A New Fifty at Lords

51.13 Lake Record Common

Andy Fish, fishing at Lords with his mate Eddie Lucas bagged a brand new 50 pounder this week with this stunning 51lb 13oz common. This latest 50 is a new lake record for a Lords common. The lake record mirror still stands at 54lb.

The bait it took was a Cell boilie with pink pepper (crit bal).

For more information on Lords follow the link - French Carp

The Latest from Morgane Carp and Catfish Lakes

68lb Mandarin - James

40lb - Chris

Fishing Morgane Lakes between the 13th - 20th April, Chris Rice's group caught 56 fish in total, including:

1 x 40,
12 x 30's to 37-8
22 x 20's to 29.00 including several ghosts and a koi at 26lb 8oz.

6 x under 20's caught mainly on the cat lake.
11 x cats including 1 x 68lb mandarin and 1 x 51lb mandarin.
4 x grass carp to 34lb 8oz.

Best tactics/bait/rigs: Cell bottom baits + pop-ups with maize.

General comments: Excellent week, fish in great condition, would recommend. Nice variety with mandarins, koi's and lovely commons and mirrors.

For more information on Morgane follow the link - Lakes in France

Commons Lake Record Goes Again – 52.01 Common Carp

Commons Lake Record Goes Again – 52.01 Common Carp

April 30, 2013DavidNo comments

52.01 – the new Commons record

We had a call from excited Commons angler, Tony Steele, on Saturday morning before he left the lake to go home to ask us whether the 52lb 1oz common that he bagged on Friday night would be a new lake record.

Well it certainly is – well done Tony!

For more info on Commons follow the link – Fishing France

Field Testing Tales – Angling in the Freezer zone

It was the end of March and Jim Kelly and I were about to take on our first field testing trip of 2013.  We were off to Northern France to fish a lake on a trial for Angling Lines. With these first exploratory trips on a new lake, our purpose is to provide feedback to both to the owners and Angling Lines, with the prospects of the lake being taken on as a viable concern.

This was supposed to be Spring

We not only take into account the fishing, but also the facilities provided and services provided such as meal packages etc. Prior to our arrival at the venue we were fully aware that the facilities were still under construction so we would be unable to comment on them. We had however arranged to have the meal package.

We were to concentrate on trying to get an idea of the stocking density of carp in the lake along with lake features and anglers swims.

One of Jim’s fish of the first morning from deeper water

We arrived in Calais around midday and made our way to the Normandy Region of Northern France with temperatures varying from 3 degrees to 8 degrees. During the journey we saw odd snow drifts scattered about the country side, remnants of heavy snowfall from the previous week. Around 5 miles from our destination we noticed the temperature dropping as we started to climb up hilled areas. By the time we reached the lake the whole area was still covered with around 4 inches of snow. Apparently we were 1000 feet above sea level and they earlier had between 6 and 8 inches of snow that very morning.

We couldn’t set up on the snow comfortably so the first night was spent in the comfort of the lake owners gite. A good hearty meal and we had an early night.

The west bank, where the cold Easterlies hit all week

On the Sunday morning both Jim and I set about plumbing and leading the lake.

A typical low 20 mirror

We found that the majority of the lake bottom was covered in meadow grass that had grown and died back. This was a result of the lake being drained last year for major work on the lake bed with the grass taking hold during the drying out period prior to the lake being re-filled. Depths ranged from 2 foot to 11 foot with the majority of the lake being over 3½ foot.

The recent snow along with the recent work on the lake had left three of the banks muddy and un-fishable so we had no choice but to set up camp on the West bank of the lake, now mostly snow free. Jim dropped onto the left of the bank where the deepest part of the lake was situated, giving him around 11 foot to play with.

A view to the deeper water off the dam

I was further along the bank with depths of 6 to 3 foot available to me.

Jim put out single fluro pop ups on all three rods and cast them out into the deeper water and within the first couple of hours he had banked 3 low twenty pound mirror carp. I put out an assortment of pop ups and bottom baits but I could not buy a bite. The Easterly wind was chilling the water in front of me as well as freezing us both to the bones. The temperature dropped to -8C overnight and by Monday morning Jim had banked another 2 carp and I had managed to wheedle out a single carp.

Jim’s Carp in the Snow

Jim’s swim on the corner of the West bank

As it came light I began a slow move to the more sheltered East bank. The temperature appeared to be around 5 or 6 degrees warmer than the other bank, this would do me for the week as long as that wind kept in the same direction.

Jim stayed with his deep water marks to freeze on the cold East and North Easterlies that were to hit us for the rest of the week.

On the East bank there was only one possible location to fish which was on a grassed slope with a muddy bank leading down to the water. My rods were at least 20 yards in front of me, this was the closest that I could bivvy up to them, but I was comfortable now and warmer.

The muddy slope leading down to my rods

I found an area in front of me around the size of a table tennis table that was totally clear of this dead grass. I decided to put out a bit of bait and spombed out about 150 boilies onto this area made up of Quality Baits 12 mil HG47 and 16mil HG42 Specials. I put 2 rods on this area, one with a critically balanced pop up and the other on a HG42 Special bottom bait.

I started to pick up the odd carp, re-baiting after each fish with 4 spombs of assorted boilies. This seemed to work, I was on the back of the cold wind in much warmer water and my baiting strategy was working. Jim had another 3 fish, taking his tally to 8 carp by Thursday Morning and I had managed 14 carp.

I had a run shortly after this photo was taken

The forecast was for more snow and we had achieved what we had set out to do. Despite the poor weather conditions we had still caught 22 carp averaging low twenties. Not bad!

Another one of Jim’s cold weather carp

Last fish of the session before we left for home

Our prognosis for the lake was that more time was needed for the banks to mature and that more swims should be constructed giving anglers access to all parts of the lake. The average size of the fish that we caught was around 21lb, however the stock that the owner had purchased were the same strain of fish as in lakes such asMargot, Sapphire Lake and Oakview. These fish ranged from 20lb to 40lb and no doubt the bigger fish were present but not feeding in the adverse conditions.

Plans for the facilities to be completed over the next month are in hand and I am sure that this lake, although presently not named, will be on the Angling Lines books in the near future.

Best of luck to the owners for the future who were excellent hosts and provided an excellent food package.

Paul Cooper,
Angling Lines Field Tester

To read more of Paul’s Field Testing articles click here

Sizeable Pike comes out at Vaux

Ann Marshalls’ family must have been fairly surprised when they reeled this 24lb pike in (on a boilie) last week when fishing Vaux.

24lb

31lb

They followed this up with 3 doubles from top of the lake, 4 twenties and 2 thirties at 31lb and 35lb. All fish over 20lb were caught from the dam wall. Their most successful tactic was walking baits round to the sluice and putting them 2-3 meters off the wall. High-viz popups and yellow dumbbells worked the best.

To read more feedback from Vaux follow the link –Fishing Holiday

A Glehias Trio

Andrew Edwards was over at Glehias for a week at the very end of March, coming away with a trio of eye-catching thirties…

Details of your catches: 8 carp – 1 x 4lb, 4 x 25lb-30 and 3 x 30lb+
Your best tactics/bait/rigs: Raja over pellet at shallow-end.
General comments: Brilliant week with excellent fishing, just wish it was warmer! Will be back in the summer.

30lb

32lb

30lb

For more information, articles, videos and feedback from Glehias follow the link - French Carp Fishing

A week’s fishing at Molyneux

38.06 – 12yo Brett

The weather leading up to the arrival of this week’s anglers at Molyneux had been awful. On Thursday and Friday we had snow falling and settling to a few inches, and an icy North wind that was making the low temperatures feel so much colder. 

Saturday morning and our first guests of the week arrived. Loretta and Brett, we were surprised that rather than a couple they were in fact Grandmother and her 12yr old Grandson, who was to be fishing.

This was a little awkward because our rules clearly state that nobody under the age of 16yrs old is to fish the lake unless supervised by an adult angler fishing in the same swim. This is purely due to the size of fish in the lake and, like all rules, for fish welfare and of course the angler’s safety.

We couldn’t of course ask them to go home, so I made sure that Brett understood to call me if he landed a carp and whatever time it was I would go out and help him with the handling, photographing and weighing of the fish.

Our other angler Jason, turned up a short while later, and after the initial cup of tea and chat we all wandered off for a look around the lake. 

Lake Map

Brett was going to fish the cabin swim, where his Grandmother would spend the week, and Jason decided to fish Social 1 and concentrate on the back of the island.

The weather was still very wintery and chilly, with an evil Northerly wind cutting across the lake and through to our bones.

The guys got themselves set up and organised and were soon fishing.

Brett called me around 11pm to say he had a fish on but was struggling to land it. I shot along to his swim and found he had a good fish in close, but it was refusing to co-operate and plodding up and down the margin. I took the net and after a few minutes of Brett wrestling with it to keep it away from his other lines I managed to net it for him.

Immediately looking down on the fish I knew it was a very long fish, we took it up to the unhooking area, where Brett unwrapped his prize. A stunning orange coloured mirror, almost as long as his weigh-sling. I took some photographs and we weighed it. At 35lb’s exactly it was Brett’s largest fish by a long way. His previous pb being 19lb’s caught on a day fishing at one of his local waters. He had not even spent a night in a bivvy before this first night.

The following day was just as cold and windy, except there was rain to contend with as well. Both anglers gave their best but sadly nothing was to be landed.

Monday was slightly milder and more importantly stayed dry for the whole day. Still nothing came out. Monday night was the first night we have had this year where the temperatures didn’t drop below zero… Hopefully things were about to change for the better.

Tuesday morning at 3am Jason landed a cracking mirror of 38lb 12oz. He lost another at around midday, before landing a second at around 8.30pm, a 28lb 8oz mirror.

38.10 – Jason

That night was much milder yet again, and at a little after 1am I was woken by the sound of my phone. Brett had hooked another fish. I shot down, and between him and Loretta they had managed to get this one into the landing net.

I broke the net down and rolled it up to lift. That was when I realised just how big the fish was.  I lowered it onto the unhooking mat where we opened up the mesh of the net to reveal a proper lump of a carp. On the scales it proved to be 38lb 6oz.

38.06 –  Brett

At 7am, Brett had another, a much smaller common this time weighing in at around 10lb’s. I later learnt that Jason had lost a fish overnight.

At 3pm on Wednesday Jason landed the first Grasscarp of the year at a healthy weight of 31lb’s, in stunning condition. These truly are a lovely looking fish.

In the early hours of Thursday morning I was roused from my slumber again by a phone call from Brett. He had landed another big carp. I got dressed quickly, glanced at the clock and found it was 4am.

I jogged down to the cabin swim, where I broke down and rolled the net once more. Once again I was  amazed as I tried to lift this carp. It was even heavier than the previous two, and by some way!!

I struggled to the unhooking mat, where I gently laid it down, I lifted off the mesh and there was an old friend….. Big Lin, our only named fish, and the largest in the lake. Brett had just broken his pb once again… but by how much… We lifted her onto the scales where they settled at 47lb 6oz, a new lake record, and a massive new pb for Brett.

47.06 ‘Big Lin’

Meanwhile Jason was having a mare, having lifted into thin air three times during the night after what seemed to be a run. I sat with him having a cuppa during the morning when he lost yet another. He lifted into a moving fish, felt a couple of knocks and it simply dropped off.

At 3.30pm he finally landed one, a lovely looking mirror of 31lb 9oz. Hopefully the spell was broken.
At 11.30pm he landed another mirror, this one 25lb 4oz.

At 5.45 am on Friday, Jason was to land another, this one a 23lb mirror. Then at 7am Brett landed another good carp. I shot up to his swim to help him and found another very chunky mirror in his net, this one weighed in at 37lb 12oz. He followed this up an hour later with a 13lb common.

37

Jason then caught a 16lb 2oz common at around 10am, the warmer weather was certainly making a difference to the catch rates.

At lunchtime Jason rang me to come and photograph a big mirror. I got to his swim, and together we lifted his sling from the water. He opened it onto the unhooking mat and there to my surprise lay Big Lin in all her Glory. Unbelievably she had been caught twice in less than 30hr’s, I had known her to come out twice in one week, but never quite this quickly.

Second time round – ‘Big Lin’ – Jason

She was weighed in very gusty winds which made getting an accurate weight difficult, but we settled on 46lb 12oz… a few ounces lower than the previous day’s weight. She behaved impeccably for the photo’s and off she went quite happily. The remarkable thing for me is that she is at record weight, yet appears to be carrying no spawn, her belly was empty. The irregular weather is obviously slowing them down. It will be interesting to see when they will spawn this year and what she weighs if caught just prior to this.

At midnight on Friday night I got another call from Brett, he had caught another, this one weighed in at 30lb 3oz. During the photo session, Jason called across the lake to see if I could photograph one for him.

I shot round there to find he had a 37lb mirror in the net, whilst we were attempting to photograph this one, another of his rods went into meltdown. He landed this one without too much ado, and found it to be another grass carp, this one weighing in at 22lb 8oz.

All in all a good week’s angling, despite the weather at the start of the week. The fish had certainly become more active during the course of the week, and some stunning lumps were caught….

Very well done to Brett who, for now, holds the Lake record with a weight of 47lb 6oz….

Wally, Molyneux Owner
For more information, articles, videos and feedback on Molyneux follow the link -French Carp Lakes

Third time round at Beaurepaire…

Graham Ball’s group were out at Beaurepaire last week. Here’s a quick round up of their catches…

Details of your catches: Mirrors of 19, 21, 24, 28, 31, 31, 39, 40. Commons of 5lb, 15lb, 17lb’s and a couple of bream.

Your best tactics/bait/rigs: Water level was up about 2 meters and this alone made the fishing hard. Particle would not attract the fish this time of year,all fish were taken on boilie and tiger nut.

General Comments: Been twice before to this lake and the later months are better, Mr cousin and his daughter are brilliant people and many thanks to the team at Angling Lines.

For more information, articles and feedback on Beaurepaire follow the link - Angling Holidays

Hollypools – De-catting the Lake

The first week of April finally saw the rain ease off enough at Holly Pools to net the carp and cats lake.

Once we started, of course, the heavens opened!
We managed to remove 10 small and medium catfish, as well as some small and genetically less-than-ideal carp. This will leave much more room for the remaining larger carp and cats to grow on.

Earlier this month we also improved the swims around the lake, take a look at the results here.

Some fish we had never seen before came out…

…and some known residents go back in.

That completes our winter programme here at Holly Pools – and just in time – the season is upon us. As I write this piece it’s 24 degrees and sunny. What are you waiting for?

See you on the bank!
Nik

For more information, articles and feedback on Holly Pools follow the link – Carp Fishing

Villefond’s Latest Fifties

Michael Battenbough’s group came away from Villefond last week having caught;
2×50′s 13×40′s 7×30′s and 2×20′s. 

General comments: Very warm welcome received, lovely lake with some seriously big fish, not for the faint hearted.
Your best tactics/bait/rigs: House bait, pop-ups or bottom bait plum nut.

Left – 43lb
Right – Bennetts at 51lb 8oz

55lb ‘Arthur’

Follow the link for more information on Villefond - Carp Fishing in France

New Lake Record at Commons

Ray Poolman landed a 51lb 2oz Common last night, a new lake record at Commons. Fishing this week with his Dad (Ray Snr) and two friends Andy Vicarey and Jon Blackall, the group managed a decent catch of 26 carp total including; 1 at 51.02, 16 x 30′s to 39.0 and 9 x 20′s to 29.0.

51.02 – Ray Poolman

Best tactics/bait/rigs: Weather was foul, freezing, windy, wet – you name it. Mid to far bank, holding to baited areas, used madbait addiction boilies.

Click through to see more photo’s of the groups catches.

39lb – Jon Blackall

39lb – Ray Poolman Snr

32lb – Ray Poolman

Commons Lake – Fishing France

Latest Catches at Monument

33lb

Fishing Monument between the 6th – 13th of April Matthew Cumming’s group caught;

Four 30′s to 33.4 .
Ten 20′s to 29.8.
A 19.12 common and a small but stunning 17.11 mirror .

Best tactics/bait/rigs: Cell boilies some dumb bell, others topped with corn fed over bed of pellet

General comments: Le monument is an ideal venue as the fish are challenging to catch but more than catchable.
I would recommend the food package as the food is excellent and it saves a lot of hassle.

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

‘Two Tone’ Carp Makes an Appearance at Vaux

35.02

Paul Steele visited Vaux at the beginning of April, here’s his catch report…

Details of your catches: 40lb11oz mirror, 35lb2oz mirror and 24lb7oz common. 3 pike up to 4lb. Lots of roach and perch (1lb8oz to 1lb14oz)

Comments: We chose Vaux again due to it being an excellent venue for a family holiday with good fishing right outside the house. Don’t let the catch report put you off; only one angler fishing for carp in 0-8degc, north easterly winds, fishing days only.

40.11

Really pleased to see “two tone”. Coarse fishing for perch, pike and roach kept the family happy all week.

Your best tactics/bait/rigs: Hi-viz chod rig (pink fruitella)

Follow the link for more information on a Vaux Fishing Holiday

Roseau's Carp Fishing Holiday Auction for 'The David Moss Fund'

This week at Roseau was a week to raise money and to celebrate the life of a young carper by the name of David Moss who sadly lost his life whilst out doing the sport we all love. Just before Christmas I heard of the sad news through Carp Crusaders who David was a member of.

Carp Crusaders and their members along with Tackle companies and fellow Carpers countrywide all wanted to help raise money for what has now been called 'The David Moss Fund', being a Carp angler myself I was very touched by the way 'we' all grouped together to mourn the loss of such a young and talented Carp Angler.

Being in the fortunate position of having a fishery in France I wanted to offer the lake up for auction. I contacted Angling Lines who agreed they would support me in my decision to offer Roseau for auction, so my next step was to contact Baggins of Carp Crusaders to inform him of what I wanted to do and how best to go around doing so. We agreed on the auction for a “Week In France”. It was to end on Christmas Eve and the lucky winner was Anthony Downes, along with three of his friends Peter, Martin and Sean they all gave up their hard earned cash to help raise money for young David’s family.

They arrived nice and early to spend the week with us, pleasantries were made over teas and coffees and a short time later we were heading down the tracks to have a walk around and discuss the previous weeks captures along with tactics and the “going” areas they should target. Unfortunately the previous week hadn’t produced a single fish due to the severe weather we’re still experiencing but luckily for them the large lake was empty so I advised them to split up into two groups of two which may help their chances, so Martin and Anthony decided to double up in peg 9 and Peter and Sean took the small lake. Happy with their swim choice I left them to it and returned to the lodge to warm up!

29.14 - Anthony

Shower block cleaned and dinner tables laid for dinner I decided to take a wander down to see how they were getting on and after a long journey, which always starts Friday afternoon, I wasn’t surprised to find them resting in the comforts of their new homes for the week. Not being one for the cold I soon jumped in Peter’s and Sean day shelter for a cup of coffee, as nice as it was I had to head back for dinner which was being served at 18:30.

The boys arrived eager to sample the menu and were soon washing it down with a few bottles of Kronenburg along with the banter we always have here at Roseau, a very enjoyable night was had but fish they must so they headed off down the hopeful path to try and outwit some of the winter Carp!

The following morning at Breakfast I was pleased to find out that Anthony aka Ratty had landed a 29lb 14oz Mirror, despite being pleased with his result the reality that it wasn’t going to be an easy weeks fishing dawned, the Carp were clearly still in winter mode but all the guys were hopeful.

A couple of days into the session, Pete who was fishing the small lake with Sean decided on a move, without seeing any fish in his current swim made a move round to peg one after taking some advice from myself and after a short chat about location his spots were soon clipped up. That night he went on to land a 17lb Mirror, he was over the moon with the result especially after taking the effort and time to relocate. He followed that up with a 22lb Mirror the next afternoon, feeling confident in his new swim he began to relax and really did fish well, effort equals reward and any fish had was well deserved even just for sitting it out in the horrible conditions they had, and were going to have all week.

28.03 - Peter

Sean was battling away with his chosen spots but unfortunately hadn’t see any signs of fish in his areas or surrounding areas so continued with his approach in the hope of a warmer weather front and a change in fortune but as with angling sometimes it just doesn’t happen, not for want of trying.

Anthony went on to land a scraper 20 the following night, it was nice to see his friends happy for him as apparently, he’s a bit of a blanker! Martin who was bivvied up next to Anthony hadn’t had a sniff up until now but casting onto the island he certainly wasn’t going to get a takes there lol, the wind was so aggressive it was moving the leads in flight some 20 yards from the marked spots, it really was horrible and the only way to get remotely comfortable was to sit in the bivvy door supping coffee with coffee mate, not one to pass on the opportunity of someone making me a hot drink I jumped in to gain some colour back into my finger tips, lovely it was too, thanks mate!

That night we decided on a bit of a social and a 'few' cans were had along with some cake my wife had made whilst out with my children to spend some time with me, it was a delicious Chocolate Fudge Cake which went down a treat. The next night, probably due to the harsh conditions and biting winds the boys decided on another social and a few games of Killer on the pool table were soon under way, it would be fair to say that Pete was, by midnight, a little worse for wear but fancied some cake. Not one to disappoint, my wife sliced up a lovely lemon cake which Pete pretty much destroyed all by himself, it really was a good night and I thoroughly enjoyed spending it with them as did my wife.

The next morning the boys arrived for breakfast with no news of fish as sensibly they didn’t fish due to the social the evening before so  were soon eager to get back down the lakes to try and catch a few, unfortunately for them it was just one of those weeks where the weather had played them a bad hand, but as we all do they continued in their efforts.  That night Martin did manage to land a Mirror from near the bridge so we were all chuffed for him to get off the mark, later in the week he did manage a new PB too which was great to hear as well as a pleasure for his mates to be with him whilst achieving it.

30 - Peter

The week was flying by and Pete was now having it off in peg one taking a 29lb’er, followed this up with a 28lb’er and then breaking the biggest fish barrier which they had all agreed on by some 2oz’s with a Mirror of bang on 30lb, a big well done to him as he really did fish well even with those rigs lol...

Unfortunately for me, as is the case every week I have to say goodbye to the boys, the week went too fast but hopefully the lads can return in better weather conditions to experience the complex for what it really is, however the most important thing is we raised money and celebrated the life of young David and his memory will live on here at Roseau Carp Fishery...

See ya on the bank!

Ron, Roseau Fishing FranceClick here to donate to the 'The David Moss Fund'

Spring(!!) at Le Monument Lake

Driving down for my solo trip at Le Monument,  it felt nothing like Spring with the car temperature showing a measly 5 degrees. Still, I was looking forward to the trip as I had heard very good things about Le Monument so I was eager to see whether I could fool a couple of the big fish in the lake.

Terry with a 31lb Mirror

On arriving at the Lake I was met by owner Mark who showed me around the venue which is almost two lakes divided by a long central island. He recommended a swim called The Orchard which was on the left hand side of the lake, but as the wind - a bitterly cold easterly - was driving into this corner, I decided on a swim at the other end of the bank. The main catching area was at the end of the island by a bridge which, when crossed, enabled tight baiting to both the hot-spot and the island margins. I set up and by around 7.30 was fishing three rods to both island margins and the bridge spot.

Unusually, I had a fish the first night, a 23lb common which came at 4.30 when the temperature was around -4! Despite catching this fish, I felt that I was falling short of positioning my baits correctly and moved everything up to the next swim ( I was the only one on the lake for the week so had the choice of swims). After a while, I still felt I was not in the best spot so moved again to...The Orchard! Always listen to the advice of the owner, they know their lake and they’re usually on the ball with where the fish will be at any particular time.

Being left-handed I was able to set-up without being in the face of the wind and once all baits were out I felt a lot more settled. Nothing happened during the day but I was away again at 6.30 in the evening. This immediately felt a better fish and a 33lb mirror was soon safely in the net.

46lb

I felt I had now achieved my goal and would have been quite happy if no more fish had come to my rods, but the following day was quite hectic with four runs resulting in four more mirrors, including three 30’s, the biggest of which was 35lb. The productive early evening feeding spell accounting for three of these fish.The next day saw two fish being banked, both mirrors of 24 and 25lb respectively, the second one coming again at around 6.30 in the evening. The following morning saw another run from the bridge rod and as soon as I made contact a big fish swirled on the surface under the trees. Once in the net, this fish looked to be big, and so it turned out registering 46lb and a PB for me. I was extremely pleased with this fish and as I was having to use the self-timer on the previous fish, I wanted to make sure I had decent photos of this one so I called Mark who had no hesitation in coming down and taking some excellent shots.

I decided to fish the small match/stock lake for a few hours on a couple of afternoons, mainly to escape the wind and feel some sun for a short time! This little lake is stocked with smaller carp and also catfish and a couple of sturgeon and I quite fancied hooking into one of these. I did hook what I think was a catfish but unfortunately lost the fish on a snag, but at least I had warmed up!

As I had to return a day early due to work commitments, I was leaving on the Friday but two more fish of 25 and 28 ½ lb on my last evening ensured I was to leave content, especially as the conditions had been gradually deteriorating during the last couple of days with the biting east wind growing in strength and both snow and sleet falling consistently.

33lb

Most of the fish I caught had come to a balanced bottom bait which were barrel-shaped baits from the Bait and Feed Company and one in which I have every confidence. By cutting the barrel in half and mounting half a pop-up to half a bottom bait and trimming either if necessary, it was possible to critically balance the baits to land softly on the silt and not become too buried.Overall I had had twelve runs of which eleven fish had been landed; the last morning saw me lose what looked to be a mid-twenty at the net.

 I did also catch on pop-ups tipped with luminous corn, but I find these baits are only effective for a short time before they become too obvious to the fish; however a balanced bait is one that they find hard to get rid of and the fact that several of the fish were leaving remains of the bait in the net when landed showed that they were certainly feeding well on it. I also noticed that baits had to be very close to either the island margins or right under the trees and a bait too far away would not get picked up.

The facilities are all very good and the shower was excellent and a great way to un-freeze cold hands after a night of minus temperatures!Although I was sometimes leaving baits out for over half a day, if they were in the right spot I always felt confident of a take at some point and most of the time, this was proved to be the case. I didn’t use that much bait as the water temperature was very cold so fished for one run at a time, spreading around 20 baits with some pellets/hemp around the spot after each fish. I was casting around 70/75 yards to the bridge hot-spot and was managing to get baits very close to the trees, but when they are in full bloom I imagine it would become quite a tricky cast to get accurate so the use of a bait-boat to position baits tight to the spots would probably be of benefit.

I will definitely be back at Le Monument as it is obviously a well-run water with enough big fish to make it worthwhile and the right number to make it challenging without being overly hard.

Many thanks to owner Mark and to Angela for her much-anticipated breakfast baguette; as Schwarzenegger said, ‘i’ll be back’!

by Terry Cheesman

For more information, articles and feedback from Monument follow the link - Carp Fishing in France