Angling Lines News Report – December 2004
As the New Year dawns it is perhaps a good idea to take a brief look back at the highlights of 2004. It was certainly a successful year for many anglers visiting our waters, both in France and Worldwide. We were able to offer a huge choice of venues to the travelling carper, with additions to our French portfolio as well as venues in the USA, Canada, South Africa, Belgium, Spain and the Canaries… getting away for a quality carp fishing holiday has never been easier.
A Record Year
Fish on many venues are getting larger! One of the aspects of 2004 that really stands out was the number of lake records that tumbled. No less than nine of our venues saw their records fall during the season. The 5 top catches were all over 55lb.
1) Lac du Tertre - 77lb 4oz
2) Village - 63lb
3) Vallee - 59lb 40oz
4) Laroussi - 55lb 12oz
5) A La Carp - 55lb 7oz
All these carp are huge by anyone’s standards and show just how much the commercial fisheries in France have progressed over the last few years.
Catch of the Year
With so many large carp available to pick from this was tough… but our vote for the years outstanding catch by an Angling Lines customer has to be the 106lb brace landed by Ivan Head at the Village de Peche, including the new lake record of 63lb. Ivan & his son Scott took a late season trip the last week in October & took the monster from peg 15. Just for good measure they also had a 43lb mirror, 25lb common and 24lb sturgeon.
Show me Village
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63lb from Village de Peche.
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Outstanding Venue
We have so many good venues that it’s difficult to pick one that shines above the others… but Laroussi has been outstanding. Bearing in mind it’s only been on our books for five months the results it’s produced have been nothing short of spectacular.
The venue record was set by a French Angler, Stephane Carpene, at 55lb 12oz in October. He landed 2 carp for 104lb 12oz in just 45 minutes! The first was a was a 49lb specimen and the second the new lake record of 55lb 12oz, coming only minutes after releasing the first. The most amazing thing about the venue is the average size of fish it has produced… averages of 30lb+ have been the norm and since August lots of anglers have come home with a 40lb+ under their belts. Only time will tell if it can consistently turn in such results, but as a rookie lake it surely is showing the potential to become one of the top French commercial venues.
Show me Laroussi
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New Venues for 2005
Several of our venues are new for 2005;
Beau Lacs - a picturesque estate type lake in the western part of Normandy which has some superb carp. The current lake record is 33lb, but recent stockings of carp to over 40lb should see this venue take off in the coming months. November saw the addition of approximately 100 carp from 20lb to 45lb, 14 cats (3 x mid 30’s, 1 x 40lb).
Show me Beau Lacs
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Heather Lakes - an intimate water in the west of Brittany that has a comfortable feel to it and would ideally suit a small group of carpers. Fish stocks are excellent with the average size well into the 20’s and a lake record of 40lb 3oz.
Show me Heather Lakes |
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Beaurepaire – ideally suited to a group of up to 6 anglers on an exclusive basis, this is a totally virgin water and opens for the first time this year. We’re confident this will be an action water. Field testing sessions saw us landing on average 10 to 12 fish a day to mid twenties. Recent stockings of fish to 30lb+ takes the total stocks over 2.5 tons of carp.
Show me Beaurepaire |
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Looking on to 2005
2005 will see us enter the bait market. We’ve been supplying bait at a number of our venues for several years but this year we’ve geared up the whole operation, including launching our own boilie – the Angling Lines Special. To check out the complete range visit www.anglinglinesbait.com – you can even order online. Your bait can be delivered to you in the UK or our Special Bait Packs can be sent to your chosen venue in France and be waiting for when you arrive. Naturally you don’t have to travel with us to order bait - the quality range of freezer or readymade boilies, particles and pellets have a proven record of success in the UK . Give us a try - prices are competitive and the product is top quality.
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