New Carp Stocked at Holly Pools Carp Lake

New Carp Stocked at Holly Pools Carp Lake

February 9, 2013DavidNo comments

Since deciding to use Angling Lines to represent Holly Pools from 2013 onwards, we have had many discussions about all aspects of the business with the Angling Lines team. What has become clear is that, having represented tens of fisheries all over France, there are certain directions that almost always give positive results. Stocking fish from the Michele Bigot fish farm seemed to be one thing that ALL the Angling Lines venues agreed was a positive thing. Strong young fish, with good shapes, and great genetics for strong growth rates are the trademarks of Bigot carp.

At Holly Pools we have some fantastically strong fighting commons that go up to upper 30’s (42lb when about to spawn!) but very few mirrors. We decided that we could improve the genetics in the lake, increase the variety of the fish and potentially add some fish with the capability to go on towards 50lb in the next couple of years. If you look at the pictures you can see that here are some fish any angler would be delighted to catch!

Carp Fishing at Holly Pools, France

Winter Feeding Regime for a Carp Lake

Winter Feeding Regime for a Carp Lake

February 7, 2013DavidNo comments

We’ve just added 3 new videos for Bletiere ;

• Winter Lake Tour
• Swim Update
• Winter Feeding Regime

You can watch them all here.

Here’s the Winter Feeding regime video…

Fishing holidays in France at Bletiere

Winter Wonderland at Molyneux French Carp Lake

Winter Wonderland at Molyneux French Carp Lake

February 5, 2013DavidNo comments

Like most of you in the UK, we have had our share of chilly snowy weather here at Molyneux over the last few days.  Thankfully we’ve not had the amounts of snow that seem to have covered large parts of Blighty, but it has certainly made life around the lake a little more difficult.

The water has been switched off at the mains for over a week now, in the hope we will not have the problems in the shower block that we suffered last spring.

The lake is frozen so the feeding program has had to be curtailed for the time being. Prior to the freeze the fish had remained active, especially after they have been fed.

Despite all the problems it brings, who can help but love the way that a blanket of snow transforms the landscape. It was also Rudie’s first sight of snow, and it was hilarious to watch him rolling and playing in the snow……

French carp lakes – Molyneux

Roseau Carpers Hoodies

Roseau Carpers Hoodies

February 3, 2013DavidNo comments

For this season we’re glad to offer any angler who has been, or is coming to see us at Roseau,  the opportunity to buy these great hoodies.  They come in the standard carpy colour of Olive Green and are excellent quality and great value for money.

The fishery name is on the chest & you can select your own number (unless it’s already been taken) for the back, plus add your name or nickname. See the images below for some of our customer’s orders – aren’t they great!

Order yours for those chilly, beer drinking social evenings around the lakes – a great reminder of the fun times we shared at Roseau.

Carp Fishing France at Roseau

Venue Video for Holly Pools French Carp Lake

Venue Video for Holly Pools French Carp Lake

January 30, 2013DavidNo comments

Here’s the temporary venue video for Holly Pools.  We’ll be shooting a new video in the spring…

Carp Fishing at Holly Pools

A Very Happy Carp Lake Owner

A Very Happy Carp Lake Owner

January 28, 2013DavidNo comments

41.12 – John’s new Pb!

As any of my regular guest here at Bletiere will know, I have never been blessed with a 40lb’er out of the venue.  Well I’m afraid the day has now come when I’ll no longer have to listen to the usual ribbing when another 40lb’er comes out!

Having been working around the lake for the last few days I could see the carp feeding in the spots where I fed them, and not just a few odd fish but several in one area.  So with a cold snap forecast I thought it was time I had a go myself at catching something.

I set up in the middle swim and thought I would try 3 different baits to see what, if anything worked.  Once all was sorted I sat back with the dogs and waited, but I have to be honest with the air temperature only 6 degrees and the water 8 degrees I was not expecting a lot of action.

After about 90 minutes the left hand rod slowly tightened and the alarm started a slow but steady signal.  I tightened up into the carp and immediately I knew it was going to be a good fish as it plodded down towards the end of the lake and just hugged the bottom.

After what seemed an age I had the fish in the net and what a beauty – not a mark on her and very solid, so looked like she had been feeding well.  As I bent to pick the net out the water that’s when I knew it was going to be big and close to my first 40lb’er.

As I put the weigh sling on the scales I was well pleased to see it settle at 41lb 12oz, smashing my previous Pb here of 39lb 14oz.  The only unlucky thing was that there was no one here to take a photo of me holding it.  So after a quick check over and a big thank you I slipped her back into her home.

I am now determined to get the self take gear out and practice with the camera for the next time as I would hate to get a bigger fish out and not have another decent photo.  Never the less I am a very happy lake owner.

Tight lines, John

Fishing Holidays at Bletiere

Work on the New Swims at Holly Pools

Work on the New Swims at Holly Pools

January 26, 2013DavidNo comments

The 2 sticks in the water give an idea where the water level part of the swim will be constructed.

For the last 2 months I have been wielding a chainsaw in the woods around the lake here at Holly Pools.  The result is 13 trees removed from around, and in some cases IN, the lake. These trees had either fallen in the lake, were in danger of doing so, or were storm damaged. No nice trees were harmed in the making of this post!

Having cleared a large section of bank that previously held a stalking swim (just room to flick a margin rod into a tree shaded area the carp liked to hole up in away from the action), it seemed like a good idea to improve the “fishability” of the lake.

Discussions with David and Martin at Angling Lines, as well as with friends who have owned and run French carp lakes for many years, resulted in the following plan;

• turn the cleared bank where the stalking swim used to be into a really nice water-level pitch with room on the bank for a bivvy

• make a new stalking swim towards the shallow end of the lake

It will then be possible to cast to the whole lake, with just a few areas under trees perhaps needing a bait-boat. This also has the effect that 2 anglers can fish with no possibility of interfering with each other, and with some care (and perhaps winding in lines during a run) 3 anglers on the lake.

If we feel the fish are missing the shelter of a no-pressure area, we can add a buoyed off area in front of the stalking swim (which will then become a really frustrating “large carp viewing platform”!).

For those of you who think Carp Fishery owners spend the winter in bed or the Caribbean – here is where 2 months work has got us so far. More pictures to follow of the swims being completed.

Nik and Holly

Carp Fishing at Holly Pools