Following the fantastic success of Morgane lakes fish farmer Michel Bigot decided to open a second lake, Commons Lake, just 1km away. Situated in the Mayenne region, near Laval, in the lush agricultural countryside of rural north western France, it is about 2.5 hours from the ferry port of Caen.

He’s replicated Morganes as closely as possible – a lake you book exclusively for up to 6 anglers, complete with mobile home accommodation and stuffed full of large, pristine carp. Morganes is virtually booked out 12 months in advance so we had no reason to suspect that Commons would not be the same... and we didn’t have to wait long to find out.

Mr Goodman and 3 mates fished Commons in April 2007 and had 98 fish, including carp to 48lb, catfish to 58lb and sturgeon to 51lb. What a start!

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Show me a video of Commons Lake.

Around 3 acres in size the lake is roughly square in shape. Overall depth is fairly shallow with an average of 1.5m to the left, shallowing up to around 1m on the right hand side. The lake bed while silty is fairly firm and clear. There are no snags or weed beds, but the far and right hand margins have over hanging trees that act as good holding areas for the carp. Access is possible to the mobile home by car and on foot all around the venue. The right hand side is flanked by fields and fishing is not possible from this bank.

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When you book this lake you get full use of the mobile home which sits right at the waters edge. It has a fully fitted kitchen (with fridge freezer, cooker and oven), shower and toilet with hot water. There’s one double bedroom and one bedroom suitable for children with two bunk style beds. The living room sofas also double as single beds for two people. The living area has both UK and French wall sockets installed.

Outside the mobile home is an awning with garden furniture that provides a perfect social areas while fishing the near bank.

Click here to see pictures of the mobile home.

Like its sister lakes, Morganes & Margot, Commons Lake is owned by one of France’s largest fish farmers, Michel Bigot, so the fish stocks are excellent. As its names suggests, the stock consist of 80% common carp and these include the two largest specimens landed so far at 48lb and 40lb respectively. The majority of the carp are twenties and thirties, several of the large thirties being mirrors. Twenty fish over 30lb were landed in the first week alone on this venue!

Other species include around 15 catfish to nearly 60lb, several of which are the rare Mandarin variety. There’s also a large diamond backed sturgeon of around 55lb.

In total the stock numbers over 120 fish, ensuring excellent action as well as the possibility of banking a few superb specimens.

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Standard UK tactics are all that’s needed on this lake to tempt the carp and other species. Good quality boilies, particles and pellets should see all anglers catch well. A selection of Quest Baits boilies as well as hemp, maize and pellets are available on site.

However due to the size of the fish it is advisable to have stout tackle, particularly a good large net and unhooking mat as the big cats and sturgeon are long and bulky fish which can be easily damaged on the bank.

This venue stocks Quest Bait

Boilies:
Fruity Trifle, Special Crab, Tiger Nut Crunch, Rhaja Spice, Pineapple Crush, Liver B8. 20mm. Frozen. 5kg bags.

Pop-ups & Glugs to match.

Prices as per Quest catalogue.

Other items:
Hemp cooked.. 12e / 5kg
Maize cooked.. 10e / 5kg
Trout pellets.. 12e / 5kg

Visit this lake 2 (or more) times in 2008 & get a 10% discount on the return visits!

Conditions:

• Applies to fishing only (excludes accommodation, food, bait etc)
• Applies to ferry crossing for vehicle only (excludes trailers, cabins etc)
• Members of a group booking who have not visited twice will not be eligible for the discount