French carp lakes at Joy Lake

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Joy Lake Feedback

• Sat 6th Aug - Sat 13th Aug 2011
  Rooney Family
  Lake good even though levels were down due to early summer. We had evening meal food package, extremely lovely, tasty, flavour-some food - thanks very...
  
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• Sat 18th Jun - Sat 25th Jun 2011
  Martin Dalby
  Can't wait to come back in a couple of years!...
  
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• Sat 18th Jun - Sat 25th Jun 2011
  (Little) Nick Chamberlain
  Excellent week, really enjoyed myself. Food was great, neil was an excellent host - don't think i would of caught the fish i did without his advice!...
  
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• Sat 18th Jun - Sat 25th Jun 2011
  Pete Dalby
  Superb location, quiet & tranquil with abundance of wildlife. Neil our host was fantastic with advice & tactics, a really nice guy. Will be back to in...
  
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• Sat 18th Jun - Sat 25th Jun 2011
  Mark Dexter
  Really enjoyed the week. Neil was an excellent host. Brilliant food, lovely lake, quality fish!...
  
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Weather at Joy Lake

Overview

Joy Lake lies hidden; totally enclosed in 14 acres of beautiful mature Breton woodland.  When you close the gates behind you and drive to the lake you enter another world.   A world populated only by you the fisherman, the carp and the wildlife.  This will be one of the most interesting French carp lakes you'll ever fish - a complex series of bays, islands, lily beds and overhanging trees where it’s almost impossible to see more than one swim at a time.  It’s also a sociable lake where you are close to your friends, but no swim overlooks another and each angler has their own personal piece of water.   

Joy Lake is a beautiful 5 acres of water that will challenge every aspect of your angling ability. Whether you choose to stalk your carp with a waggler under the rod tip or trick them with floaters.  Maybe you prefer to relax behind your buzzers and rods; it’s all possible here, and with around 150 carp you’re never far from the next bite or spine tingling run.  This is a water that will appeal to the novice as they will not miss out on the action, but the variety will keep the more experienced carper very happy too.

Access to the lake is easy with Caen 2 hours 40 minutes away and St Malo only 40 minutes.  With Neil  to cater for your angling needs with friendly advice  and  Caroline to cater  for your gastronomic needs with her much praised meals Joy Lake has a lot to recommend it.

Mates Glynn Pinchbeck & Andy Pickard fished here in June 2011 and had the following to say;

“I had 23 carp in the week and upped my PB 3 times! A fantastic venue and a very well kept lake, it just looks so carpy and was a real JOY to fish. The food package was well worth the money... all in all an awesome week!” 

The Carp Lake

Fished originally for its predators Joy Lake was dug around 35 years ago.  

Depths vary from 2ft to a maximum of 5ft, and the bottom is mainly gravel with some silt areas in the corners.  

Located on the islands four of the swims are reached by footbridges.  There are seven swims in total making it a perfect location for up to five anglers. The largest island is also home to a covered dining area for those social evening meals needed to discuss tactics and catches.  

Lily beds are located around the lake and provide the valuable cover needed when stalking carp in the margins.

Due to its mature trees the lake is a haven for wildlife and in particular bird life.  Species regularly seen at the lake include a pair of Kingfishers, Buzzard, Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Yellow Wagtail, and a host of smaller birds.  Also seen is the rare red squirrel.

French carp lakes don't come much more interesting than this.

The Carp

The anglers that have been lucky enough to fish here to date have experienced the fantastic quality and fighting spirit of the Joy Lake carp.  Steve Sheppard and 4 mates had 10 x 30’s, 19 x 20’s and 35 doubles between them. Steve himself had 5 of these 30’s, topped by a 33lb 4oz mirror and had fish of 31lb 3oz, 31lb 9oz and 27lb 14oz within the space of one hectic hour on the Tuesday morning! Here’s what Steve and his party had to say had to say;

“My fourth time here and enjoyed it as much as the first time. Quality fish with plenty of action. Fantastic!" Steve Sheppard.

“Excellent run fishery, super quality fish. Thoroughly enjoyed.” Dave Iles

“Lovely lake, well stocked, over 90 runs between five of us can't be bad! Will be back.” Wayne Guest.

“Lovely place and lovely fish. Be warned though, you need tough tackle due to the pads, be prepared to lose a few!” Kevin Haskins.

“Brilliant week, my first 30 and loads more fish. Perfect!” Chris Cage.

Very little is known of the lakes original carp stocks, but in 2004 the main stock of carp were introduced. These fish ranged from doubles to low 40’s and whilst the majority are mirrors there are some gorgeous looking commons in there too. 

A further stocking of 50 fish to mid 20’s in early 2008 by current owners Neil & Caroline Houghton gives a total of around 150 carp, and ensures the action is almost guaranteed.  There are no catfish, sturgeon, poisson chat or crayfish.

The Facilities

Hidden in the woods a log cabin contains a camping-type fridge, a small gas oven with hob, along with plates, cutlery etc for you to use. Mains water is connected and is fine for drinking. English toilet and shower are contained in a second cabin.  For those fine summer evenings there is the largest stone barbeque you will ever see. 

There’s no freezer at the lake, but Neil & Caroline will happily store your bait in the freezer at their house and bring it over for you as required. The nearest supermarket is less than 10 minutes away in the local town which also has restaurants, cafés, bars and shops.

Accommodation;

For those anglers looking to bring their partners or just prefer a few home comforts on the bank, a modern two-berth caravan is available to hire at an extra cost of £125 per week. The caravan sits over-looking the Brace swim, and has a fridge, oven/grill & hob, shower.

Meals

The owners offer a full meals package, with breakfast, lunch and evening meal available if required.

Full food package;

• Breakfast (either a bacon/egg baguette or a continental) 
• Lunch (a baguette)
• 2 course evening meal

Cost... £120

2 course evening meal only option;

Cost... £90

Please note; if you book the food package you will be asked to pay a 10% deposit to Angling Lines and the balance to the lake in euros when you arrive. Please note that due to fluctuations in the exchange rate the balance you pay when you arrive may not equate exactly to the remaining 90% in £’s sterling – it may be slightly more or less due to a change in the exchange rate.

Carp Bait

Carp Tackle Hire

It's astonishing the amount of gear that carp anglers take to France & car space is always at a premium so Joy Lake can provide you with bedchairs and bivvies.  

To reserve tackle please contact the owner direct. The owners Email address & phone number can be found on the directions sheet which will be sent to you when your holiday has been paid for in full.   

• 1 man JRC bivvy... €30 (plus €30 deposit)

• Wychwood bedchair... €20 (plus €20 deposit) 

French carp lakes Offers

Return visits;

Visit this lake 2 (or more) times in the same calendar year & get a 10% discount on the return visits!

We have lots of customers who make more than one trip with us and we want to reward that loyalty. Certain venues have agreed to participate in a discount scheme for return trips. This lake is one of those taking part… so book a return trip and get your 10% discount!

Conditions:

• Applies to fishing only & excludes accommodation (if normally booked separately), food, bait etc.
• Applies to ferry crossing for vehicle only (excludes trailers, cabins etc)
• Members of a group booking who have not visited twice will not be eligible for the discount
• This offer is only valid for return trips taken in the same calendar year and cannot be taken in conjunction with any other offer or special discount applied to this lake

Want a price for this venue based on your particular requirements?