FFirstly thank you for expertly organising our holiday - even though there was a few hiccups and a change of venue it all turned out great.

We've all just returned from the best weeks fishing in our lives, were all still buzzing with the tales of the Margot monsters and have instantly booked for next year for 2 weeks !

We arrived at a very wet Margot about lunchtime to be greeted by Monsieur Bigot and his family who showed us the layout of the lake and swims (in a broken French/English sort of way) and also the newly refurbished lodge which was absolute heaven and had everything you need including full kitchen /diner 2 showers and drying room for your wet clothes. They then left us to draw for swims.

A few of the swims were restricted with access due to the extensive groundwork which had been carried out, but were accessible by boat if you were brave enough. We all picked a card for choice of swims and then made our way to our chosen swims.

The access around the lake is good and you can drive to the majority of swims.

I and Tim opted for swim I which I think is called Winter Point which will take 2 anglers easy with a major command on the lake. The only disadvantage is it hasn't been gravelled like the lodge bank and does become a bit of a mud pit in the rain. But that's only a small price to pay. It had been raining constantly for hours and setting up wasn't much fun especially with quite a gusty south-westerly as well.

Rods out and ready for action and it wasn't long before Mark was into a fish who was fishing in front the lodge. It turned out to be a 5lb catfish but it was a first ever pb so that was good. Just as it was getting dark one of my buzzers burst into life and as I struck this huge tail came out the water. What the hell, after a dogged fight we netted a 44.12 sturgeon. My first ever and biggest ever fish, over the moon and it was only the first day. But things got better a few hours later I heard a few other buzzer ripping off and cameras flashing.

I think by daybreak we had landed 6 fish between us and 4 of those were over 30lb !

My action dried up for a couple of days but the fish were still being caught around the lake, mainly by Mark who was bait boating method balls with pellet about 120yrd into deep water. I would recommend taking a bait boat with echo sounder as there's plenty of features that hold the fish that probably won't be found with a marker at distance. Though it isn't all distance fishing as a few were caught in the margins as there's plenty of water for the carp and for netting without having to wade in. But waders are useful especially for returning fish.

As the week progressed the action got faster and we were all catching day and night in torrential rain and wind but we didn't care by Wednesday I had caught 3 forties and a 38lb catfish while the other had tallied about 30 fish between them including at least 10 thirties and 2 forties.

I think it was Wednesday afternoon when Tims rod ripped off and hooked into the fish of a lifetime , as soon as I lifted the net I knew it was the big common which weighed in at 58lb ... wow wot a sight !!!

By Friday we had all beaten our personal bests for carp and new species at least 4 times in my case including two 38lb Albino catfish and also a few brightly coloured Koi made an appearance and also the big common decided to make a second appearance this time to mark at 58lb 8 oz, but no grass carp. All I was after to finish it off was a pb common and grassy.

Last night bizness and finally it stopped raining. well for a couple of hours anyway. The water level had risen at least 6inches during our week. Darkness fell and all was set, not long after one of my bobbins dropped back, missed damn, hour later middle rod does the same, strikes feels the fish gone. This was really strange as I had hooked and landed 12 fish without 1 loss.  Another hour later it was off again this time I had it and after an aching battle I netted the grassy I was after 32lb and another PB!

I eventually managed to catch a bit of sleep to be quickly woken by another run and another 40lb carp. Bivvy lights kept flashing through the night and headlamps roamed the lake flashing cameras.

In total for the week we had 64 fish including 2 x 50's , 8 x 40's , 16 x 30's , 20 x 20's , and 15 doubles including koi and catfish.

Really looking forward to battling with the Margot monsters next year!

Thanks!

Andy Lear