Set in a beautiful 20 hectares property, Val d'Iré is a 6 hectares (15 acres) carp fishing venue in northern France. Situated very close to the Belgian border, this mature lake has an old carp stock of common, mirror, leather and linear carp. The lake rekord is currently at 29kg (64lb). The water is of an extraordinary quality. It's so crystal, you can see the bottom at a depth of 4 metres without any problems. Val d'Iré is a great lake to actively hunt and spot the carp.

The Lake

Fed by several natural streams and springs, Val d'Iré is a 6 hectares (15 acres) carp fishing lake. Even in the hot and dry summer months, the water level won't drop. It has a fairly flat bottom that slopes slowly towards the middle. The deepest point is at the dam, where it is 4.5 metres (15ft) deep. The bottom consists of a combination of gravel, softer patches of silt and some weed here and there, especially in the warmer months.

One of the features of Val d'Iré is that the water is extremely clear. From the shore, you can easily see the bottom; even the central part. In the central part, the bottom is visible up to 4.5 metres without any problems. This makes Val d'Iré a perfect destination to actively hunt and spot the carp. With an aquascope or an underwater camera, you can map your swim perfectly. Sometimes you can see dust clouds in the lake from feeding carp.

Fishing for carp in clear water has both its pro’s and cons. We are able to use the clarity to our advantage, as it’s much easier for the fish to locate our hook baits, however, it’s also a lot easier for them to spot our end tackle. As carp have very good eyesight, so your fishing technique must be adapted to this clear water: be sure to use backleads or fish with slack lines as the carp are easily spooked by lines in the water, use fluorocarbon, use rig camouflage, use natural imitation bait or try a very visual pop-up, smaller hooks, etc. The owner also advises to fish with few rods.

The Fish Stock

Val d'Iré has an old fish stock of around 300 mirror carp, common carp, leather carp and linear carp. The lake record for now is 29 kg (64lb). There are also grass carp, some tench, koi carp and two sturgeon. There are no large catfish and you won't be bothered by unwanted species such as poisson chat or large crayfish. There are native small freshwater crayfish, which the carp love, but they won't disturb you at all.

Furthermore, there are also large pike on the water. If you want to do some pike fishing during your stay, feel free to bring some lures (just respect the fishing zones of other anglers).

The Swims & Sanitary Facilities

The 6 hectares lake has only 3 swims. In fact, there are 3 sectors where you have plenty of room to move around and do your thing freely.

Swim 1 is a swim for 1 or 2 anglers where a maximum of 4 rods can be used. If you book this swim alone, you can also fish with 4 rods. The maximum depth in this sector is 1.8 metres (6ft). This swim has its own sanitary facilities with running water, but no hot water.

Swim 2 is a wide open swim where 1 to 3 anglers can fish with up to 9 rods. The swim has its own (old) sanitary facilities with running water (hot and cold) and electricity. There's a fridge too.

Swim 3 also has room for 1 to 3 anglers where a maximum of 9 rods can be used. This swim is equipped with a spectacular new 8-person safari tent. The tent has 4 double bedrooms, a large kitchen and living room, WC and shower. There is running water (hot and cold) and power connection.

The tent is equipped with fridge, microwave oven, electric kitchen hobs, coffee maker. Cutlery, pans, plates and glasses are also provided. Towels, blankets (or sleeping bag) and sheets are not included and you have to bring your own.

The best place in the tent obviously is its terrace. While you enjoy a coffee or a beer with your family or friends, you can perfectly keep an eye on your fishing rods from here.

Shopping & shops

Iré-le-Sec is a small village where you'll find a bakery, butcher and a chip shop. There is a Super U supermarket in Montmédy (7 min) and an E. Leclerc in Lexy (30 min).

Tackle shop near Val d'Iré

30 minutes from Val d'Iré, just over the Belgian border, Jacquet Pêche offers a wide variety of carp fishing tackle, boilies, wafters, pellets, boosters, particles, end-tackle and much more.

Florian, the owner, comes by every day to make sure everything is OK.