Angling Lines News Report – May 2006
As usual the weather is one of the major topics in the minds and conversations of carp anglers venturing over to France and beyond at this time of the year. Will it be too hot? Will it be too cold? Will the fish have spawned? Well the climatic conditions that most of us have been experiencing so far this summer have been swinging back and forth with great regularity. Early June saw me sitting in my camper at Maurepaire as the rain beat down and the temperatures hovered around 11 or 12°C. Then less than a week later it was 38°C as I sweltered in the muggy still air on the banks of the Etang de la Botte.

These wild variations have naturally had their effect on the carp - on both the spawning and feeding patterns. Most lakes have seen the carp attempt to spawn two or three times, and the ups and downs of water temperatures have often made feeding sporadic.

Hopefully now that things are more settled we will see more consistent catches become more widespread. I have certainly noticed over the years that variable weather is never a recipe for "Bag up" catches, where as stable and constant temperatures even if this means warm weather, can see the fish settle into a feeding pattern where they become much more catchable.

So onto a round up of some of the some recent catches in France .

Chapel
Since the owner Bob Williams took over this stunning venue in the Limousine areas of France , he has put a lot of effort into improving both the facilities and the fish stocks. So far anglers visiting the lake have not been disappointed with a rake of large fish gracing the banks.

Ray Poolman's party of four were at the venue from 20 th - 26th May and certain had a haul they will remember which included 14 x Singles, 20 x Doubles, 36 x Twenties, 1 x Thirty, 1 x 56lb, 1 x 63lb. The total for the week was 73 Fish for 1400lb. Average fish weight of just under 20lb. Their tactics consisted of feeding heavily, or funnel web worked close to the lilies. They used mostly meat or fish based baits the Quest Special Crab & Dynamite Marine Halibut both worked well but the Quest bait was by far the most successful. Bait boats or rowing out was needed in the distance swims.

Their general comments:   A brilliant venue, very comfortable with very good facilities, the bailiff Joe and his wife Lynn really made the trip for us, nothing was too much trouble for them. They also were on the lake when we recorded our 2 largest catches 56lb & 63lb, The whole venue and handling is geared to feeling you are on a water that will grow and grow. It was cold and rained daily but the chapel offers a good social refuge. We will be back.

Duncan and Chris de Gruchy took over the following week but still managed to bag a 60lb plus mirror at 62lb 8oz and a mid forty at 45lb 4oz. Tactics were pretty much as above.

They commented:  A great week spent at a beautiful lake. Joe (the bailiff) and his wife Lynn made us feel very at home and gave us good advice on where to fish and what approach to use. This lake has tremendous potential and has a good mix of large and small carp giving the angler the chance of both action and quality fish.

Click here to learn more about Chapel

Old Oaks
We have mentioned this new quality fishery already in the news reports, and this months sees the inclusion of a new up-to-date video clips shot at the lake in May with the owner Mehdi Daho. He has now completed the work on the facilities, which he has done to an even higher standard than the sister lake Laroussi . The shower, toilet and kitchen area are excellent, and he has added a massive fridge, and a large chest freezer of bait.

Fish wise the winter stocking went ahead as planned and was extremely successful. Since the first few anglers have started to fish the venue catches have been excellent.

During the filming I was fortunate enough to see the lake record common of 37lb landed by venue regular, Bruno Grosbois. During his stay at the venue he banked five other thirties and a brace of 20's.

Other anglers have fared equally as well. Tony Pichon, also present during the video shoot landed 19 carp in his week with 9 thirties : Mirror : 35lb 4oz ; 34lb3 oz ; 33lb ; 32lb ; 31lb 8oz ; 31lb 8oz ; 31lb ; 30lb ; 30lb ; 29lb 4oz (PB Linear); 28lb 12oz ; 28lb 12oz ; 28lb 12oz (common) ; 28lb 12oz ; 25lb 6oz ; 24lb 4oz ; 24lb 4oz ; 23lb 4oz ; 23lb 4oz.

The week commencing 6 th June saw the Rebbeck party of five visited the venue and they were treated to the same success as previous anglers. Their catches were: 11 thirties with 4 new PB's : 36lb12oz(PB) common, 35lb , 33lb8oz , 32lb8oz , 32lb(PB) , 32lb , 31lb8oz , 30lb8oz , 30lb8oz, 30lb8oz , 30lb10 good twenties from 23lb to 29lb with a 25lb8oz(PB) and a 28lb8oz (PB).

They commented: The manager was very helpful. Excellent care taken of fish & venue. All fish caught were in top condition. Fish spawning during week due to hot weather, 95% of the action at night.

Click here to learn more about Old Oaks

Vivier
This new venue on our books, the Etangs de Vivier set in the Loire Valley area of France , really is a stunning lake. Set in a richly forested area, it offers lush mature banks and well set out swims and is beautifully kept by its owners Pennie Cullen and Ian Turk. The venue has an excellent head of quality fish ranging from doubles to low forties. The bulk of the catches are in the high twenties with a good number of thirties also. Other species include catfish to over 70lb. The facilities on the site consist of a comfortable mobile home, with hot shower and toilet. During my visit to lake I was fortunate to seem some lovely fish banked, as all the anglers enjoyed good action - best carp went 35lb and the biggest catfish over 54lb.

The video clip shows detail of the venue and has an interview with an angler who explains his tactics for tempting the fish. PVA bags seem to be the 'in' method at present and certainly seemed to be working well. Barry Gibbs had a party of ten including six children on the lake during the last week of May and the start of June. They managed a very creditable 39 fish caught including six thirties, numerous twenties, some doubles and three singles. Tactics were using bag or stringers at distance.

Barry commented: Penny and Ian were very friendly and helpful throughout the week. we were hampered by the inconsistent weather but still caught well.

Click here to learn more about Vivier

Maurepaire
This once famous carp venue was nearly lost to angling a couple of years ago and a lot of speculation about it's future and current fish stocks went on. We were fortunate to spend a week on the banks of this fabulous and extremely pretty lake in June. Weather conditions were far from favourable as myself, Ron Woodward and Tony Davies-Patrick set up to fish. Following the bailiffs advice, based on subsequent week's catches we set up nearest to the dam wall. Fishing over on the far reed margin, Tony was away first with a superb 35lb common. Ron followed up next with a 46lb mirror. We had however seen far more fish moving up by the lilies at the opposite end of the lake so moved up to this area. Again tight to the lilies and far margin reeds paid off, with two to three fish as day gracing our nets. Tony managed a lovely mid thirty mirror and a number of high twenties, while Ron added a second forty to his tally at just over 41lb. I was fortunate to sneak out three 20lb commons and a nice 35lb mirror. You can get a taste of what the venue is like and a view of some of these carp on the recent video clip.

We haven't been the only anglers to rediscover this water..

Kurt Steers & Andy Reeves were on the lake the week prior to us and it was their fantastic haul that had so enthused us on our arrival. They banked a total of 6 x 40's, 16 over 35lbs and 11 x 30's under 35lb. They also lost 3 huge commons at the net. They used bait boats to drop rigs on their spots.

They commented: Fantastic fishery but please adhere to rules at all times as the bailiff is strict and will check rigs with no prior notice.

Glen Baynton and his mate took over after we left as conditions got hotter and the fish fed less. but they still banked a total of 19 fish: 42lb,36lb,34lb,33lb,30lb common, with the remainder mid 20's. A lot resulted in hook pulls fishing hard to snags.

They commented :  A lovely venue with fish in good condition.

Click here to learn more about Maurepaire

Botte
This venue is well known to Angling Lines as we in fact discovered it a few years back. Well we are now able to offer it once again. The lake, as those who have been in the past will know, is a 30 acre plus gravel pit set in the Champagne area of France , near Vitry le François.

I was there the second week of June in sweltering weather to shoot to a video clip.

Despite what would at first appear far from ideal conditions fish were caught consistently throughout the week, many during the day. The best fish of the week was a super mirror of 49lb 12oz. Most of the carp banked during my few days were mid to upper twenties, with a handful of thirties. The video clip shows some of these carp and a brief overview of the facilities and the lake.

Click here to learn more about Botte

That's all for now.

See you next month.

Gareth