Burons
Les Burons has proved to be a very popular venue due to its natural beauty, the proximity of the mobile home accommodation and some excellent catches being recorded by the anglers.

Bernard Johns accompanied by his family and friends were on the venue from the 18th to 25th of the month and managed an outstanding haul. They had a total of 54 runs, 44 of which were landed. 5 x 30lb fish, the biggest going to 31lb 12oz. 24 x 20lb + fish, the biggest going 28lb 2oz. 15 x doubles averaging 18lb to 19lb. Baits used during week consisted of 14mm betaine pellets along with 14mm and 18mm Angling Lines Specials. Quantities of baits were kept to a minimum due to high temperatures and recent spawning of the fish. Helicopter rigs fished with snowman style hookbaits to far margins accounted for majority of fish.

Bernie commented: “This was only our second venture to France and again we found a venue that exceeded all our expectations. The venue, fish and facilities are stunning, couple this with your hosts, Rob and Lin, and you have all the ingredients necessary for a week of pure bliss. Due to the high temperatures during our visit we only fished from early evening to mid morning each day. Considering these fish are predominately fed and caught on NRG and maize taking the Angling Line Specials might be considered by some as risky. However I am a great believer in a change is as good as a rest and was proved right with what I believe is the second biggest hit on the lake.”

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Hooked in France
Over the last couple of seasons Lee Thorn has transformed this lake into an excellent fishery and improved the stock considerably. The pretty venue set in the Normandy countryside is well laid out and this combined with Lee’s enthusiasm and experience in carp fishing makes it a great venue for first timers and seasoned anglers alike.

The Rice party were at Hooked in France from the 25th June to the 2nd of July and managed a very good bag of carp between them. The group of six banked 30 fish including 2 over 40lbs, at 46lb and 44lb plus respectively, as well as 5 over 30lbs, all the rest were doubles and twenties. Their technique in their words was bait boats and watercraft.

The team commented: What can I say?... apart from excellent fishing!! A 46lb cat on the first day, a 37lb mirror on the 2nd, great food, top lake and great team running it…..Good week’s fishing, boys loved every minute, can’t wait to return. We had an amazing time on a fantastic lake which is run like clockwork by top lads.


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Mas Bas
Mas Bas is one of those idyllic settings that is very French and has an atmosphere all of its own. This area of southern France has a wonderful charm and the food, the light and the sun make you feel like you really are in the South of France. The houses, facilities and fishing at this venue make a wonderful place for a holiday and recently the lake has been producing some quality fish too.

Gary Trimmer was at the venue from the 4th to 11th of June and managed an excellent haul of quality fish. In total the two anglers landed 18 carp, dropping quite a few due to weed, which has been thicker this year. The biggest was a 46lb mirror and the catch was made up of 10 x 30lb+ carp and 2 or 3 twenties, smallest 10lb. Their technique consisted of fishing up to lily pads over the weed, also fishing under the willow tree to the right of Lake House. They used double 18mm bottom fished boilies, but unusually for France managed to take a 31lb mirror off the surface also.

Gary commented: Very nice lake, idyllic setting, suitable for max 3 serious anglers on main lake. … Definitely will go again. Giles & Lesley superb hosts.


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Woods
Woods Lake is a gravel pit in the Champagne region and has remained somewhat in the shadow of its sister lakes on the Goncourt complex with which it shares the facilities. This lack of popularity seems somewhat unjustified as it has a huge head of fish. The carp are for the most part doubles and twenties, with a few thirties to 40lb+, and for the angler looking for hectic action with the chance of a few biggies thrown in then this could be for you. Oh! And if you fancy a go for the giant cats but can’t get down to the Ebro, then they too are present in numbers... and go to over 100lb!

We chose this lake to shoot our catfish video and using techniques from the Ebro we were able to catch a good number of the large whiskered beasts. Anglers Ron Woodward, Shaun Harrison, Justin Brierly and Mark Cowie had a great few days landing a good number of fish to 66lb. Using the tried and tested technique of Halibut pellets fed heavily and on the hook we accounted for around 15 cats from 30lb to 66lb. Personally I was bowled over by how effective this method proved. Our tackle was standard carp rods with 15lb line, 70lb braided hook links and size 2 or 1 Cat hooks.

Baits were boated out and pellet fed over the top. However, Shaun proved that Woods cats will take deadbaits by catching fish of 32lb 8oz, 34lb 8oz, 43lb 8oz and 50lb 8oz on pieces of mackerel. In addition to this superb catch of catfish the guys had a number of carp on the pellets too with the largest going over 31lb.

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Morgane

A small intimate couple of lakes in Normandy, Morgane is equipped with a comfortable mobile home. The complex boasts two separate waters, one holding carp to 40lb and the other catfish to 100lb plus. The mobile home has a wooden veranda overlooking the carp lake – it’s a great little venue for anglers looking for more comfort than a simple bivvy.

Greg Cooper and his mate Steve were at Morgane from 18th of June and were able to get in amongst the carp, both taking fish to over 30lb. Steve smashed his PB with a superb mirror of 38lb 6oz, while Greg was not far behind with a 34lb mirror the same night. Both anglers caught well during their week with a number of 20lb plus carp, many of which were commons. Their successful tactic was to use boilies and trout pellets as loose feed with PVA bags, and yellow banana pop ups on the hook.

Having been successful with the carp the duo turned to the cat lake and managed to get amongst the large catfish too with a baiting of Halibut pellets and trout pellets, using the Halibuts on the hook.

Richard commented; “After blanking for the first two days I beat my PB with a 22lb, followed by a 25lb and a 26lb and a few more mid twenties. I then had a 25lb 2oz Grass carp and a 38lb 6oz mirror. I’ve beaten all my PB’s well and truly! I didn’t think I would do that at all, not knowing the water and having not fished it before, so I’m really pleased.”

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Angling Lines Bait News
June highlights on the bait scene include the excellent 2nd place for team Angling Lines fishing the World Carp Championship on the St Lawrence river in New York State, USA. Team members Stewart McKenzie and John Tilbrook, both ex-pat Englishmen now living in Virginia USA, fished Angling Lines Specials over beds of corn to take 46 carp for a total weight of 842lb.

They fished peg 76 in a shallow bay off the main river and initially the fishing was slow, with just two fish being caught on the first night. It was a full 6 hours after the end of the competition before the duo were able to confirm that they had in fact taken second place behind Steve Briggs & Tim Paisley.

“It’s unbelievable, we’re still trying to let the whole result sink in,’ said Stewart. ‘Thanks to Angling Lines for the support and the excellent bait.”

Opening week for those fishing waters with a closed season in the UK has also proved successful. Jim Kelly, on the ultra difficult Mangrove, has been doing the business on the bait for a number of weeks now and was keen to get back on the water and again the bait did the trick.

Jim takes up the story; “I arrived on the Friday evening to find 5 fishing and more due to arrive. As there are only 8 swims that can really be fished, as one swim cuts another one off, the choice of swim was limited. I opted for the field, which is approximately half way along the North bank. Tactics were ALS fished in PVA bags. An Angling Lines Special bottom bait was fished on a mini ring sliding on the shank of a Kamasan B745 hook. The buzzer gave a few beeps at 12:30 in the afternoon and in a short space of time I slipped the net under a 28lb 9 oz common. Catching fish after 9am in summer is very unusual.”

Moving on to France and in addition to the excellent result mentioned above on Burons, Laroussi has again seen some spectacular catches on the Angling Lines Specials. Mr Hort landed a incredible haul of fish including mirrors to 50lb7oz (PB), Sturgeon to 56lb12oz (PB & a new lake record), a new French record Brown back sturgeon of 52lb8oz, a Grass carp of 41lb10oz and Catfish to 45lb11oz. These fish all smashed his personal bests for the species.

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