Mikes events from bluewater lakes 2008

mithrandir · #1 09-15-2008, 05:12 PM

Bluewaters 09 2008

Well the long awaited trip was upon us, Friday night waiting for the boys to turn up so we could head off for Dover. The weather was terrible so we set off a bit early and had a wet drive to Dover.

An uneventful crossing, not so much as a ripple on the water so the 90 minutes passed with a few catching a bit of sleep.

The drive through France was easy and we all soon got into the hang of driving on the wrong side of the road. The last 40 miles were a bit more scenic as the Prat Nav took us the long way round.

We arrived at the lakes just after lunch and met Jim and Jan, the new owners. They were very welcoming and Jim was soon walking round the lakes with us pointing out the best swims. I decided to take the less productive side of a double swim with Claudia, Jim said I would be better off in one further down the lake, but I told him, the social and relaxation side of this trip were more important to me than the fish.

We all set up bivvies and we had the luxury of being able to park the van within 20 foot of the swim, so we could unpack gently and leave some stuff in the van to make the bivvy space a bit easier.

Chris had set up in a swim next to us so we had a nice little social group and we could all help each other with the big fish we hoped to catch.

We went up for dinner and brought some of the Matrix fishmeal boillies that we were told were the favourite bait of the fish.

First night I just PVA bagged some baits and cast out at random, I was too tired to be technical, and to be honest I would of been glad of a blank night so I could get some sleep.

In the morning I looked closely at the swim, I was recommended to cast to the trees, this was not easy with the swim I had, so the bait boat was essential, so upto to the lodge to see Jim and arrange to hire the boat for the week. this was my first time using a bait boat, and after a week using one I find them very useful, I just wish they had better battery life ( this is something you may hear more about this winter, I am sure I can come up with a bait boat more efficient than the ones out there at the moment).

The first day was quiet, we were watching for fish signs and looking at baited areas, it seemed that the crew before us had put 30Kg of boillies in each swim during their week there, so I was being very light with the feed I was putting in. As the sun began to set I had a couple of twitches on my bait under the trees on the far bank. The swinger was bouncing up and down so I decided to strike, felt no resistance but reeled in anyway, as it got close to the bank I noticed a very small twitch and realised I had a very small catfish on the line.

It was very deeply hooked but returned safely, not much more than a pound in weight, but as my first ever it is technically a PB!

Monday passed with no bites for me, and the weather was gradually getting better, by Tuesday the weather was getting warmer, that night I had my first carp.

A 13lb 6oz mirror, Jim was amazed that I had found probably the smallest fish in the lake, the small carp seemed to like the shallows I was fishing, Jim tried to convince me to move again as the bigger fish were coming out in other swims, but I was happy were I was.

Wednesday was a hot day, the feelings were better, and that night I had a couple of fish out,

17lb

21lb

Thursday was a hot day too, we had a little picnic in our swim.

As the evening drew closer a thunderstorm approached, this was a cracking storm, the rain came down, the crashes right overhead, the lake rose about 3 inches during this time. I was out in it helping land fish and catching a couple of my own.

and this one came out at 4 in the morning when everyone else was asleep and not coming out in the rain

Friday arrived and the gentle process of packing up the unwanted bits started for the long journey the next day. As normal there was no activity until the sun went down and this evening I got a small carp

and to crown the week for me a new PB carp of 27lb 30z

Saturday morning we had a presentation and Claudia and I shared the smallest fish trophy, for her cat and my carp

Then it was the long tiring journey home and back to reality.

pingu · #2 09-15-2008, 05:19 PM

was a top week mike, thanks for all the effort you put into the organisation before hand def my best week away for years

dave

Norfolkboy · #3 09-15-2008, 05:20 PM

Nice one Mike

BaggieRich · #4 09-15-2008, 05:23 PM

Well done Mike, sounds like you had a cracking week. I'm looking forward the the bait boat mission. If anyone can sort out a decent battery, I guess it's you. Good luck.

pingu · #5 09-15-2008, 05:28 PM

I know you wont mind mike i'll add report to this thread to save having too many running
MASSIVE THANKS ALL FOR BEAST WEEK IN YEARS!!!!

Bluewater lakes 6-13 sept 2008

Well what can I say about this trip
‘kin Brilliant springs immediately to mind

This trip ended up ( unlike last year) being everything I hoped a trip carping to france would be, Fun, relaxed, easy going and although not an easy water to fish the fish were hardfighting and quality

After what seemed to be an age driving and travelling( and amazingly a smooth crossing( or was that because I slept it

) we got to the lakes

Its an old gravel working but now treelined and tranquil

We were met by Jim and Janet the owners and went for a walk around the lake
Soon people had picked all their pegs and were setting up

Rough idea of where swims were as lakes changed slightly

Deep end was near myself and dave shallowing up towards mike and Claudia

Come the eve we all sent out baits more by random as all tired
I managed to lose a fish this night as had cramp when jumped up to strike

But Chris began his campaign to earn title of golden Bol###ks with 2 carp landed I believe
And had fish everynight after if memory serves me right
Paul has dates and fish down for everyone but his pc is kaput at moment

Next day steve was into the Sturgeon and was in control for a while before it snapped( we did get a glimpse of its tail and fins in water) oh well next time

Now I must apologise as I cant remember what came when now but I know I helped both Ian

and dave

with carp, then a great night helping paul land a fantastic 45lb cat

( must have been Monday as I had been shopping and we were enjoying a few beers

) and then had a few more after to celebrate

It took until the tue morning for me to get a fish and I was well happy with a PB carp ( and the only common of the week) at 20lb

Next night and paul was again into the cats this time a 43lb
I also went and gillied one for Ian which left its own calling card in his swim

Tha fishing had fallen into a pattern now with daytimes being dead and nights from 11-7 being best
I hadn’t caught for several days and had decided would move over towards ian next morning, but all that agro was saved with this fantastic 33lb mirror at midnight the night before

Now it was all systems go
We were struggling at our end of lake but the trio on the point were bagging up
Come the last eve and it was only chris and myself hadn’t had a catfish, and I just wanted anysize for points, what happened that eve will stay with me for ages

After helping paul land a “high double” of 39lb ( well It def looked smaller in the water

) we celebrated in our usual way with another beer
Then I headed back to bivvy as decided to get some rest as long drive home sat
Hardly had I sat on bed when both centre and right rods went off pretty much together, struck right and snapped off then centre one tore off
This was a cat at last and not a small one
Soon I had quite a crowd in my swim as all bar ian and mike came to see what I was up too

Now I have no idea how long I played this fish 20 mins I guess ( beers were being shared out as I was playing the fish

, seemed only right I thought)but eventually I won battle ( all the time worrying that this was only on 15lb hookleangth and size 7 hood) and chief cat gillie paul pulled the beast from he water

Photos soon after than an attempt to weigh and scales slam round to 76Lb I was well chuffed

What a way to finish the week, after a shower and helping steve land a 40 I slept like the dead after and afraid to say missed caludias and chris’s cats( both over 30lb)

Trip home was uneventful and quicker than I thought( 4 hours from Dover to Exmouth Via the burger shop ;-) )

What a brilliant week, def one I shall never forget,
great friends,

1 or 2 beers with paul

, such a relaxed week, I could almost get to like this carping lark, almost

Thanks mike for the organization, I may be tempted to go again
There are loads more pics on the photobucket account if you want
Beer1
Dave

And this pic is now my screensaver