Lac De Premiere, France

The Stock

I first starting going on trips to Premiere around 8 or 9 years ago having been invited when Tony Hibbert first took it over.

Back then it did contain a few 50lb plus carp, with a lake record of around 55.

When he purchased the lake, he stocked around 350 new fish with many of those now pushing 40’s and 50’s right now. It has a huge head of such carp.

I go over there generally at the end of March each year and sometimes in winter time.

If you fish it smart and you tick a few boxes you are almost guaranteed a 50 pounder. There are very few places that I know where the average size of fish is well over 40lb.

The last time I went, in one night I had 13 fish, all over 40 and four 50’s, ridiculous angling really.

The lake record is currently 82lb which is a HUGE HUGE carp.

It boasts an enormous frame so there is no doubting it will go more.

That is a mirror! It also holds what I regard as one of the best looking commons in the world that has done 72lb a Two Tone fish – a long, powerful, fighting machine.

What’s It Like?

The depth is around 6ft-7ft but it isn’t littered with features.

When I arrive, I will flick a lead around and just pick my desired length, looking for something a little bit different to the norm; smooth patch of silt or a little bit of gravel.

I wouldn’t recommend margin fishing really unless the water is particularly high and or they have been prepped. Most swims will be fishing at around 80 to 100 yards.

Best Pegs

If there’s a South/SouthWesterly wind blowing, my go-to swims would be 6,8 and 10.

You only need to fish 30 to 40 yards out too if this is the case.

If you are fishing swim 4 which is the most consistent peg for most of the year, then it pays to fish up to around 110 to 120 yards because after that it shallows right up.

This is on the left hand side. You can go further on the right but of course it isn’t as comfortable and easy to fish at such range.

What Rigs & Baits Do You Use?

Due to soft nature of the lake bed I like to lengthen my hook links to around 11in, this is to combat the silt and ensure my hook bait is sitting proud.

This is generally 20lb N-Trap Soft complete with a snowman hook bait. I wouldn’t want to employ a stiffer hook length in this situation as it could be sitting alien on the lake bed.

Wafters work well as do standard bottom baits straight out the bag. I will however give these a little glut before casting out just to give them some extra leakage.

Active 8 & Cell being my favourites. The fish really do respond to Cell. That said sweetcorn can work well too. Mainline sponsored the lake for around five years so they have seen tonnes of it and probably see it as a natural food source.

Bait introduction doesn’t need to be complicated, I just use a spread baiting strategy via a throwing stick. This encourages them to work for each bait and has been a tactic that has served me well over the years.

DO NOT SPOMB on their heads, for me this is a no no. I think that it seems to spook them. If you go down this route, pile it in at the beginning of the session and let them come to you.