Our Belgian user Steve recently returned to Fishsurfing after a short break - and he came back with an incredible catch a 20+ kg mirror carp from a huge French lake covering more than 2 000 hectares.
Catching a carp of this size is never an everyday occurrence, especially on such vast and challenging waters. We simply couldn’t pass by this catch without taking a closer look. But behind this impressive fish is not only a remarkable session it is also the story of an angler who has spent years learning, experimenting and developing his approach to carp fishing.
So, let’s take a closer look at Steve, his fishing journey and the story behind his incredible French carp.
From a small local water to big carp
Steve’s fishing journey began around 14 years ago, when he and his best friend Dylan decided to spend some time fishing on a small local water containing just a few small carp. At first, they enjoyed trying different fishing techniques and simply making the most of every session. However, it didn’t take long before their ambitions grew. They wanted bigger fish - and that meant bigger waters. This was the beginning of Steve’s journey into the world of carp fishing. He started learning everything he could about carp behaviour and gradually realised that one of the most important factors in successful carp fishing is location. That becomes particularly important when fishing large rivers and reservoirs, where finding carp can be a challenge in itself. Over the years, Steve has learned to pay close attention to the water and to search for signs that could reveal where the fish are feeding or moving. Sometimes, finding the fish is the biggest part of the battle.
A passion for rivers, canals and big waters
Although carp are Steve’s main target, they are not the only species that interest him. During the winter, he likes to switch things up and go pike fishing. For Steve, there is something particularly exciting about watching a pike attack on the surface and seeing the line suddenly scream across the water. However, carp fishing remains his biggest passion. Steve and his fishing companions particularly enjoy rivers and canals. Belgium offers plenty of opportunities for this kind of fishing, with numerous canals and waterways connected to major rivers such as the Meuse. At the same time, Steve is always happy to take on the challenge of a large public venue or reservoir. These waters can be difficult and unpredictable, but that is precisely what makes them so rewarding. And his latest catch is a perfect example.
The search for a giant on Lac d’Orient
Steve’s latest adventure took him to Lac d’Orient in France, an enormous body of water covering more than 2,000 hectares. A water of this size can be intimidating. Before you can even think about catching a carp, you first have to find one. Steve and his companions spent an entire day searching the lake, looking for any signs that could reveal where the carp were hiding or feeding. It was a long process - but eventually, their effort paid off. And it paid off spectacularly. After dealing with a number of catfish, they finally managed to put three carp in the net. Among them was the fish that brought Steve back to Fishsurfing with a bang: a stunning 20+ kg mirror carp. After spending an entire day trying to locate the fish, seeing a carp of this size in the landing net must have made all the searching worthwhile.
Keeping the rig simple
Despite fishing challenging waters, Steve prefers to keep his hookbait approach relatively simple. His favourite setup is a classic snowman presentation, using a boilie combined with a small pop up. He also likes using a tiger nut as hookbait. As Steve puts it, keeping things simple often does the job. When fishing large waters such as Lac d’Orient, however, presentation is only one part of the equation. Getting the rigs accurately onto productive spots is equally important.
Fishing from the boat
Steve and his fishing partners usually use a boat to position their rods. This allows them to place their rigs with greater precision and importantly, get closer to obstacles where carp are likely to feel more secure. On a huge water, being able to position a rig accurately can make a significant difference. When you're fishing an environment stretching across thousands of hectares, every advantage counts.
Learning the water
One of the strongest themes running through Steve’s fishing journey is the importance of understanding the water. Over his 14 years of fishing, he has learned that finding carp is not simply about casting out and waiting. Especially on large rivers, reservoirs and public waters, location can be everything. The ability to observe, search for signs of fish and adapt to the conditions can ultimately make the difference between an empty net and an unforgettable session. Steve’s Lac d’Orient adventure is a perfect illustration of this philosophy. A full day spent searching eventually resulted in three carp - including a magnificent fish over 20 kg.
The most Important thing? Enjoy fishing!
Despite all the impressive fish Steve has caught his final piece of advice is refreshingly simple. Fishing will always have good days and bad days. Sometimes everything goes perfectly, while on other occasions absolutely nothing seems to work. And that is simply part of fishing. For Steve, the most important thing is to have fun. Because whether you're sitting beside a Belgian canal, fishing a huge reservoir or searching for carp across more than 2 000 hectares of French water, the real reward is the experience itself. And when that experience ends with a beautiful 20+ kg mirror carp in the net, it becomes a memory that is difficult to forget.
We’re delighted that Steve has returned to Fishsurfing and we hope this incredible catch is just the beginning of many more memorable adventures to come.
