Our new website for Carp Fishing Holidays in France and Europe is now live. More Lakes will be added over the coming days. Check back soon! Our new website for Carp Fishing Holidays in France and Europe is now live. More Lakes will be added over the coming days. Check back soon! Our new website for Carp Fishing Holidays in France and Europe is now live. More Lakes will be added over the coming days. Check back soon! Our new website for Carp Fishing Holidays in France and Europe is now live. More Lakes will be added over the coming days. Check back soon!  Our new website for Carp Fishing Holidays in France and Europe is now live. More Lakes will be added over the coming days. Check back soon! Our new website for Carp Fishing Holidays in France and Europe is now live. More Lakes will be added over the coming days. Check back soon! Our new website for Carp Fishing Holidays in France and Europe is now live. More Lakes will be added over the coming days. Check back soon! Our new website for Carp Fishing Holidays in France and Europe is now live. More Lakes will be added over the coming days. Check back soon! 
Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five) Orchard Lake (Famous Five)
HomeLakesExclusive + Accommodation › Orchard Lake (Famous Five)

Orchard Lake (Famous Five)

Lake Size
1.8 acres
Biggest Carp
43lb+
Average Weight
28lb
Max Anglers
4
Country
France

Set within the peaceful and well-established The Famous Five complex, Orchard Lake is a private, lake-exclusive carp and catfish venue designed for anglers looking for quality carp fishing holidays in France. Covering around 1.8 acres, this intimate French carp fishing lake offers a secluded setting with just three swims, making it ideal for small groups, mates’ trips, or anglers wanting privacy and uninterrupted fishing.

Positioned around a scenic central island and surrounded by mature lily beds, Orchard Lake delivers a true private carp lake France experience. The lakebed features a natural clay base, clean gravel patches, and light silt areas, creating excellent feeding zones and reliable fish-holding features. With minimal weed and consistently strong water quality, it’s a comfortable and productive venue for anglers travelling from the UK.

For anglers searching for big carp fishing in France, Orchard has built a strong reputation as a genuine specimen water. The carp stock is carefully managed, with fish averaging around 28lb and plenty of 30lb-plus fish present. With carp over 40lb and catfish pushing beyond 80lb, this is a venue where every bite carries serious potential. The lake record of 80 fish banked in a single week shows just how productive Orchard can be under the right conditions.

Orchard Lake also offers something a little different. Alongside its impressive stock of common and mirror carp, the lake is home to koi carp, grass carp, large wels catfish, and even a resident sturgeon known for making regular appearances. Ongoing stock management and future fish transfers ensure Orchard continues developing into one of the standout France carp fishing lakes for anglers wanting action, variety, and big-fish opportunities.

Whether you’re planning a full drive and survive carp fishing France trip or a relaxed fishing holiday with comfortable accommodation included, Orchard Lake combines convenience, privacy, and serious fish potential. For anglers looking for a quality carp fishing holiday in France with easy booking and exclusive access, Orchard is a venue well worth travelling for.

Accommodation
WiFi
Tackle Hire
Bait Shop
Food Package Available
Night Fishing Permitted
Showers & Toilets
Electric Points
Dog Friendly
Car Parking
Bait Fridge/Freezer
Catch & Return Required
Lakeside Accommodation & Facilities

Exclusive lake hire with private access
Just 3 swims for low-pressure fishing
Accommodation located only metres from the water
Two-bedroom lodge included
Spacious living room with reclining sofa
Fully equipped kitchen
Gas cooker
Fridge and freezer
Microwave
Kettle and cooking utensils
Shower and WC
Bed linen and towels included
WiFi throughout
Freesat British TV
DVD player and film library
Food package available
Tackle hire available (bivvies, chairs, alarms and more)
Pets welcome
Non-fishing guests stay free

Orchard Lake is built for comfort as much as fishing, making it a strong choice for anglers wanting a stress-free French carp fishing holiday.
Orchard Lake holds an impressive and carefully managed stock of specimen carp and predator fish, giving anglers a genuine chance of landing a personal best.

The carp stock includes a healthy mix of common carp and mirror carp, with fish currently reaching over 43lb and an average weight around 28lb. Thanks to ongoing stock management, very few carp remain under 20lb, maintaining Orchard’s reputation as a proper big-fish venue. The stock is made up largely of strong Czech and Hungarian strain carp, known for their fast growth and hard-fighting nature.

Alongside the carp, Orchard also holds:

Grass carp to 32lb
Wels catfish to 86lb
Koi carp including the famous “Cracker”
Sturgeon (“Sally”)
Zander
Roach and rudd
Select bream

The catfish fishing is a major draw here, with several large wels now comfortably over 40lb and bigger fish still rarely seen. The recent addition of a stunning 45lb Mandarin catfish adds even more excitement for predator anglers.

With regular stocking programmes and careful fishery management, Orchard Lake continues to strengthen as a serious specimen carp fishing destination in France.
A full bait package is available on arrival, making Orchard Lake an excellent option for anglers travelling from the UK who want to reduce the amount of gear and bait needed for the trip.

The bait range is professionally produced by an English bait specialist and used across multiple fisheries in the region. All boilies are made using high-quality ingredients with no preservatives or unnecessary fillers.

Available boilie options include:

Cranberry & Black Caviar
Squid & Octopus
Krillz
KS-1
Twisted Tuna

The bait recipes include premium fishmeals, pre-digested fishmeal, milk proteins, Robin Red, yeast cultures, krillmeal, and specialist vitamin blends to support fish health and long-term stock growth.

Freshly prepared particle mixes are also available, made on-site using maize and wheat, pre-soaked and cooked as part of the lake’s regular feeding programme.

Bait Rules & Advice

On-site bait packages are recommended for best results
Fresh particle is available for convenience
Tackle hire can be arranged if needed
Contact the fishery before travel for any bait-specific questions

For travelling anglers, Orchard Lake keeps things simple — arrive, settle in, and fish with confidence using proven bait that the lake’s stock already feeds on year-round.
We don’t want to be too draconian or prescriptive in our approach to angling at Famous Five Fishing. But we love our fish and we adore the environments in which they are located. And we know our guests feel the same way and will love and respect all that we have created.

Mainline and Terminal Tackle
● Mainline: 18lb minimum (20lb+ recommended on Eagles)
● No braided main line, except on spod or marker rods.
● Hooklink: 35lb minimum
● No lead core or leaders.
● Minimum 18inches of rig tubing.
● Barbless hooks only.
● No curved, bent or long shanked hooks.
● No fixed/bolt or tethered rigs (ronnie, 360, spinner)

Bait
● Tinned or frozen sweetcorn is allowed. No plastic hookbaits and no nuts (except as hookbaits).
● Bait boats are allowed. A rowing boat is available at the risk of the angler
● Only particle and pellet purchased on-site can be used
● No dumping of unused baits at the end of the week.

Fishing
● 3 rods per angler maximum which must not be left unattended.
● All rods must be a minimum of 3lb test curve.
● Stalking with one rod is allowed wherever it is safe to do so.
● All carp over 40lbs, cats over 100lbs and all grass carp are to be photographed in the water

Environment
Keep the swims clean and tidy. Please use the rubbish bins provided at each swim. Please ensure all glass and bottles goes in to the appropriately labelled dustbin.

Approximate Driving Times from Ferry Ports

Calais / Eurotunnel Most popular crossing
Dieppe Good for Normandy lakes
Caen (Ouistreham) Portsmouth to Caen
Cherbourg West of Normandy
Le Havre Upper Normandy
St Malo West France / Brittany

Cheaper crossings?
Yes Please...

We can help save on your next crossing to Europe

Go further with the swimbooker app

  • Direct Notification Updates
  • MySB — Your Angler Hub
  • Advanced Catch Reports
  • Live Availability

Scan the QR code with your device camera and download our app

Scan to download the swimbooker app

Level Up Your Angling — Join swimbooker+

Angling Insurance Cover Exclusive Perks & Discounts Weekly Giveaway InSession Digital Tool Cashback On Fishing Advanced Catch Report Data
Learn More & View Pricing
View all Drive & Survive lakes
Limousin, France

Compton’s Lake

Discover a truly private carp fishing experience in the heart of the Limousin countryside, just outside Châlus in France. This exclusive 3-acre…

💧 3 acres 🏆 50lb+ 👥 3 Anglers 🎣 7 Swims 🎣 Tackle Hire 🚿 Showers & Toilets ⚡ Electric Points
Taking bookings until 31 December 2027
France

Lac de Lion

Set in the peaceful countryside on the Dordogne and Haute-Vienne border, Lac de Lion is a premium destination for anglers seeking unforgettable…

💧 5 acres 🏆 66lb+ 👥 4 Driving 3 Flying Anglers 🎣 Tackle Hire 🚿 Showers & Toilets
Taking bookings until 31 December 2027
Pays de la Loire, France

Poplars (Famous Five)

Poplars Lake sits at the heart of the Famous Five complex in the beautiful Mayenne region of north-west France, offering one of…

💧 2 acres 🏆 43lb+ 👥 4 Anglers 🎣 Tackle Hire 🚿 Showers & Toilets ⚡ Electric Points
Taking bookings until 31 December 2027