is served in the clubhouse and is a great chance to reel in for an hour or two and socialise with other anglers, as well as looking at all the photos of the fish that live in the lake!

Bait is available at the venue

There is plenty of space in the bait freezers on site, and you can even order your Mainline bait in advance to save you bringing it with you. If you want to use particles or pellets – most anglers do as they are very effective on this venue - then both can be purchased onsite as well.

When you look at the fish that live in this venue, as well as the lakes themselves, plus the facilities and level of service, then it isn’t hard to see why Gigantica has become a top destination for anglers from all over Europe, and advance booking your week long trip is required - you can check your favoured date online for availability, with a calendar for both the Main Lake and Road Lake.