News at Beaurepaire

Beaurepaire was born in 2005 , 7 years ago and the big decision that faced Bernard at the time was how to stock the lake. He could obviously go for smaller numbers and bigger carp and stock additional fish along the way or start the lake in it's infancy with good quality smaller carp, just doubles and twenties and wait for the carp to grow. His decision was to stock higher numbers of quality smaller carp and show patience. So we started to market the lake as a real runs water but a thirty would initially be hard to come by. Whilst a few more fish and catfish have been stocked intermittently, the stock has remained mainly unchanged, apart from the sizes...

In the intervening years we have seen remarkable growth rates and huge numbers of very happy anglers but never have I seen a start to the year like this. It looks to me that Beaurepaire has finally come of age, and whilst it keeps it's title as a consistent runs water, the sizes of the carp caught is now excellent.. and Beaurepaire has just shown it's come of age with 3 x 50's in one week! All this despite 3 weeks of the worst April weather France has seen in 13yrs.

Venton Party 14th to 21st April 2012.

50 plus fish, 53lb, 52lb 3oz, 50lb, 7 x 40s to 45lb 8oz, 15 30s to 37lb 8oz and loads of 20s to 29lb  

The Hiatt Party 14th to 21st April

21 fish 8x40 upto 47 smallest 24   

Ben Hopkins party 7th to 14th April

23 fish in total 5x40s 7x30s

53lb	52lb	51lb
43lb	43lb

Steven Thomas & his 3 mates had a great week at Beaurepaire last week (w/c 28th August) taking 75 fish in total…

2 x 40’s (biggest 44 lb),

30 x 30’s (biggest 39 lb),

28 x 20’s (biggest 29 lb),

6 x doubles,

3 x bream and

6 x cats biggest 44 lb

Successful tactics were Baitcraft T1 boilies tipped with plastic corn. They put out a good spread of boilies with the throwing stick and fished single boilies tipped with corn and a small stick over the top. They felt this tactic definatly picked up the bigger fish.

Rob Johnson’s party of 4 anglers has just had a massive catch at Beaurepaire. They took 121 fish;

* 90 carp: 1 x 41lb, 3 x 30lb+, 41 x 20lb, the rest doubles

* 23 cats to 41.12lb

* 8 x grass carp to 24lb

Here’s what Rob had to say;

“Every tactic worked! Rahja Spice boilies, tiger nut over partiblend, popped up corn over partiblend, large halibut pellets over smaller pellets. For all those who suggest this is not a runs water you are wrong. The days were hectic & we bought our rods in at night for some much needed rest!! Lots of fun & a very enjoyable week.”

Many times I log on to one of the carp fishing forums and the question of a ‘Runs’ water only a short drive from Calais comes up. Well look no further.

Beaurepaire has shown throughout the 2008 season that is can regularly produce some massive hauls of carp. Here are just a few of the catches from last season:

May: 80 Fish in total... biggest being 37.4, 5 x 30's, 12 x Catfish upto 21lb

June: 73 fish mostly 20's and 30's. Several 30+'s to 40.04lbs

August: 80 fish caught. Biggest mirror 30lb, biggest grassie 30.8, biggest cat 31.4

August: 57 fish.... mirrors to 38.00lb. Grass carp to 29.00lb, 1 small catfish and 1 x Koi

September : 76 fish in total: 1 x 40, 7 x 30's, 2 x 30's cats, 25 x 20's, 30 up to 20.0, and 10 grass carp

These results also prove that it really does fish all season long.

So for anyone looking to book an action packed water where the fish are piling on the weight too, this one is well worth a look. Most of the carp are now in the 20’s with a good number of 30’s coming through and a lake record set in September of 43lb 4oz.  

The lake of Beaurepaire in the Aisne region near Reims is to get a facelift this autumn, to provide better access to fishing areas and to have better swims cut out along the banks.  A recent meeting with the lake’s owner set out a few improvements for the venue that will make fishing more comfortable and improve access for 2008.

Anyone visiting the venue in 2007 will have seen how the bankside trees and other vegetation has flourished during the extremely wet summer we have had this year. The margins around the venue will be cleared of the shoots and some of the trees that have made fishing awkward on some pegs removed.

A total of twelve pegs will be marked out around the perimeter of the lake making fishing easier when water levels are high, notably in the Spring. The bank area in these pegs will be stepped and flattened to make the setting up of bivvies more comfortable.

These improvements will enhance this extremely prolific venue, without affecting the aesthetics of the site.

During my tour of the lake this week the lads fishing had really got amongst the fish banking well over 70 fish to three anglers, the largest over 30lb. The average weights are improving year on year and are now in the 18lb to 25lb bracket.

An ideal venue for action packed fishing in peaceful surroundings.