For over 25 years Etang Meunier has been at the top of the French carp scene and producing record numbers and PB’s of fantastic looking big carp for dozens of happy guests.
The subject of several international TV shows and about to feature in a major new film being shot this August, Meunier has been fished by some of the biggest names in carp fishing.
Meunier is more like a tree lined estate lake and is a wonderfully tranquil 6 acre lake set in the beautiful countryside of the Limousin region of France. Situated in mature woodland, this private stream-fed lake is secluded and yet close to many local amenities for anglers and non-fishing guests alike.
From The Owners
When we look back at the log entries of the last two years, a couple of things stand out, firstly there were more fish over 45lb caught than fish under that weight. Once again well over half the monthly total is made up of fish way over the magical 40 pound barrier, just one of the reasons Meunier continues to be one of the most popular holiday fishing venues in France. The Etang Meunier fish have seen it all, and these days know how to avoid getting hooked.
It’s obviously becoming more and more important that you think about your presentation, and be prepared to tweak things a bit. It’s noticeable that for several anglers the end of their stay was the most productive, with often the best fish of their holiday coming on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. All methods seem to produce fish, from single pop-up’s tight to the trees, PVA bags, to fishing over beds of bait in open water.
Although the house swim continues to be very popular, several diary entries show how productive the stalking can be, so it can be well worth winding the rods in, getting the Polaroid’s on, and going for a wander down to the shallows. On some weeks stalking produced more fish than the main house swim. Away from the fishing, can we thank all of you who commented on the lovely atmosphere around the lake, and appreciated the improvements we have made to the swims and the accommodation.
All the best, Graham & Lester
Fishing Guide
At around 6 acres in size you don’t need over the top heavy duty carp gear to fish Meunier and most standard good quality gear is fine. We insist on lines of 15lb as your main line. The bottom of the lake is generally light silt, free of weed, and most standard rig systems work well. Generally speaking, other than the obvious ones, there are no major snags in the water, but like any lake, after winter gales, the odd small branch can fall in and get stuck in the bottom.
Over the years, the Meunier fish have been caught on most tactics from single hookbaits and PVA bags through to beds of bait.
In general though they do like their food, and good quality boilies, consistently applied often produces the best results. However don’t be impatient, it can sometimes take a few days for the fish to get on your bait, and on a lot of holidays the better fishing is towards the end of the week. Obviously seasonal weather variations can affect fish activity, so we recommend you adjust quantities accordingly. There are no crayfish, but some years a few poisson chat have been present.
There is a rowing boat available for your use but you will need to bring your own life jackets as they are not provided and bait boats are welcome although most areas can be baited from the banks.
All landing nets, unhooking mats and weigh slings are provided and bags of pellet are available to pre-order if you wish. View the Meunier swim guide from angling writer and venue veteran Brian Skoyles. Fishing at Etang Meunier isn’t always easy and some weeks you really have to work for your fish. It’s a proper Fisherman’s water and TV presenter John Bailey when making Crabtree & In Pursuit for Discovery with Director Lester Holcombe, likened it an old estate lake in the UK – but with bigger fish lurking in its depths and generally far nicer weather.
Swim Guide by Brian Skoyles
When considering where to fish on Etang Meunier, you have five options…
Many people have said that this is there favourite swim of all time, and rightly so. A large double swim, which is close to all the house facilities, and accesses some of the best areas on the lake to fish. Recently renovated to make it a large enough area to fish two anglers comfortably, it provides a wide range of fishing options.
Fishing to the left of the peg.
The open water about two thirds of the way across can be superb, it’s an area to put a bed of bait down and wait for the fish to come to you. (If one of your party is fishing in the woods swim 1, it can be a good idea to put a marker between you and fish the same area from two directions!).
The margin to your left is also well worth a try. You often see fish top in this area, and it can often produce the biggest fish of the week. Looking slightly left from the swim to the far margins, two large bushes/trees go into the water, the area around these trees produce a lot of fish, but stay close to your rods if you fish these areas.
Fishing on the right of the peg.
The open water, about two thirds of the way across, is a very consistent area, one of the deepest areas of the lake, it often fishes well overnight and early morning. Fish bubble prolifically in this area, and you’ll know if they are having a “scoff”. If you are a bait angler and want to put a bed of bait down, this is a good area to do it.
The far tree line can be very good, but remember if you go in close, you need to be on your rods quickly. The area on the far margin, in line with the entrance to the lake, can be a real suntrap, and is a great spot, for a bonus fish late afternoon. The margin to the right, off the dam wall, looks great, but rarely seems to produce big hits, but you are welcome to prove us wrong.
Second only to the House swim in popularity, it gives you a wide range of options.
The open water directly in front of the swim (looking back towards the lake entrance), can produce well, as can the near margin to the right. (this near margin does not produce large numbers of fish, but has a good track record for turning up biggies, plus this year a large snag tree has been removed from this area so a new area for fishing has been opened up).
Most anglers fish across to the tree line which can produce well, especially slightly to the right of the peg, where the far margin is clear of trees, and you can get in tight to the margin. There is a good depth of water right up to the edge and fish do move up and down the margin, particularly if the weather is warm but it needs fishing carefully, as these are big fish and they know where the trees are. In the cooler weather a lot of fish can be caught well off the tree line, with about a rod length away being a good distance to try.
A very consistent swim, but it needs fishing very carefully.
Opposite the peg is a gap in the trees, and the fish often congregate in this area. A small pva bag and a light scattering of boilies is all you need, but if you go in tight, you need to sit on your rods, and be prepared to hit and hold. Not for the faint hearted, but fabulous fishing. If no one from your party is fishing this peg full time when you are there, a favourite tactic is to drop some bait in the gap in the evening, then pop round for an hour or so the following morning, you’ll often get a bonus fish fairly quickly.
Very similar to swim 2, and again you have some lovely margins on the far bank to cast to, don’t be tempted to go in too tight, as it becomes very shallow close in.
An underhand swing to your left, just off the conifer, followed by a handful of freebies can produce, particularly if you’ve seen fish to your left down the shallows. This does tend to be a warm weather swim, and it’s a great swim to ambush fish as they move from the deeper water in front of the house swim and swim 1 in the woods, on your right, to the shallow water to the left of the swim, so it’s worth keeping your lines slack, or pinned down and the bait quantities low. In this swim fish for a fish, rather than a big hit.
This has to be one of the ultimate stalking swims anywhere. Situated at the far end of the lake on the far bank, it’s the perfect place to spend a couple of hours.
When the weather is warm, the fish often drift down to the shallow end of the lake, and collect off this lovely little swim. It’s very shallow, you can spot the fish easily, and they often send up clouds of silt as they root around for food. The perfect situation to set a trap or two. Take the minimum of gear, keep quiet, and in the right conditions you can get takes right under your rod top. It just doesn’t get any more exciting. A great tactic is to fish a small PVA bag, and just a few bits of crushed boilies scattered around.
The Weather
The weather though can play a big part in how the lake fishes, but that’s fishing. It’s interesting that several comments in the log book talk about a slow start, with the end of the week becoming more productive. One comment finishes with “Keep the Faith”, it’s good advice as a lot of the better fish come out towards the end of the week.
One thing that doesn’t change is the potential or the regular returning guests year after year. Our guests love coming back for the great fishing and the venue itself. We have had three different fishing shows filmed at Meunier and that combined with our regulars and fantastic word of mouth means we only ever have limited availability.
But do drop us a line or give us a call as we always have one or two spots up for grabs on this lake or one of our sister lakes Chanteboeuf & Mongenet. It does mean that we never get to fish it ourselves but that goes with owning some of the best Carp lakes in France.
Our Other Lakes…
Stay With Us…
Etang Meunier is a wonderfully tranquil 6 acre lake set in the beautiful countryside of the Limousin region of France. Situated in mature woodland, this private stream-fed lake is secluded and yet close to many local amenities for anglers and non-fishing guests alike.
Etang Meunier is all about the perfect fishing holiday, and to compliment the potential for a catch of a lifetime, Meunier also provides accommodation that perfectly suits your angling holiday needs. The main accommodation is on the first level, and comprises two bedrooms, and a general living area. What makes it rather special is that it opens out onto a second floor veranda affording wonderful scenic views over the lake. Anglers have spent many an hour leaning on the balcony, spotting carp as they bubble, leap and cruise in front of you.
The house sleeps 4 people comfortably and consists of two bedrooms with 2 single beds in each (linen supplied). There is also a double sofa bed in the lounge to accommodate any extra guests. The house has also recently been refurbished with air conditioning and heating being installed throughout.
There is a separate wc and shower, and a newly fitted fully equipped kitchenette comprising cooker, fridge, microwave etc. The lounge area has Sky TV and a CD player. Underneath the main accommodation is another area where the washer and freezer is situated. As well as plenty of storage space for fishing gear, it also has a separate bait freezer. A BBQ and table and chairs are also provided on the patio area adjacent to the house which has great views over the lake.
Around and About…
Etang Meunier is the perfect holiday venue in many ways, you’ve got a lovely lake, excellent accommodation, stunning fish, and if that’s not enough, if the non fishing members of your family/party fancy a trip or two out and about the area, there is plenty to see and do. The lake is a 10 minute walk from the nearest bar and shops.
In Cassepierre, Ambazac, and Rilhac-Rancon, you’ve got excellent shops for bread, meat etc and several well-stocked supermarkets. Limoges is 20 minutes away by car as is Limoges (Bellegarde) airport. On the outskirts of Limoges is a huge supermarket complex (Cora) well worth stocking up on wines etc. If shopping is your thing, Limoges city centre is well worth a trip. There are numerous chateaus, adventure lakes, traditional French towns, places of historic interest including Oradour Sue Glane the town left as it was in 1944 after the SS massacred the village. Very moving and really worth a visit.
Lazy Sundays…
On Sunday morning why not try an early start and a short trip across country to Panazol. You’ll find a lively market, where you can stock up on some fabulous foods. Try the spit roast chickens, a huge range of fruit and vet, and local breads and cakes. Not for those counting calories unfortunately!
There’s a large pottery in Aixe-s-Vienne which does guided tours, and you could spend some serious money on the huge range of pottery and porcelain. Just next to the bridge is a restaurant that is well worth a visit for lunch, if walking round the pottery has given you an appetite.
Fancy a celebratory meal after catching your pb? The restaurant Le Floride, just a few miles back up the A20 is the place to go. If you’ve got youngsters with you, then a trip to Lac de St Pardoux is not too far away, where there’s a beach, a café, pedalos etc, in truly lovely scenery. The Limousin area has something for everyone, but don’t spend too much time away from the lake. There’s might be another big fish with you’re name on it!
