Mas Bas Lotus Lake

Details of your catches:

There was just myself fishing, too many fish caught to mention here but the highlights were:
PB Mirror 37lb in fact 1st fish caught! Double Mainline Cell 18mm with mixed pellet PVA bag.
PB Common 21lb 8oz Double Mainline Cell 18mm
Lots of 10lb + and mid twenty Mirrors and the odd common, also just a few Grass Carp up to 17lb +

Your best tactics/bait/rigs:

First of all I must say I have only been Carp fishing for a year so I'm a complete Carping novice, but I have coarse and sea fished all of my life.
Main Tactics were big baits, big sharp hooks (micro barb is recommended by Giles) and big leads 3-4 oz as the fish have hard mouths, most bait worked, if you use small baits expect smaller fish.
Lead safety clips are a must - expect to lose leads!
I used 18lb Fox mainline to leadcore leader and coated hook lengths to size 4 Fox Arma Point hooks. Although Quest Raja Spice boilies were available, I found that most bait caught fish, I will next time however use just one type of boilie either Raja Spice 20mm, Scopex 20mm or Mainline Cell 18mm, and about 10kg is adequate for the week, scattering bait in a wide area brought in the fish there is no real need for bait boats on Lotus, dumping piles and piles of bait in one or two spots is frankly not needed, the fish do patrol from the shallows to the deeper water to feed, fish were caught from the shallows but it is very snaggy.
There was lots of fish caught, too many to list, I fished mainly in the afternoon and evening, I baited the left hand bank in the morning with mixed boilies went out to visit the local markets and towns and sight seeing during the day as the Carp tended to congregate in the shallows at the far end of the lake basking in the sunshine.
Nearly all my fish came from the left hand bank it was the easiest place to fish and bait, but beware there are a couple of sunken stumps and the fish know they are there! Only had to use the dingy once to rescue a fish which, I was told, looked hilarious as I'm not a small chap and its a very small dingy!

Were the facilities what you expected?

The accommodation was fantastic in Willow, dish washer, washing machine, fully equipped kitchen, very comfortable beds, the outside Gazebo made an excellent base to sit and wait for fish while eating and drinking, the Gazebo has a PowerPoint and two lights, one over the fishing platform, excellent idea Giles!
The hosts Leslie and Giles were brilliant, very helpful and nothing was any trouble to them to satisfy our stay, even Giles finding some maggots for us, top tip if you want to fish maggot or worm for the coarse fish take your own as the price of maggots is extortionate in France and not easy to find.

Were you happy with them?

Very happy

Would you recommend the venue to a friend?

This was not just a fishing holiday, this was a relaxing holiday for us as a couple, and my wife was really pleased with Mas Bas (phew!) and has absolutely fallen in love with the place and surrounding area. We drove down from Roscoff and stayed in Limoges over night and then on to Cahors and finally Mas Bas on late Saturday afternoon. It is a long drive but don't let that put you off, we avoided the dreaded Motorways and saved about £70 on tolls, to be honest the roads were fairly empty compared to GB and very easy duel carriageways.

Would you recommend the services to a friend?

I have recommended to all my mates already and hoping to return August next year with all the family!

General Comments:

Just a brilliant venue

Details of your catches:

80-100+ carp to 41½lb (smallest 16lb). Multiple takes were regular, day & night, sunny & cloudy, did not matter, instant takes were common.

Your best tactics/bait/rigs:

Cell boilies over trout pellet pva bags or bait boat to likely areas.

Were the facilities what you expected?

Average, we were in Willow cottage with Lotus lake exclusive to ourselves.

Were you happy with them?

Ok, lack of kitchen utensils, no tv, video, shower head kept coming off & wetting bathroom.

Would you recommend the venue to a friend?

I would recommend Lake House & venue to anyone.

Would you recommend the services to a friend?

Yes

General Comments:

I've fished many places in France over 20 years but this venue was by far the easiest. With good conditioned, hard fighting carp. As to total fish caught we do not know as we lost count by day two & actually stopped fishing several times to get some rest. When you bear in mind that we were fishing the small lake, imagine what the large lake could do to you!!

We had to borrow cups, toaster, scart lead, utensils, etc. from Lotus House but we did enjoy ourselves & will go back. It would only take a few additions to make Willow Cottage into an excellent residential venue. I fished Watersmeet last year & can only say that if Willow Cottage matched that residence then Mas Bas would be unbeatable anywhere in France.

*** Note from the venue.. Our apologies re the lack of equipment initially in Willow cottage. The Cottage had much work done around it over the winter and it looks as though not everything was put back in time. This will be remedied! ***

Details of your catches:

Just 1 man fishing, during the day only and 30+ fish caught. A variation from grass carp, mirror, coy, common and weights from 6lb up to 41lb. Most success from Lotus lake, and quite a few of the smaller weights stalked at the far end. I mainly fished Lotus lake and pulled out too many to mention but the catch of the week was a 41 lb mirror carp, 31 lb common carp, 2 beautiful koi carp, and a lot in the high 20 lb mark.

Your best tactics/bait/rigs:

The best tactics were to listen to giles!! The most successful bait was Quest rhaja spice by far.

Were the facilities what you expected?

Yes fantastic

Were you happy with them?

Absolutely - all that we needed.

Would you recommend the venue to a friend?

We already have!!

Would you recommend the services to a friend?

Definitely

General Comments:

Gilles and leslie are fantastic hosts and made us feel so welcome straight away. Mas bas is just undescribable as the words and photos just don't do it justice - it is a must see location to appreciate the vast space and tranquil atmosphere.

We drove down from calais and stopped off at a b&b, le moulin, recommended by angling lines and the split journey made it a great adventure. My girlfriend doesn't fish but she was as overwhelmed with mas bas as i was - she was more than happy reading and lapping up the sun which was glorious.

We didn't really know what to expect as out first 'fishing holiday' but boy its set the standard high! A return visit is a definite and will look to book one of the larger houses and bring the family. Lotus cottage was perfect for the 2 of us and everything you need. The information pack that leslie gave us on shops, restaurants etc was brilliant and were grateful we had it.

Thank you bridget for recommeding, and gilles and leslie for being so wonderful - see you very soon!