Improvements to Jacks swim on Molyneux

Single Swim Before

I decided this year to improve and enlarge Jacks swim. As you will see in the photo on the right, when we arrived at Molyneux it was just a half gravelled rough slope leading down to the water’s edge. It was muddy, slippery and treacherous.

Not long after arriving we added a platform to the front of the swim and tried to tidy up the slope, as much of an improvement as it was, I still wanted it to be much better.

This year with the help of Paul Forster, Jack Cuthbertson and one other we got a mini digger in for a couple of days and set to. The idea was to flatten out the slope, remove a huge chunk of the hill to the right of the swim, level, flatten and board out the swim. We also increased the frontage to the swim, thus enabling it to be comfortably fished by two anglers with loads of room to spare.

With the water level as high as it currently is it was not an easy task, though we managed to finish it in the allotted time. The results are stunning, with wide steps leading down to a huge 5.50m x 5m swim, leading to a 4m x 2.5m frontage. This has been built at water level and as such need to dry out prior to gravelling, but other than that it is finished and I am so very pleased and proud of it. I look forward to seeing it occupied…

Wally

Single swim after, just frontage to gravel when dry.

Molyneux French Carp Lake

Improvements to the Double Swim on Molyneux

Double Swim Before

As well as improving and enlarging Jacks swim, we also decided to make improvements to the double swim here at Molyneux, easily the most popular on the lake.

It was another that when we arrived two years ago needed immediate work carried out on it. There had been some very rough steps dug out at some point, these were uneven and very dangerous. The swim itself was simply spoil from other areas which had been dumped into the lake, making it prominent from the bank. It was incredibly muddy and following heavy rain could become very squishy and slippy.

We initially flattened and levelled steps, making sure they were all the same height and logged them to make them useable. The swim itself was an awful lot of work, Jack Cuthbertson, a very good friend, came over and helped me to build a massive platform at the front. It was 3.20m wide across the front and with both sides angled to allow easy landing and releasing of fish.

We had limited resources and even less time so this was as much as we could feasibly do before anglers arrived.

I always had it in mind to flatten completely the swim, and gravel out the whole area. While we had the digger we decided that this was the moment we had been waiting for. Approx two foot in height was removed from across the back of the swim and the spoil from this was then used to widen the swim. This had helped not only to flatten the area but also to enlarge it quite considerably which was an added bonus. It is now approximately 6m x 6m, more than large enough for two anglers needs.

We added sides to the swim to help retain the gravel, increased the number of steps to the rear of the swim by two to make up for the difference in height. We then spread and raked 2.5tonne of gravel over it.

Double Swim After

Once again I have Jack and especially Paul to thank for their help in completing this swim. It has improved considerably and I am sure will become even more popular than before if that is possible…

Wally.

Molyneux French Carp Lake

Talking Carp Tackle, Part 1 - Carp Rods

Need an insight into what tackle is used by some successful anglers abroad?  We asked some of our experienced and highly respected anglers to give an insight into their own tackle choices. Unbiased, as they are not ‘sponsored anglers’, we simply asked what they use and why they use it.  This week we start with Rods...

I only use 2.75lb tc rods unless I need to cast to the horizon (not often as I tend to fish smaller lakes).  These are custom built with ringing and a through action to suit flourocarbon main line.  The through action helps to counteract the lack of stretch in the flourocarbon.

Duncan de Gruchy – Angling Lines regular

Depending on the fish size, the technique and the distance to cast. If the lake is small clean and fishing distance short to normal, I‘d suggest a 2.5lb or 2.75lb or 3lb. If the lake is big, with a few snags and good casting distance, I'd say 3lb to 3.5lb.

Mehdi Daho - Laroussi & Old Oaks Lake owner

As you may know my previous syndicate was at Grenville. As a result I changed from the Greys Prodigy 2.75tc I had used for years to a set of custom made Torrix in 3.25tc. They are a soft supple rod, not necessarily a casting tool, well certainly not in my hands, but are very forgiving and a joy to play fish on. For me that is the most important thing in a rod. 

I see far too many anglers here and elsewhere buying ‘stiff actioned’ casting tools as they wrongly think that with these they can cast to the sun. What they fail to realise is that without the knowledge and technique they will never utilise them to best effect. They would most probably be better served with a decent 2.75 tc rod which they could compress which in turn would quite probably give them the little bit of extra distance they are craving for. The firmer a rod the less forgiving it usually is when actually playing a fish. I have seen that far too much over the years and especially here at Molyneux where inexperienced anglers repeatedly suffer hook pulls as a result of not allowing for lunges that fish make during the fight.

Wally Gibb - Molyneux Lake owner

Same as I use in the UK, good quality with a test curve of 3lb b/s to cope with the larger fish!

Peter Drayson - Angling Lines regular

I use 12ft 3lb t/c, with 10,000 xte shimano bait runners, on the lakes I fish. These do the job easily. You can cast 100 yards and this is normally enough distance for most lakes. Also don’t forget you will need a marker and spod rod!

Peter Hidson - Angling Lines regular

Click here for more tips and advice on Carp Fishing.

2012 End of Season Carp Catch Report at Vaux

Martin Williams with a 46lb 12oz Carp from Vaux in Oct 2012

Our apologies for the delay in putting up our 2012 End of Year Report.  It has been a very busy Winter for us, but I thought I had better let you all of you who are interested know before we get any further into 2013, our tenth season.  We hope that all our angling and family visitors had a great Christmas and we wish them all a belated Happy New Year

2012 saw bookings slightly down due to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, the Olympics and the Paralymphics.  This has lead to a disappointing drop in the numbers of carp caught throughout the season.

Out of a total of 474 (2011 – 541 : 2010 – 490) recorded carp landed in 2012, there were;

*  120 x 30lb+ (2011 – 141 : 2010 – 109) and of those, 58 were 35lb+ (2011 – 68 : 2010 – 39)

*  20 x 40lb+ (2011 – 22 : 2010 – 8), of which 7 were 45lb+.

In the second week of October 2012, Jayne repeated her 2011 final day by banking a 40lb08oz mirror, her last fish, on the last day of her two week holiday.  The only fish that David caught during the first week of August was a 42lb mirror, making him top rod on size of carp for the week and finally, in one day’s fishing in July, Chas’s last carp was a 43lb08oz mirror, on a day when he banked two 40lb+ and six 30lb+

In the first week of April, Sam’s first catch was a 40lb08oz mirror and then in the first week of June, the first fish that Jezz landed was his PB of 45lb3oz

The highest number of thirties landed by visiting anglers in one week was eleven, which happened twice in the season, firstly in May by Gary’s party and secondly in October by Mark and Jayne.  There was just one week when only carp under 30lb were caught.  The largest number of carp caught in one week was 36, also during Gary’s week, and the average number banked per week in 2012 was 17.

Thanks again to all our visitors for the care they give to our venue.  We appreciate your consideration.

Good luck to our 2013 visitors;  we are looking forward to seeing you

Chas and Josie

Fishing Holiday at Vaux

New French Driving Laws – Is A Breathalyser A Legal Requirement?

New French Driving Laws – Is A Breathalyser A Legal Requirement?

March 10, 2013DavidNo comments

Readers Question; Is it true the French Government have decided to postpone the need to have a breathalyser for now?

Below is the information received from the ACF (Automobile Club de France):

From the 1st July 2012 a new sanction was enforced, in France, obliging every driver to carry an unused breathalyser kit in their vehicles.

Drivers that fail to comply are liable to a 11 Euro fine.

The enforcement of this sanction was postponed until 1st November 2012 to allow time for drivers to equip themselves.

Furthermore, a decree was issued on the 29th October 2013 to further delay enforcement, possibly until 1st March 2013, due to a shortage in supply of breathalysers. 

A few days ago, Manuel Valls announced that the obligation was to be postponed indefinitely (sine die) awaiting the conclusions of the French National Counsel for Road Safety (Conseil national de la sécurité routière) expected in February.

For now the text obliging drivers to possess a breathalyser still appears in the ‘Code de la Route’ (highway code) and has not been revoked.

Currently the text is as follows:

Breathalyser obligatory: Yes / regulation: no, not before the 1st March 2013.

We are paying close attention to the Government’s decisions and to the repeal of the texts which will take place if the requirement for a breathalyser is eventually renounced.

We shall not fail to keep you informed.

So, the legal requirement to carry a breathalyzer is still in the highway code, but you cannot be fined for not carrying one. It is unlikely the fine is ever going to be implemented, but at the moment it IS still a legal requirement!

Don’t you just love the French 

Cheers, Ron Key

Carp Fishing in France

Carp Fishing in France Webcast – February 2013

Carp Fishing in France Webcast – February 2013

March 4, 2013DavidNo comments

Here’s our February Webcast…

Carp Fishing – 59 videos to chose from!

Travel Insurance for your French Carp Trip – a Mere Necessity!

Travel Insurance for your French Carp Trip – a Mere Necessity!

March 6, 2013DavidNo comments

You’ve booked the perfect holiday – but will you get there?

I can’t begin to tell you how much I hate this topic!  But once again I feel it really necessary to get this message out there.

This is not a sales tactic and I have to admit I have an inherent dislike of insurance companies.   I pay a fortune out in my premiums year after year and really never seem to have to claim.   So on my balance books, insurance companies simply win out every time.   However, having seen how many problems can occur, I’m hastily ‘touching wood’, knowing I should be grateful I have not had to claim.

Action at Molyneux

But,  and this is an enormous…BUT,  my experience in this business has taught me that Insurance is important and should be high on the list of necessity before even a new bait boat or set of rods.  Time after time I see instances where job losses, illness or even worse causes havoc and all at a time when people really could do without the stress and can least afford it.

The main parts regarding holiday insurance cover are as follows.  So get your insurance and make sure the policy gives your group the cover it needs.

• Cancellation of the holiday in certain circumstances
• Medical expenses and repatriation if necessary
• Cover for tackle and theft (optional)
• Cover for additional costs if a disaster should happen.

Insurance can cover all these things so it needs to be taken around the time you book & not just before you are due to travel.  The preconception that insurance is just in case you have medical expenses abroad is very flawed.  The preconception that a problem rarely occurs and it will probably all be alright is also seriously flawed.   I can cite countless instances where this belief has caused huge problems.  Usually and very sadly when someone loses their job or becomes seriously ill and the holiday cannot be taken.  The problem is not just for the individual concerned but the knock on effect for the whole group can be disastrous…

The problem is when you pay your deposit and reserve a holiday you enter into a contract.  It means that if you default on taking the trip you may lose your deposits paid.  We can’t simply say to a lake they won’t get paid because someone in the group fell ill etc.

Insurance is for unforeseen circumstances, it is important and when people book particularly in groups, a lot is taken on trust by the organiser, and so often it can all fall down.

Time and time again I see people get caught out… So don’t let it happen to you. You can get insurance anywhere now, even the main supermarket but here is a link to the company we deal with if you want to take a look. 

Be insured and assured of a great trip!

Bridget Dawson, Sales Director.

Carp Fishing at Holly Pools