Frequently asked questions about Bletiere

John London, owner at Bletiere, answers a few FAQ's;

Thanks for booking to stay with us and we appreciate your visit.  The following are answers to some of the questions I get asked the most. 

• The lake is relatively silt free and what silt there is definitely does not cause problems.
  
  
• The water is cloudy due to the high number of fish stirring up the bottom of the lake.
  
  
• There is little weed even in the summer months and the natural lilies and plants are out of the way.
  
  
• We are in a very rocky area and this can make the use of bank sticks difficult sometimes and especially in the swim in front of house called J’s swim.  We suggest you bring a pod as well as bank sticks just in case.
  
  
• There is a path around the whole lake and this allows for baiting up, so spod rods are not needed. Also the lake bottom is pretty uniform so marker rods are not really needed.
  
  
• There are very few snags here and they are easily avoided… I will show you exactly where they are before you start.
  
  
• Fishing is from the 4 swims only and please no stalking the banks as we wish to keep them looking natural for everyone’s enjoyment.
  
  
• Bait boats ok if you wish, but an average caster can reach all the hot spots.
  
  
• Please use rig tubing or one of the Korda type safety leaders, this is to reduce fish damage.
  
  
• Hook size is obviously your choice but from experience here the smaller hooks like size 10 seem to do better, and anglers using larger hook struggle. All hooks must be barbless or micro barb.
  
  
• Leads are again a personal choice but again smaller leads seem to catch better and I use no more than a 1½ to 2 ounce lead.
  
  
• Back leads are a must as when the fish feed they will drive you mad with liners!  If you run out or forget them I have some for sale.
  
  
• What bait is best I am asked all the time and that is down to you and your personal choice, but I would say look at feedbacks and go with whatever is catching most. The one thing I can say without any doubts is for loose feeding with pellets the ones we sell are a must as 1 tonne a year goes to feed the fish, and we sell them at less than the halibut ones you buy in England and ours are good for the fish.
  
  
• Particles are down to your choice; some weeks they seem to help others don’t seem to do a lot. But they do help hold the fish in your swim; I can prepare them in 3 hours so not a problem. I supply the seed base I feed the fish on in winter so they are used to feeding on it.
  
  
• I only stock Quest shelf life boilies in certain flavours, so please check with me to see if I have what you want. I try and keep the price of a kg about £1 below the cost in England so please check with me the current price as it can change due to the current exchange rates. We also have the pop-ups and glugs to match.
  
  
• I no longer supply mats, weigh slings or landing nets so you need to bring your own, but we do hire mats and slings to save space and smell in your car.  Please look at our web page for prices. If you bring your own they must be a large size and big enough to safely hold big carp.  All landing nets must be at least 42 inches and please ensure they are thoroughly dry before using them here.
  
  
• If you a have space bring a float rod as there is a good mixture of other fish to go for.  These include tench to over 5lb, crucian to over 2lb also pike and perch. You must have 5lb line on your reel just in case one of the big carp comes along.
  
  
• I keep a small range of tackle that includes back leads, hair rigs, and plastic corn.  Prices are displayed in the barn.
  
  
• Rubbish bins supplied in all swims, but please observe the recycling rules on the bins. 

UNHOOKING MATS

A subject that is very important to lake owners and the majority of anglers is that of fish safety.  I'm no different here at Bletiere so I've put together this blog article to show what you'll need to ensure the fish are well protected.

The vast majority of our visitors arrive with more than adequate mats, or if they believe theirs may be too small, they hire them from me.  It's has never been a problem before, but I'm afraid this year I have had a couple of instances where customers have brought  mats that were totally inadequate.  I try not to have many rules, as all our guests will vouch for, and I am not one to be checking all the time, but the one area I am very strict on is the welfare of our fish.

I have shown below the mats that I believe are acceptable and one that is unacceptable and will no longer be allowed. I am happy to hire out mats at a small cost to save space and the smell in cars.

The two examples above are the carp cot type which I prefer as it gives the fish a lot more protection and a lot less chance of the fish sliding out and onto the floor. They are not expensive and can be purchased for under £50 which I believe is a small price to pay to safeguard any fish.

Above is the beanie type mat that are also good as they offer a lot of protection for the fish on the floor and when the fish flap about.  The only disadvantage is that they have no sides so there is always a risk of fish sliding off.  I have seen the above type of mats with low sides which would stop any risk of a fish slipping.

Above is the type of mat that I regret will no longer be acceptable to be used here as they offer very little protection for the fish as they are much too small and thin. There is no way to be able to leave a fish unattended as you reach for your scales or camera as it has no cover as do the mats above.

I do not wish to appear as though I am trying to cost anglers more money for an unimportant item of tackle, but this surely is an important part of any angler’s equipment.

If there's anything else you want to know just Email me (my Email details are supplied with the Directions Sheet when you book) or you can contact me via the Angling Lines Forum.

Best Regards, John London, Owner, La Bletiere.