The international carp and catfish fishing show is organized by the Groupement National Carpe at the Montluçon exhibition center on 20 000 m2 which makes it the biggest specific fishing show in the world.
More than 200 exhibitors present from all horizons with the possibility for the visiting fishermen to exchange with the greatest specialists in the matter while buying all the necessary for the season. Since the sad episode of the epidemic, this show reopened its doors after a cancelled edition 2022.
A bit of history
The carp forum was born more than 30 years ago in Gien in the Loiret during the general assembly of the FFPC Carp, the continuation in some way of the Carp Society France. It was already a great meeting where some 1000 enthusiasts could discover the new materials of the moment from pioneer companies like Sensas... The Mahin brothers are at the source of this beautiful story. From then on, this show has never stopped growing.
It is quite naturally, under the impulse of a local club, "l'Esprit Carpe Montluçonnais", and with the support of the municipality that Montluçon welcomes since the 6th edition this beautiful show (central geographical area). As protagonists of this new era, it is impossible not to mention Hervé DELCROIX, Jean DI RUZZA, Bruno SUDRE or Patrice PIERRE. The exhibition continued to grow in size, as did the sites where it was held. First organized in the Athanor center, it is now the Monev exhibition center which welcomes the International Carp and Catfish Forum in Montluçon.
The course of the exhibition
This international fishing and catfish show takes place over 2 days, Saturday from 9 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm, every 2 years. The only exception is 2022! The Covid crisis having lasted too long. This last one had moreover begun the month of the 2020 edition! This year, the show took place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February 2023. Despite the changes of habit due to this health crisis, this show confirms its place as the largest European (or even world) exhibition of specific fishing. More than 17,000 people gathered during the whole weekend!
On this occasion, more than 200 exhibitors in an exhibition park of 20 000 m2 spread over 4 large halls.
Korda, Starbaits, Navicom, Sonik, Mack 2 ..., to name a few, were present.
It was an opportunity for the visitors to discover the new products of the moment, to make purchases at fair prices, to exchange with the greatest specialists, to attend the projection of videos or to spend a beautiful Saturday evening with friends. A big tombola was also organized.
Let us note all the same that this forum, in addition to the fact of promoting the fishing of the carp and the catfish the day of this event, also allows to finance the carp commission of the FFPS (French Federation of the Sporting Fisheries) as well as the female and male national teams. Nice showcase also to promote carp fishing.
Some will always find fault with the organization of the show, but let's not forget that it is organized and managed by volunteers who have been doing their best for decades now. From the management of the exhibitors, through the ticketing or the catering (and much more) the false notes are few for a show of such a size.
In any case this show has the merit to promote carp and catfish fishing like no other event until now! So gentlemen and ladies of the GN Carpe (chaired by Fernand De Castro), thank you again for this beautiful event. And thank you to all the exhibitors and visitors to make this show live and thus our passion. The next edition will be even more beautiful!
