Bel Eaux - Belforet

Just over a 3-hours drive Calais, you will find the beautiful Domaine de Bel Eaux, translated: “the domain of beautiful lakes.” Hidden deep in the woods of the beautiful Northern France landscape you will find an incredibly special complex of more than 20 lakes. The owner of Bel Eaux, Sébastien, together with his in-laws, has been breeding small carp, whitefish and predatory fish for decades. This family business has something special to offer every kind of angler. However, three of the waters are specially designated for carp fishing, with the 12 hectares of Belforet being the largest! Belforet has incredible carp weighing up to 66lb, 3 luxury gites, and 2 bivvy swims. With the additional option to book weekends and midweeks this is a wonderful and flexible destination!

The lake
The French Champagne region has long possessed a proud reputation for the bubbly drink that has made it so famous world-wide. It has never possessed a great reputation for the beauty of its landscape, possibly because its most beautiful part is tucked away in the Domaine de Bel Eaux. The lakes here have a home in a beautiful forest of over 370 acres abundant in game, birds and vibrant nature. Spanning 30 acres, Belforet is the largest lake on the domain and specifically designed for the fanatic carp angler.
The lakes here in Bel Eaux were originally excavated to a depth of 9 feet, and provisioned with a clean soil of predominantly light mud, clay and small amounts of sand and gravel. Depending on the season and water level, water depths here range from 3 – 5 feet deep, where small depth differences of only 10 or 20cm can often make that difference between a catch or still rods. The natural food of the carp on the water is mainly bloodworm, but there are also some crayfish to be found in the lake.
Belforet has been divided into five zones composed of 3 beautiful 6-person Gites (all suitable for a maximum of 2 carp anglers) and 2 bivvy swims. At full capacity, 9 carp anglers are permitted to fish on the lake, allowing for just over one hectare of water per angler. Each swim is accessible by car and your car can remain on the swim for the duration of your stay. Due to the favourable location of this lake in Northern France and its comfortable driving distance from Calais, it is possible to have shorter sessions of a weekend (Friday to Monday) or a midweek (Monday to Friday or Monday to Monday) up to and including Friday).

The carpstock
Belforet has a particularly rich fish stock, which has been given a lot of attention in recent years. It is estimated that there are currently 400 carp in the lake and that the population has an average weight of about 26lb. At least 20 carp in this lake weigh more than 45lb: the heaviest fish, a mirror carp, weighs 65lb; the second largest, a common, weighs 60lb; and the third largest, a grass carp, weighs 58lb. There are around 100 koi in the lake between 8lb and 45lb, around 250 common- and mirror carp between 15lb and 65lb, around 50 grass carp between 18lb and 58lb and 4 large silver carp between 100lb and 120lb.
Belforet certainly has a large and healthy fish stock, making it not particularly difficult, but also not an easy lake where you can expect run after run without a bit of work. We highly recommend that you use a high quality bait and think about your fishing tactic and what will work best here. Many tricks such as zigs, chod-rigs, ronny rigs, PVA bags, and free-lining may put you ahead of the game on this lake.

The facilities
The facilities at Belforet are fantastic and will meet all of your needs. Bivvy anglers can find general facilities located between Belvare and the adjacent lake, Belsaules. This facility is equipped with a shower, toilet, refrigerator and several charging points. Belvare is proud to also offer our guests the use of three different luxury gites:

Gite (6-person) on Swim 1:
The first Gite of Belforet is located directly on the water and has a covered veranda with picnic table and lounge chairs. Inside you will find a living room with sofa, TV (with USB and HDMI connection), dining table with chairs, fully equipped kitchen with electronic stove, microwave, kettle, coffee maker and fridge. The Gite is also outfitted with 2 bedrooms, each with a bunk bed for 3 persons (2 persons below and 1 person above). The Gite also has a bathroom with shower and toilet. Although this Gite is suitable for 6 people, we recommend that you book this Gite with a maximum of 4 adults and 2 children.

Gite (6-person) on Swim 4:
The second Gite of Belforet is located directly on the water and has a covered veranda with a picnic table. Inside you will find a spacious living room with sofa, chair, TV (with USB and HDMI connection), dining table with chairs, fully equipped kitchen with electronic stove, microwave, kettle, coffee maker and fridge. You will also find 2 bedrooms, each with a bunk bed for 3 persons (2 people below and 1 person above). The Gite also has a bathroom with shower and toilet.

Gite (6-persons) on Swim 8:
The third Gite of Belforet is located directly on the water and has a covered veranda with a picnic table. Inside you will find a spacious living room with sofa, chair, TV (with USB and HDMI connection), dining table with chairs, fully equipped kitchen with electronic stove, microwave, kettle, coffee maker and fridge. You will also find 2 bedrooms, each with both a bunk bed for 3 persons (2 people below and 1 person above). The Gite also a neat bathroom with shower and toilet.

Please Note: for both Gites, you are responsible for the cleaning before departure. There is, therefore, no housekeeping fee included in the price. You must leave the Gite clean and tidy before departure. There is a deposit of € 100 (per gite),  which is returned to you upon departure if all is in order. In addition, it is important to know that you must to bring your own towels, kitchen towels and bed linen. 
 

 

Strict rules have been set at Bel Eaux - Belforet. Please respect the rules for your own pleasure, and that of your fellow anglers. The lake owner had the right to remove you from the property in case the rules stated below are not respected.
Time of arrival between 10:00-11:30 am or 01:30-04:00 p. You are obligate to call Sébastien at +33687227227 upon arrival in the small village Le Chemin (next to the church)
Time of departure: 10 am
Belforet is on private property and is only accessible to guests who have booked a fishing holiday via The Carp Specialist
Night fishing is permitted
Max. 3 rods per angler
Respect other anglers, fishing zone and the privacy of other guests
Please contact us if you want to bring a dog, because of the French legislation we have to investigate each case separately. When your dog is allowed, it must be held on a leash and all droppings must be cleared
The owner is not responsible for theft or damage at the domain
It is forbidden to damage nature, to do your needs in nature, to leave garbage, swim and to make an open fire
The use of a barbecue is permitted, provided that you clean it up neatly and safely after use
The use of bait boats and rowing boats is allowed, but respect other anglers and fishing zone
The use of an unhooking mat, carp landing net, tents in green or camouflage colors and hooks with micro-barb is mandatory
It is forbidden to sack a fish
The Carp Specialist and the lake owner on site can not be held responsible for any injury, theft or damage occurred to you or you property on site, unless it’s the result of a serious failure that we can be accounted for. Due to the sheer size of our estates, it is impossible to fully fence and protect them. We would like to stress that you are responsible for your own materials on site, and that any theft is very difficult to be insured. Precaution is advised.

Advice for fishing in France can be found HERE.

GPS:
Lat 48.990131378174
Lon 4.956746101379

ADDRESS

Sainte-Menéhould. France

PHONE

+44 203 8088057

EMAIL

info@thecarpspecialist.co.uk

WEBSITE

Lake Website

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