Angling Lines News Report – September 2005
As all carpers will be aware the weather plays a vital roll in the pursuit of our quarry. It is difficult to contemplate reviewing fisheries and catches returns without looking at the weather reports and their influence on the lakes. As we move into autumn, we are still waiting for some significant rain here in France. The summer, while not as blisteringly hot as the one we had two years ago, has been seriously lacking in rainfall over much of the country - indeed water restrictions have been imposed and official drought conditions declared by the French Government. What precipitation we have had has often been in the form of violent storms and flash floods.

As I mentioned last month the early season was absolutely superb, but the lack of water and the subsequent oxygen problems experienced on a number of fisheries have made catches very erratic, to say the least. But a more sinister problem has also raised its head, that of fish deaths as a result of the low water levels and low oxygen levels leading to poor water quality. It is a subject that is often all but taboo and tends to get ignored and swept under the carpet by fishery owners.

We have however had a few lakes experience such problems. Both Roseau and Margot had to be closed due to carp finding the lack of oxygen more than they could take. Roseau has subsequently re-opened and doesn’t seem to have suffered too badly, only losing a handful of fish. The owner Christophe has a new batch of carp in quarantine that will be stocked during the Winter break.

Due to low water levels Margot was closed in August. The carp were netted and placed in a holding lake that has not been affected by the weather. Work has also been undertaken on the banks to improve access and swims. The fish will be returned to their natural habitat in the New Year, along with a boost to their numbers, in an effort to replace those carp lost.

Finally Island Lake, a new water we brought to you in last month’s news, has unfortunately also suffered from similar problems and they lost a number of good fish. Plans are in place to stock this autumn with up to 40 carp including a number over the magic 40lb mark.

Angling Lines will be present on both stockings at Margot and Island with our video camera to bring a full video news report.

Now on to more cheerful news and some reports of successful sessions from our venues, to prove that despite everything many anglers have enjoyed exceptional sport.

Rémy
Since we filmed at this venue in the early summer, the quality of the fishing experienced has been outstanding. Respected anglers Shaun Harrison and Jason Callaghan have both enjoyed some great sport at the water from carp that have to be seen to be appreciated, such is their beauty. Stephen Cleere and a party of 9 anglers were on the venue in the first week of September, and they caught a number of stunning carp, including the largest fish of the season so far at 46lb. Among the fish they landed were: Mirrors 1 x 46lb, 2 x 39lb 2 x 36lb 1 x 33lb, 17 x 18-30lb, Commons. 5 x 18-30lb. Grass carp 1 x 18lb. Their tactics consisted of single boilie and snowmen, with a moderate amount of bait. Most fish came from swim 5 by the pads, although the 46lb came from 4.

Their comments were: Stunning fishery set in woodland. Bailiff very strict your equipment and BARBLESS hooks WILL BE CHECKED Fish welfare paramount… …I will definitely go again. See it as an adventure. Directions from AL spot on.

Village
This long standing Angling Lines water has always been a good bet for a few big kippers. It is not always an easy water and can be a bit peggy, but get things right and good catches are more than possible. Matt Bland and his mates calling themselves the Fenland Mafia were on the venue during the last week in September. Between them they had quite a haul landing a total of 3 x forties, 40.12 mirror, 41.12 mirror & a 44.05 common - all p.b's. These superb fish were backed up by no less than 10 x thirties up to 38lb mirror and 36lb+ commons, 12 x twenties + loads of back up commons. They also banked 3 x Sturgeon up to 25.12, showing that these fish are piling on the weight. They recommend good angling technique consisting of: Long range casting for bigger fish. Big beds of bait in swims 4 & 5, hardly any bait in swim 3, a variety of tactics in swim 16.

They commented: Best group holiday by far, loads of personal bests (ask Mr Warren to tell you about his 40!) very clean, litter free lake. Some swims a bit tight for casting with your neighbours.

Hooked in France
This lovely little venue in Normandy has been producing some nice catches. Owner Lee Thorn has worked hard to transform this established holiday destination and is seeing the fruits of his work rewarded. Greg Freestone and a party of five were at the lake from the 10 to 17 September and managed to get in amongst the fish, making it a very successful first trip to France with a good time had by all, plus some PB carp. The group totalled 21 fish including 3x30s, 2x29s, 1x28 lots of 20s the biggest of the week a beautiful 35lb mirror.

They stuck to simple but effective tactics that consisted of Scopex pop-ups, which accounted for all bar one of their haul of fish.

They commented: Greg "Excellent fishery, great facilities, Lee's cooking is second to none. Hooked in France is the perfect place for a chilled out holiday and to get a bend in your rods".
Duncan "Lee thanks for making it a great holiday pb for me - result! Great first fishing trip to France".
Howard "Slow start - made up for it last day and night with the change in the weather. Good food especially “les moules." Lee thanks for all your help and hospitality.

New venue in South Africa
Moving on to the more exotic destinations we have on offer and the lads at African Gold have brought on line a new venue for the coming season. This giant water is a South African Raduta and rumours are of carp to over the South African record (64lb).

There had been a few stories about a big dam that held large carp and a fish of 29kg (64lb) that had been caught by a local angler on maize while fishing for small fish. It sounded like just another big fish story/myth until it was discovered to be true. Remember that the official SA record is 64lb.... although there are hundreds of stories about bigger fish. The lake is really picturesque, situated in a huge valley surrounded by banana and tea plantations, being very remote with the nearest fresh water half an hour’s drive away.

There is nothing on the banks for miles except dead trees and very little shade.
The area of water was around 800 acres, which is similar in size to the main expanse of water in Lake Raduta. The fish are also a similar strain with heavy scaled gutty mirrors, high backed fat commons and long torpedo commons. The mix of commons and mirrors is about 50/50. Seven months after their first reccy the lads were back to fish. The first carp landed was a 35lb 8oz mirror, this was followed an hour later by a common that was a pound heavier. During the next five days 23 thirties were banked to an ounce under forty and six fish over forty to 44lb. In total they had about 45 fish with nothing less than 25lb.
Note: It will only suit the "hardcore" carpers as it has no facilities what so ever, just lots of mud, snags and thousands of uncaught carp. African Gold are running trips to the venue immediately and putting together a larger trip at the end of February. They are looking at each individual trip on the number of people going and obviously the more on each trip the cheaper we can offer it for.

Bait News Update:
As many of you will be aware we have been literally knocked out by the virtually instant success of the Angling Lines Special baits. They really do seem to be a hit wherever they are used. We have received two separate reports over the last month from anglers using the bait on two different French waters.
Firstly Steve Bardens who’s September trip to an undisclosed French water proved very successful... he takes up the story with a brief run down on his catches:

Yet again the Angling Lines Special Crab baits have proven their worth. Above is the latest culprit to fall for the crabby carp sweets. A 46lb 8oz hard fighting leather which was the largest fish of a five fish catch in very difficult, very hot conditions. There were six other anglers fishing and all were struggling until one of the others swallowed his pride and came and scrounged some of my bait off of me. That got his bobbins moving for him too. My catch also included mirrors 37lb 8oz., 33lb 10oz and a couple of 20's. I don't know what you are putting into it but the bait has been responsible for my most successful year ever. Bait worries? I have none at all. I certainly know what I will be using again next year. My only criticism is that it is costing me a fortune in camera film. - Steve Bardens.

The second report we received was from Elie Godsi on a venue called Willow Lake in France. Although this is not a venue we promote we were delighted by the successful haul achieved by Elie on what by all accounts can be a tricky, but rewarding venue. Elie takes up the story:

Just returned from a week's trip to Willow Lake, France with my mate Tony Frost. The lake is in the Champagne region and about 5 acres in size. It contains just 50 carp, 9 of which are over 50 and many others over 40 but it is not an easy water and certainly not most people's idea of French fishing: you have to be prepared sit it out all week for maybe just two or three runs knowing you could catch a real whacker, or maybe even blank. The 3 people who fished the week before us didn't catch anything. It was a really hard week's fishing with many challenges I had never come across before, especially the submerged weed which was covered in thorns and cut through 15lb mainline like cotton. I had to wait until Wednesday night to land my first carp but I finished with mirror carp of 34-5, 47-9 and 55-4, both of the bigger carp were personal bests at the time and the capture of a fifty was a dream come true and what I had hoped to achieve on the trip. I also had 3 sturgeon 44lb 8oz (twice, repeat capture) and 51lb 8oz. The bigger sturgeon fought as hard as anything I have ever caught in freshwater - unbelievable fight. Tony also had 2 carp during the week of 45-4 and 52-6. All the fish came to Angling Lines Crab Specials, freezer baits as they are or air dried and rehydrated in hemp water and bloodworm liquid.

That’s all for now.

See you for the October Report next month.

Gareth