The glorious weather in the early spring gave way to rain for the best part of three weeks in late April and May, which only broke to scorching sunshine in the last week of May, as summer swept over France.  Following a superb early part to the season throughout the Angling Lines venues, and France in general, things have slowed up slightly, but some excellent catches have still being reported from our customers.

Here's a brief look at one or two of the more notable captures on a selection of our venues.

Gareth
gareth@anglinglines.com

Brionnais

A lovely little venue this one with its luxury chalet accommodation at the water side that sleep up to six people and offer a superb location for a family
holiday. It has seen a number of great catches so far this year, and recent weeks have been no exception.

We spent a few days at the venue at the end of May, and while we struggled to get on the fish due to a build up to spawning the anglers in the right spots had some great sport. Such was the case for Brain Bartlett who certainly didn't find peg 13 unlucky. Fishing the margins in the bay by the sluice he had a catch of 24 fish in his week. These included mirrors of 46lb 8oz, 39lb 12oz, 31lb, 30lb 4oz plus 14 other twenties to 29lb 12oz and 6 doubles. A nice haul in a week that saw the weather swing from torrential rain to a heat wave.   
Go to Brionnais ....

Chalet 5  at Brionnais

Inside the Gite at Passais

The first thirty pounder has also been landed to Cliff Selby at 30lb dead. Their group, at the lake from 26 April to 3 May, saw them land a total of 49 fish: 1 x 30, 18 x 20, 30 x 8-19lbs.

The following group on the venue from 13-17 May picked up where the others left off when they landed a superb 71 carp to 29lb (21 of these fish were over 20lb).

Despite the fish going into spawning mode the group out on the last week of May 24-31 managed a very creditable 36 fish to 30lb 6oz.

Go to Passais ...

Typical Village mirror

The last week of April saw an Angling Lines regular Peter Dawson have an excellent hit on peg 14. He finished his week with 26 carp including 8 twenties to 29lb 4oz; 6 thirties to 39lb 2oz (common) and a 49lb 6oz mirror.

This last week with the carp spawning saw things slow somewhat, but again
the left hand bank was the spot to be and saw two anglers doubled up on peg 16, Dave Curtis & Andrew Robinson land a few fish, including four big carp of 35lb 2oz; 37lb 4oz; and a superb brace of commons at 39lb 6oz and 41lb 8oz.   Go to Village

Following on from my very successful trip there in April that saw me land 25 carp in three nights, including 9 doubles to 19lb 8oz; 12 twenties to 27lb 8oz and 4 thirties of 30lb 8oz; 34lb 8oz; 38lb 8oz; and 39lb 2oz, one of our regular field testers Mike Goode stopped in at the venue for a quick three night session and landed mirrors of 32lb and 34lb plus a few back up twenties.

This last week saw Derek Hart a group of friends get in amongst the big fish landing mirrors of 40lb, 38lb, 32lb plus 4 twenties to 26lb and a few doubles.

With most anglers so far this year getting fish over 30lb this lake offers a magnificent setting and a very realistic chance of landing a whacker of two.

Go to Ribière...

One of the bedrooms at Ribiere - true luxury!

A recent session on the lake by Paul Fletcher saw him have an awesome haul!  He had 94 fish in total: 3 x singles ( one koi and 2 lovely marked mirrors); 73 doubles - mainly 15 - 18lbs & commons. 17 x twenties; 1 x 30 at 39lbs 7oz topped off the week. Paul reckons he could easily have had 100-120 fish in the week if he'd fished nights and every day. As it was the one night fished and the Wednesday off didn't really stop him bagging up big style.  Go to Morgane ....

Paul Fletchers 39lb 7oz mirror