Marcusans
La Chaussée-sur-Marne, Northern France
Lake Description
Marcusans is a stunning 32 acre lake set in the heart of the Marne region. This lake has a great reputation, stretching back many years, for offering excellent carp fishing holidays. The 10 large single swims give you loads of options on where and how to fish; also because the management allows a maximum of 10 Anglers. You can book single swims and double up with your friends if you want to. This old gravel pit features an island in the middle of the lake with overhanging trees. Its carp stock includes a large head of big and healthy mirrors and commons between 30lb and 40lb. The largest mirror was 36,6kg (80lb), whereas the lake record for common carp at the moment is just over 27kg (59,5lb).
The Lake
Etang de Marcusans is situated in a meander of the river Marne. Shaped like a triangle, there's a island in the middle of the lake. Everybody can fish the island without being bothered by your neighbors. The bottom falls to 4 - 4,5m quite close to the banks and consists of gravel with a thin layer of silt. No fresh water mussels or any kind of obstacles. During the hotter months there might be some weed formation and there's no poisson chat. There is some crayfish but they won't be a problem. Boats are allowed for landing the fish only (lifejackets compulsory). Baitboats are allowed at any time.
The Stock
Marcusans being a gravel pit impossible to drain, it's hard to know the exact carp stock of this venue. It has a great reputation though with mirrors up to 80lb and commons up to 59.5lb. Its carp stock includes a large head of big and healthy mirrors and commons between 30lb and 40lb. Other species are catfish (max. 135lb), Sturgeon (max. 37lb), grasscarp (up to 115lb!!), pike and silverfish.
The swims
The lake counts 9 grassy swims. Each angler has to book its swim, but you can always double up when you get there. Swim 10 is a double one to be booked by 2 anglers. The management doesn't allow more than 10 anglers on the lake. Swims 2, 3, 6 and 10 have a shelter. You can park your car at the swim.
Facilities
The facilities (showers & toilets) are sited between swims 4 & 5 and are clean, well equipped and spacious. There's electricity (solar energy; solar panels) and water (from a well) and the owner offers recharging your batteries. He'll try to visit you 1 or 2 times during you stay to collect the garbage and see how you're doing. Take into account that there's an additional €2.00EUR eco-tax per angler per day to process the garbage. The supermarket is 3km away from the venue. Walking, you can go to the Hotel-Restaurant next to Marcusans.
The owner sells cooked particles for 20€/ 10kg (own particles are not allowed).
Key points
- Lake: Marcusans
- Departement: Marne
- Surface: 13 ha
- Open: april - mid october
- Bottom: gravel with some silt
- Depth: 4 à 4,5 meter
- Max. anglers: 10
- Carpstock: Fish between 15 kg (30lb) and 36,6 kg (80lb)
- Accessible swims: all swims are accessible by car
- Price per angler: € 250
- Price non-angler: € 70
- Weed: Possible during summer
- WIFI: No
- Lake Exclusive: 2400€ per week (10 angler)
Rules - Marcusans
Northern France1. The angler should bring a valid booking confirmation.
2. It’s allowed to fish 24 hrs per day - catch and release
3. Boats are allowed, only for landing the fish (You must wear a life jacket). Baitboats are allowed.
4. Swimming is forbidden.
5. Allowed rigs: “carp friendly” rigs (safety bolt rigs), barbless hooks and hooks with micro barb (max. size 4) and nylon mainline. The hook link may be stiff or braided, but should always be weaker than the main line.
6. Not Allowed: carp sacs, bent hooks, braided mainline. Only particles bought on site are allowed (20€ for 10 kgs). Lead Core is not allowed. Rig tube is allowed.
7. max. 4 rods per angler. Bivvies and tents should be brown or green.
Each angler should have a big landing net with a min. size of 90 cm and a big unhooking mat (min. 4 cm thick, 60 cm large and 90 cm long), a big weigh sling and disinfectant the hook wounds.
8. Fishing is only allowed on the booked swims.
9. Please return the fish carefully to the water. Except for catfish: when you catch a catfish you must keep it and inform the owner.
10. Marking or steeling fish will be reported immediately to the local Police (Gendarmerie).
11. Alcohol abuse and drugs are not tolerated.
12. Please respect the nature and the tranquillity of the site. Keep clean the sanitary building and the swims. Please separate waste in the designated containers.
13. Dogs are allowed. Open fire is not allowed. Gas cookers and barbecues are allowed.
14. The owner can keep the refundable payment if you don’t respect the regulations
15. Arrival: between 10.00-12.00h. Departure: before 11.00 h.
16. The owner and the bailiff can check the hook links at any time.
17. The owner is not responsible for theft, fire, injury or what so ever.
18. Each angler should sign the regulations declaring that he/she accepts them.
19. The boat dock between swims 2 & 3 is reserved for the owners.
20. Do not go onto the island
PS. In case you are caught marking fish, you will have to deal with French Justice.
Reviews
We hadden van 2 t/m 9 oktober geboekt.
Helaas gleed mijn maat al op de eerste dag zijdelings weg op de leemgrond en viel verkeerd waardoor hij last kreeg van zijn rug en we dinsdagmorgen al begonnen met inpakken omdat hij niet meer verder kon. De stekken zijn ruim, maar het stikte van de teken die door de kleine kiertjes de tent binnen kwamen. Tientallen! Het afdakje bij stek 10 was een plus punt, zo konden we toch lekker buiten zitten. Tja, de vangsten bleven helaas uit.
We hadden op aanraden van Fisherman holidays de boot ook mee genomen ivm de aanwezige wiergroei. Tegen de kanten konden we vrijwel niet vissen, want daar zat het helemaal dicht. Het midden en vlak voor het wier bleef over. Met 8 hengels hebben we die 3,5 dagen geen enkele piep gehad. Zelfs het bover systeem anderhalve dag geprobeerd tussen het wier en de kant waar een klein open stukje was.
Aan de overkant zaten 2 vissers die tot dinsdag 1 steur hadden gevangen en op stek 8 waren er 2 die 3 meervallen hadden.
Douche gaf alleen koud water, het toilet was goed. Wel een aardig eind van stek 10 verwijderd.
sehr viel Kraut, viele Stellen kaum befischbar
Wierprobleem !!!
Weer een prima week gehad! Geen aantallen gevangen maar met karpers tot 29 kilo hoor je mij niet klagen..wel jammer van de meervallen, elke nacht een paar van die apparaten gevangen. Maar mooi water, relaxe beheerder en mooie vissen, ik kom weer terug!
Lovely lake and nice natural surroundings. Swims are very steep, broke a brand new reel when I fell over, so be careful! Had a lot of success a couple of years ago, but this time there seemed to be a lot more cats about, only 5 carp between 3 of us. Bailiff is a lovely bloke - doesn't speak a word of English though so brush up on your French if you intend to go there. There is a shower and toilet on site and you can get mains power but it's via solar panel so day time only - bring a uk to euro adaptor. Fisherman's holidays were great especially Thomas Komasan.
