Old Oaks Produces

Philip Wale and his party of four had a successful week at Old Oaks on an array of baiting tactics, take a look at the review below.

Mehdi was excellent, upon our arrival he showed us around the facilities and the lake then informed us how the previous few weeks had been for the fishing. It was clear from the catch reports and what mehdi told us that pegs 4 and 5 were fishing consistently well. We drew for pegs and peg 3 was the first to be taken followed by peg 5 then the remaining anglers both went into peg 4 and fished two rods each.

First fish of the week - 31lb

Around 6pm on the saturday peg 3 was the first to produce a take and it was a clean 31lb mirror, this fish was taken on a 20mm source bottom bait with very few freebies scattered close by. Fished two rods out from the far margin towards the over hanging trees.

It wasn’t until the next morning that we had anymore action; an hour before first light peg 5 kicked off and a 33lb mirror was sitting on the mat, this fish was taken on a 15mm pyramid baits pp60 bottom bait topped with a sticky baits bucha berry wafter. This was fished around 3/4 rods out from the far margin towards the corner.

The Key To Fishing Laroussi

An update from Mehdi on the trials and tribulations of  the last few weeks at Laroussi.

Anthony with his first carp of the week, a 60.02 mirror.

Anthony, fishing Laroussi this week, had a big problem after arriving on Saturday. His daughter accidently locked the van with the keys inside. With all his gear now locked inside that made it impossible to set up and fish! I managed to find him blankets, a bedchair and cooking stuff etc. After having a think we finally found the solution by getting a new key made at Ford directly. I took him the surprise that morning, he jumped on me he was so happy!

So, the above meant no fishing for the first 48hrs. He cast out this morning, first bite was a 60lb 2oz mirror! A new PB! He then followed this up with a further 68lb and a 43lb mirror. Wow.

Colin, arriving the week after, during his first night on Laroussi had 2 fish in a row :  a 57lb and 60lb! Conditions are extremely windy here now, big waves, ideal for catching fish.

And last but not least the Old Oaks team last week had a super week with 26fish out, 16 forties and 2 fifties ! They will send the feedback shortly. Mehdi

Anthony - 68lb

For more information on Laroussi follow the link - Carp Fishing in France

New Lake Record at Nautica

60.08 -  Nicola Bruneau

Nautica's owner Guillaume fills us in on last week's capture of the lake record...

On the 9th of October at 7am, I received a text which said 'I have Nautica'.  I rushed to the lake and found that Nicolas Bruneau had just caught the biggest carp in the lake, called 'Nautica', a magnificent two-tone female.

We noticed that she had gained weight because she had much rounder belly and full cheeks. We took great care with weighing her and the result was 27.4kg (60lb 8oz). Nicholas had used a snowman rig with Krill Bill boilies, which are a mixture of krill liver and bird food, which we sell here at the lake.

For more information on Nautica follow the link - French Carp Fishing

Black Country Carpers visit Laroussi

Back in August, Carl Sharp spent a week at Laroussi, the highlight being his capture of 'The Creature' at 57lbs.

You can watch the week unfold below...

For more information, videos and catch reports from Laroussi follow the link - Carp Fishing in France 

67lb Mirror Banked at Laroussi

Angler Steve Gaunt smashed his previous PB of 56lb 5oz this week with this Laroussi monster...

Here's what Steve had to say;

'Fish fought really hard , bite happened at 3:30AM at 65 Yards along the margin from L'Anse peg on a spot that Mehdi suggested to me the previous day!  I'm over the moon! Great place, we'll be back!'

They had a few other really decent sized carp during the week including a 51lb and a 48lb.

67lb

For more information on Laroussi follow the link - Carp Fishing in France

A Fifty for Genets

Ed Daw gets a soaking to celebrate a cracking new PB from Genets this month, weighing in at 50lb... 

A new PB

For more information on Genets follow the link - Carp Fishing France

Golden Oak Continues to Prove Itself

Chris Long, Dave Price and George Evans dropped in at Golden Oak for the week at short notice early this summer, only going on to land the boss at 63lb 8oz!

Details of your catches: 2 singles, 12 twenties, 7 thirties and the boss at 63lb 8oz. All in great condition and put up a good old fight.

Your best tactics/bait/rigs: After finding out from dick that the fish have a constant feed containing lots of maize and pale pulses going in I opted to top my baits off with a bit of plastic corn. Had a cracking few days and it wasn't long before the other two anglers cottoned on changing to a pineapple pop up over dicks party mix. Listen to his advice, fish the spots that are known for producing and be sure to pin your lines down. Don't ignore the shallows, had some great days watching the fish basking in the sun with no more than a rod, mat and net. Nothing better than hearing your persistence pay off when your drag starts screaming.

33.08 - Dave Price

Were the facilities what you expected? The facilities on site are second to none. We were fully prepared to spend the full week in our bivvies and arrived to find a beautiful building with three bedrooms, all ensuite, dinning area with all the facilities you need to prepare a slap up meal, a well maintained garden and patio area and even sky tv. If by any chance there is anything that you need or have forgotten, speak to joe and dick and they are always happy to accommodate.

63.08 - Dave Price

Were you happy with them? Was above and beyond our expectations.

Accommodation facilities: 
Accommodation cleanliness: 
Accommodation overall: 

Would you recommend the venue to a friend? Would recommend golden oak lake to any group of keen anglers. The fact that you are not tied to a peg means you are free to roam and drop in your baits wherever takes your fancy and the fact the the lake is all your means there are no other anglers to worry about. I would also recommend this place for anyone who struggles to find the time or money due to family commitments. This place is ideal for the family to relax, visit the resident goats, horses etc whilst allowing you to drop in a couple of lines. The gardens roll straight onto the lake (with gates to keep the kids away :)) allowing you to socialise whilst being close enough when your alarms begin to sound.

Would you recommend our services to a friend? We opted to take the food package which was very reasonably priced. I can't describe how good the food was, full english in the morning and a home cooked three course meal in the evening. Joe is a miracle worker in the kitchen and you will not find a better pastry anywhere else. If you are a fussy eater like myself, Joe is more than happy to offer up an alternative.

36.08 - Chris Long

General comments: We booked golden oak a week before we were due to leave due to our original booking with another complex being cancelled so we were just happy to have somewhere to fish. We were blown away when we arrived to find that the whole site and accommodation was ours to use as we please. Joe and dick can not be more accommodating and it was lovely to sit down and have a beer with a couple who care so much about their business, fish and guests.

Don't arrive with the preconception that you know it all, listen to what they have to say and take their advice. We did after having a slow day and managed to bank the boss at a new lake record of 63lb 8oz. The fish are beautiful, it's nice to see a fish with everything intact. The food on site was amazing and after showing pics of the facilities and fish to some of my fellow anglers, i already have competition for the dates i want next year, missus in tow if i can convince. 5 star plus. Thanks for a great week Joe & Dick and see you sometime next year.

For more information on Golden Oak follow the link - Fishing Holidays

Alder Produces its First 50lb Carp

Young Joe Tasker outfished all the adults on Alder lake this week to land the first recorded 50 lb'er...

Joe caught, played and netted the fish all by himself as all the adults were otherwise occupied. However it needed the adults to lift the 50lb 12oz fish out of the water.

Joe who had only been angling for two years and had a previous PB of 24lbs was given the traditional reward for outfishing his elders!

Carp fishing in France at Alder

Patience Pays Off at Laroussi

Here's some feedback from Royston Butler after a trip to Laroussi this month...

Details of your catches: 57lb 8oz mirror, 40lb 6oz mirror, 55lb 2oz sturgeon, 37lb mirror, 46lb 08oz mirror (3rd fish out on a zig ever), 17lb common, 18lb common.

Your best tactics/bait/rigs: Zigs, little and often approach, fish would not respond to larger beds of bait and were very riggy. Monster squid, cell, in fact most boilies should work well, be aware too much pellet will attract the big cats and sturgeon.

Royston Butwell

General comments: Its was a very hard week, with the weather changing to very hot the day we arrived and was 35+deg most days.

All 8 anglers were good experienced carp fishermen, we tried every trick in the book and some to try and temp the fish but they had more on their minds with the grass carp spawning the main head of the fish where congregating around the spawning area and not interested in feeding. They are very riggy fish, so dont expect it to be a runs water! Listen to medhi, he is a fantastic guy, very helpful and will explain what the best areas are on your swim. Don't pile the bait in, fish little and often. Too much pellet will attract the cats and sturgeon.

The village is quite close to the lake (5 min away) and has an 8 till late store, Le Mans is not too far either (15 min) and has plenty of large shopping facilities, fuel etc.

All in all a brilliant venue, very clean english looking lake but with some mahoosive fish, i will definitely be going back. Thank you Medhi, thank you Angling Lines!

Carl Sharp

For more information and feedback from Laroussi follow the link - Carp Fishing in France

‘The Boss’ makes an appearance again at Golden Oak!

David Price came to Golden Oak with a PB of 49lb 11ozs. On Wednesday 26th June he was woken up at 8 in the morning and smashed his old PB by landing 'The Boss', weighing in at 63lb 8ozs beating the lake record by 2oz.

63lbs 8oz

Dave was fishing the far bank over a bed of Dick's particle mix and crushed boilies and using pineapple pop ups.

Dave about to get an obligatory soaking!

For more information on Golden Oak follow the link - Fishing Holidays

Beauty of a new PB for Margot Angler

Gary Campbell gained a new PB this month at Margot with this 52.04 common… 

52.04

To read their catch report and feedback follow the link – Carp Fishing in France

Big Fish Time at Old Oaks

May has been a mad month at Old Oaks with plenty of big fish, here’s the round up below…

Earlier in April, Des Chapman landed 3 fifties up to 54lb, almost in a row, with a plenty of forties and high thirties.

Andrew Hooper’s team had a super week with 33 fish including the Long common and the Pizza common at 52lb3oz and 6 forties.

A kiss for the Long common at 60lb 8oz

Terry Campen and Peter Shearing were fishing from Saturday 18 May. Terry had his very first bite on Sunday and what a bite… the Long Common at 60lb 8oz ! ! !

Peter, a few days later, was happy to break the lake record mirror with a stunning dark fish weighing 58lb.  He also had a 54lb and 5 good forties including a fast growing common at 42lb.

Finally, last week, Tony Wolfe’s party enjoyed a super week with 30 fish, with 16 forties and  2 fifties at 52lb 6oz and a new lake record at 58lb 12oz !

So it’s another new lake record within a week and the good news is it’s a different fish.

Tight lines
Mehdi, Owner at Old Oaks

For more info & catch reports from Old Oaks follow the link - Carp France

58lb 12oz mirror is latest record at Sapphire

During the week commencing 18th May at Sapphire we received this short message from Jake Watkins, fishing on his own at the dam wall end…

“Fish everywhere up this end. Wind really blowing. 58lb 12 oz mirror. 5 fish in first 24 hours! – fingers crossed”

58lb 12oz

Well done Jake – that’s smashed the lake record 54lb 4oz common banked over a year ago and the 53lb 10oz mirror banked just last month.
For more information, photos and articles on sapphire follow the link - Fishing Holidays

One Day and Three Record Commons

The fishing has well and truly warmed up along with the weather at both Laroussi and Old Oaks. The 3 biggest resident commons at the lakes have been caught… and all in the same day!

The ‘Long Common’ at 59lb and the ‘Pizza Common’ at 52lb in Old Oaks and a 50lb 2oz in Laroussi. Will be interesting to see all of them progress over the next few years!

The ‘Long Common’ – Peter

The ‘Pizza Common’ – Andy

Laroussi and Old Oaks are both owned by Mehdi Daho, a highly respected carp angler in his own right, and are situated in the heart of the beautiful Pays de la Loire countryside.

For more information on the two venues follow the link - Carp France

Michelin star chef banks 3 x 50′s at Sapphire

Jake Watkins knows a thing or two about fish. It’s one of the specialities in his own Michelin star JSW restaurant…

When it comes to catching them, he’s somewhat of a specialist too. His 3 x 50′s included the lake record 58lb 12oz mirror at Sapphire and his total haul of 31 carp included 8 x 40′s and 14 x 30′s, putting his average catch in the high 30′s.

To use a phrase that Jake must hear often in his famous kitchen..

‘Nice fish!’

For more feedback and photos from Sapphire follow the link - Fishing Holidays

63lb Mirror Sets New Golden Oak Record

63.06

Colin Hodgkinson came to Golden Oak with a PB of 31lb 8ozs. and ater couple days of getting wet and catching some 20′s he lands The Boss

- weighing in at an incredible 63lb 6oz

What a way of of setting a new PB and a new Lake Record.  Well done Colin!

For more information on Golden Oak follow the link – Fishing Holidays

Two Fifty-Two’s at Boux

Scott Fry was out at Boux  this month coming away with 28 carp including these two cracking 52lb’ers, here’s a round-up of his feedback…

52lb mirror

Details of your catches: 28 carp caught with two 52′s(common and mirror), seven 40′s, fourteen 30′s and five 20′s including the bright orange koi.

Your best tactics: Few caught on singles cast to showing fish but most caught on a bed of bait, more particles than boilie though.

General comments: Long drive from Calais but the hard fighting carp make the trip worth it.

Would you recommend the venue to a friend? Yes.

52lb common

For more information, feedback and photos from Boux follow the link - Carp Fishing in France

What a Start at Laroussi – 58lb & 67lb Mirror Carp!

What a Start at Laroussi – 58lb & 67lb Mirror Carp!

February 27, 2013DavidNo comments

Huge congratulations to Steve Knight! He was the last angler on both Laroussi and Old Oaks & caught the last carp of the 2012 season (mid December).

Steve, loving the challenge, came back early February 2013 on Laroussi to try to seduce the first carp of the year and he did it with a lovely 26lb common.  Braving the horrible weather nights and days and fishing in a water at only 4°C during several weeks proves the determination of Steve.

Second angler of the year on Laroussi is actually fishing right now… Mr Naylor, alias Mr Sixty, is back !

Within 24hrs, fishing in a water at 4°C,  -4°C air temp and snowing, he showed us again his skill by catching a superb 58lb mirror!

But Wayne wants more…

Last night, he landed his second carp at 67lb!

A new PB for Mr Sixty!

Congratulations, that’s awesome… and still another 5 days to go!

More details and photos to follow.

Carp fishing in France at Laroussi

Winter Review (December & January) of Villefond Carp Lake

Winter Review (December & January) of Villefond Carp Lake

February 25, 2013DavidNo comments

Arthur at 55.04

Winter Review

Lake Manager Mark Lambert has taken full advantage of the quiet winter period here at Villefond to test out the new tweaks and flavours made in the house bait range which includes the new plum nut bait which has already had great results. Fishing just short sessions through out the winter using the new baits Mark banked 3 x 20’s, 6x 30’s, 9 x40’s (to 47lb 12oz) and 1 x 50.

The 50 was the big Common known as Arthur and for the second capture running has set a new lake record for a common Carp.

This is the fish I will focus on in the next section.

Fish of the month

Arthur is by far the lakes largest original fish (unstocked by us) and was first reported to us by Mark himself some years ago at 44lb+ and since then has continued to grow and has now set a new common carp lake record on both its last captures this time at a whopping 55lb 4oz.

I know as well on a personal level how much this capture meant to  Mark as well, as lake manager Mark gets to see all these fish getting caught but only very rarely gets to fish for them himself and has been desperate to catch one of the lakes 50’s. A dream he has now made reality and for the fish to be caught on the new improved Villefond house bait just makes that capture even sweeter.

We have our first customers on as early as mid February this year and with the new bait already performing so well I can se another year of records here at Villefond so watch this space in the coming months.

Carp Fishing in France at Villefond

54lb Common Carp is the New Villefond Record

54lb Common Carp is the New Villefond Record

February 3, 2013DavidNo comments

Lac Du Villefond‘s Arthur at a Massive 55lb 4oz caught by Mark Lambert on 30/01/2013.  Mark used a 16mm pop up on a size 8 curve shank hook over a bed of 16mm venue sold boilies.

You can read the story here.

Carp Fishing in France at Villefond