Details of your catches:

Swim 5
53-8 mirror, 39-14 mirror, 49-1 mirror, 43-1 mirror and one lost
Swim 1
55-9 mirror, 49-7 mirror

Your best tactics/bait/rigs:

I started off in swim 4 fishing to 5 with small bags with a handful of partiblend at the bottom of the far margin shelf. All 4 from here came in the first 24hrs to small white popups, after 36hrs without a bite I moved on the advice of Medhi to swim one and had the 55 mirror within an hour of casting out, and the 49 24hrs later on Tuesday evening.

Unfortunately the skies then cleared, the fish shut up shop and I didn't have another bite for the rest of the week but that's winter fishing for you.

Were the facilities what you expected?

Yes I've been before.

Were you happy with them?

Yes both Laroussi and Old Oaks are great venues.

Would you recommend the venue to a friend?

Definitely!!

Would you recommend the services to a friend?

Yes

General Comments:

I was fortunate and got a mild start to my week, but still had to work for the fish especially when on your own in the winter where you need to stay mobile, as the fish move away from pressure, i'd advise people to always listen to Medhi, he told me once id caught a few i'd then have to move and he was right lol !! Thanks for a great week Mehdi.

Details of your catches:

40.8lb mirror, 21lb mirror, 37lb mirror, 48lb mirror, 41lb mirror, 42.8lb mirror, 35.4lb mirror

Your best tactics/bait/rigs:

All fish were caught on strong smelling popups over a handful of crumbed boilie and sweetcorn.

Were the facilities what you expected?

Yes perfect, plenty of fridge and freezer space. Really handy to store clothes and luggage somewhere warm and dry.

Were you happy with them?

Yes

Would you recommend the venue to a friend?

100 percent, awesome venue

Would you recommend the services to a friend?

Yes i would and indeed have done

General Comments:

A really enjoyable week at old oaks, all things considered for the time of year it wasnt too uncomfortable. We had high winds and wet days but the temperature never dropped into the minuses. With regards to the fishing we didnt cast a rod out till sunday afternoon, had two fish within an hour then it went quiet for a few days. We found that moving around the lake and resting certain swims helped. All the bites would come within half an hour of getting a rig out and the window for catching was normally only for a couple of hours a day. I assumed that swims 1 and 2 would present the best opportunity but it was actually swim 5 that accounted for the majority of the fish.

Details of your catches:

Swim 1: 31lb, 40lb8oz, 44lb8oz, 46lb12oz, 49lb, 54lb all mirrors
Swim 2: Blank
Swim 4/5: Blank

Your best tactics/bait/rigs:

Pop ups/Snowmen over DNA Switch in small quantities

Were the facilities what you expected?

Yes all as expected

Were you happy with them?

Yes, hot shower was very welcome

Would you recommend the venue to a friend?

100% yes

Would you recommend the services to a friend?

Yes

General Comments:

Overall a tough week but the rewards on offer are amazing, average weight is so high and the fish seem to be growing on again with the removal of the Chats.
The cold weather early in our week seemed to stop the lake in its tracks with fish hanging in mid water/mid depth but unable to tempt with zigs.
Great fishing by Joel to extract 6 fish!

Details of your catches:

***Record no of fish, total weight of fish, biggest fish, most 40's, most 50's***

Peg 1- 22 fish
48lb Mirror
52lb Mirror
71lb LONG COMMON (Lake record)
50lb Mirror
39lb Common
32lb Mirror
24lb Mirror
36lb Mirror
46.8lb Mirror
44.8lb Mirror
13lb Common
53lb Mirror
35lb Mirror
49lb Mirror
43lb Mirror
15lb Common
47lb Mirror
20lb Mirror
38lb Mirror
35lb Mirror
47lb Mirror
38lb Mirror


Peg 2 - 23 fish
45lb Mirror
47lb Mirror
32lb Mirror
38lb Mirror
34
39.8
47lb Mirror
53.8lb Mirror
42lb Mirror
47lb Mirror
47.8lb Mirror
41lb Mirror
40.2lb Mirror
15lb Common
31lb Grass
35lb Mirror
51.8lb Mirror
39lb Mirror
45lb Mirror
40.8lb Mirror
49.8lb Mirror
12lb Mirror

Peg 3 - 12 fish
38.8lb Mirror
44.8lb Mirror
44.10lb Mirror
50lb Mirror
48.4lb Mirror
33lb Mirror
52lb Mirror
19lb Mirror
37lb Mirror
51.8lb Mirror
41.8lb Mirror

Peg 4 - 2 fish
36lb Mirror
15lb Common

Peg 5 - 9 fish
19.8lb Grass
23lb Grass
36.8lb Mirror
31.4lb Mirror
45.6lb Mirror
49.8lb Mirror
33.8lb Mirror
39lb Common
40.6lb Mirror

68 fish total

25 x 40's
9 x 50's
1 x 70

Your best tactics/bait/rigs:

Mehdi's particle and Live System fished tight to the far margin in the day and a rod length or two off the far margin at night.

Plastic enterprise boilies fished on pop up rigs accounted for 95% of the bites.

We fed boilies little and often throughout the week. The majority of the bites came whilst we were baiting up "ringing the dinner bell".

As a group we got through 125kg boilie and 50kg of particle

The Poison Chat didn't cause us any issues throughout the entire week. If you go prepared with resetting rigs and plastic baits and bait based on how active/inactive they are you wont have any issues with them.

Were the facilities what you expected?

The facilities are everything you could wish for on a drive and survive type holiday. Hot shower, functioning toilet and a large fringe and freezer.

Were you happy with them?

Very happy indeed.

Would you recommend the venue to a friend?

We have been to Old Oaks numerous times over the years. The venue is going from strength to strength under the management of Mehdi and the average weights are incredible.

Would you recommend the services to a friend?

Yes, have done many times.

General Comments:

You will not meet a nicer fishery owner than Mehdi. He is always on hand to help and will always go out of his way to ensure that you have a great week.

Mehdi was in constant contact throughout the week, willing us on to break some of his long standing fishery records. His enthusiasm and genuine joy when we smashed every record for the lake was brilliant.

As a group we have been to lots of french venues over the years, none of which come anywhere near Old Oaks. Year on year we find ourselves saying "I wish we were at Oaks right now"