Angling Lines News Report – August 2005
Well, sad to say summer is already virtually over as we head for autumn and into that classic carp fishing time of the year. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve caught my own PB in the autumn or seen lakes produce such fish for others.

It has to be said that the fishing this year has been somewhat odd to say the least. We kicked off to one of the most amazing spring’s I’ve ever seen, with large bags and massive fish coming out of most venues. The dry, drought like conditions favoured this early bonanza… it couldn’t last and it didn’t. The summer months of July and August have been pretty hard in most of our French waters, so it is with great anticipation that we look forward to an end of season flourish.

Brochure/DVD:
Last year Angling Lines had the innovative idea of presenting our French Carp venues on a DVD disk as short video clips. We combined this new approach with our classic full colour brochure. The idea was a great success, and was much appreciated by our customers as it gave a real, virtual tour of the majority of the lakes. This year we have been able to cover the remaining sites not featured last year, as well as one or two of the destinations further afield. The brochure & DVD is available FREE as a boxed set – call for your copy.

New Venues:

For the 2006 season we have several new venues that will be brought to you for the first time.

Laroussi 2 – The Old Oaks:
The success of Laroussi 1 was no surprise to us. The owner Mehdi Daho had worked extremely hard to turn this superb gravel pit into one of the best fisheries in France. The results speak for themselves. So it is with great excitement that we present his new water, Laroussi 2 or the ‘Old Oaks’ lake as it is to be called. Set just across the road from the first lake, it will receive the same care and attention of its sister venue. Facilities of the same quality will be erected this winter, comprising of a shower and toilet block, with sink, fridge and bait freezer. The lake will also receive a comprehensive restocking of quality carp and catfish, in the high twenties to low thirties plus a few larger specimens. These new fish will compliment the expisting stock that have already be caught to over 26lb.

Island Lake:
Island Lake is over 30 years old and set in 35 acres of beautiful woodland, lying close to the River Seine. It’s around 20 acres and accepts a maximum of 10 anglers per week. A track around the lake makes easy access for vehicles to get to every swim. There are shower and toilet facilities on site. Each of the 14 swims has its own wooden chalet, equipped with two single beds, a bedside cabinet and a gas heater.

The lake has a stock of some 200 mirrors and commons. The vast majority of these are over 25lb, in fact the lake contains more 30’s than it does 20’s! There is also a good number of 40lb plus fish going to 50lb plus. The lake is fairly weedy so strong tackle is required. Boats are available on site but bait boats are also permitted. An on site bailiff is on hand during the daylight hours should you need assistance in finding productive spots or landing a fish.

Cedars:
The Cedars Lake is a mature gravel pit set a few minutes drive from its sister venue the Island lake. At around four acres in size is ideally suited to a small group of anglers and will accommodate up to 4 people. Access around three banks is possible by car, with the house bank remaining out of bounds. The venue is set in its own securely fenced in property separated from the road by the large cedars from where it takes its name.

Plans are under way for the coming season to install six large swims in the relatively steep banks, in the shape of dug out platforms and possibly wooden pontoons. Toilet and shower facilities will also be installed. The lake does have a stock of resident carp that have so far been caught to over 20lb, but the extent of these originals is as yet unknown. The owners will however introduce a good head of new fish during the coming winter.

Maurepaire:
Maurepaire is a 30 acre lake in the farm land region near the Orient Forest in Eastern France which is open for carp angling from the end of March to the middle of August. The facilities are located in the farm buildings adjacent to the lake which include shower, toilet and washbasin.

The lake is relatively long and thin being some 100-200 yards plus across, with eight comfortable platforms to accommodate a maximum of 12 anglers. The further pegs are wooden pontoon structures, while the closer swims are wide, gravelled pitches. The lake bed is quite silty over most of its area. Bait boats are allowed on the venue and the majority of the fish indeed are taken from the far reed lined margins.

The fish stocks consist of some 450 carp ranging from 15lb to 55lb, including two 50’s, sixteen mid 40’s and 324 fish from 25lb-40lb with 100 fish up to 25lb. Further carp will be stocked during the Winter of 2005.

Hideaway:
We have had Hideaway Lake on our books for a couple of seasons now, and it has recently changed ownership. The new owners now include the lake side house as part of the holiday package. This house has a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and can comfortably sleep up to six people.

The lake, which is just under two acres, is fairly narrow and oblong in shape - fishing is from one bank only. Depths vary from less than a metre near the feeder stream, averaging 1m in the centre and down to 2.5m at the dam wall end. The lake bed is largely firm with pockets of patchy silt, notably at the dam. The banks are flat and grassy, ideal for setting up a bivvy and a pod. There are no specific pegs, but the bank is fishable along its entire length. Access is by foot, with parking at the entrance to the lake. The whole site is secure and fenced in.

The lake dates back to 1947 and consequently has a good head of original carp. To supplement these fish the previous owner stocked additional carp in 2002 to a fraction under forty pounds, while several of the seven catfish stocked went over the 40lb mark.

News from some of our other French Venues:

Beaurepaire:
A nice medium sized gravel pit in northern France about 2.5 hours from the ferry, Beaurepaire would be ideal for a small group of anglers looking to catch a good number of carp.
Mr M White and a group of three carpers were on the venue from the 20th August for a short stay, where they had a huge haul of carp. Their tactics were to fish crushed boilies with PVA bags of crushed boilies to all areas out into free open water on a bed of maize & hemp. In all they landed over 500lb of fish to 28lb…

They commented: “We found the 1st two days very difficult.. until we saw how a local angler was catching! Once we knew what to do we each averaged 5 to 6 twenties a day, plus plenty of mid doubles too. Est fish went 28lb. Over 500lb of carp caught in the last in 2 days of our 4 day trip. Runs day & night non-stop. All fish in perfect condition….. Only wish the owner could speak English! The facilities were great, fridge and deep freeze with a cooker too. Shower nice & warm too. Will be booking again for next year”

Lac du Val:
This delightful little venue in the heart of the Normandy countryside has seen its facilities improve over the years and now boast excellent accommodation, both at the lakeside and near the main house. Fish stocks have also been improved and catches have got better and better.

Doug and Sue visited the venue from 13th to 20th August and had an excellent catch of carp. Their tactics included the use of a baitboat with the lake’s special boilies and pellets. In total they bagged 43 fish totalling 740lbs. ranging from 19lb to 2 x 30s.

They commented: “Lac du Val is an excellent fishery, in fact the best I have been to and is expertly managed by Dave & Sammy. Accommodation and food is more than you could hope for on a carping holiday. This is an ideal family venue and the area is great and the locals are very friendly…..cannot be recommended highly enough. Our accommodation was extremely well equipped, the non fisher stayed in the chalet with the bathroom and we stayed in the lake chalet so we could fish at night... and we were kept busy! All the fish we caught were in excellent condition. The lake and surroundings are beautiful. Thanks once again to Dave & Sammy for an excellent holiday.”

Windmill:
Another venue that has seen it’s catch rate improve regularly due to the fisheries management of Dave and Sue Bainbridge. It too proved that while some anglers were struggling on venues large bags were possible even in the hot August conditions faced by Ben Larter and Alan Ashpole and friends who were on the lake from 13th -20th August. In all to four anglers they bagged over 640lb of carp for 32 fish. The larges specimen went 32lb 4oz. Their tactics were to fish Halibut pellets of 14mm & 18mm over CSL pellets.
They commented: “The facilities were better than we expected. Extremely helpful owners, nothing too much trouble. Friendly and knowledgeable people who have a superb fishery. Highly recommended.

See you next month.
Gareth