the french session

[baitmaster]

well we finally went to France after a which seemed like a enternity of months of waiting but sadly with out Richard who at the last minute had to make a decision than none of us would have wanted to make and that was to pull out .
but departure day arrived and we all headed of to fishypaul for the night before the main event
i just like to thank pauls missus for doing us proud with a fabulous tea (shepherds pie ) thank you .
it was quite evident that every one was eager to get on the way and the evening seemed to just drag and drag and we all finally gave in and ;left to try and catch a earlier train .i,ll not bore you with the journey but it was a long trip and we were all glad to see the lake every ones first impression were wow as we looked at the lake for the first time .


after the introductions we went off and picked our swims for the week and with this done a chat to the owner had us knowing what was allowed and not and we also got a bait we were going to use .



now as i don,t have pics of every ones fish i,m going to basically tell it from my fishing so sorry to all who i don,t have pics but no doubt i expect every to post there own .
i set up very basic indeed know not to try and be clever so i fished the safety clip with a 3oz to 4 oz lead and about two ft of korda khaki tubing behind the lead and right on the business end was 15lb korda IQ with a korda size 6 wide gape hook

with every base camp also now sorted i went about getting out in the boat and marking up area,s and also baited them accordingly .
i got my head down as it had been a long day and got some well needed sleep ,on Sunday morning i awoke early and was sitting out side with a coffee concentrating on the water to see if i could get some idea of what might be happening below the calm surface .with out any warning my margin rod screamed into life and i was soon playing my first paradise fish it really did put up a fantastic fight and i was very relieved to see it go over the front of the net
i was quickly unhooked and weighed and a weight of 27lb 8oz and i was of the mark .



we all caught up a breakfast i if i remember every one had a run during the night once back in the swim i re marked up and got out in the boat baiting up my spots that i was fishing but also had other area,s mark but at this point just watching for signs of fish feeding on them the day was quite uneventful and after tea i was back out in my positions again the evening was quiet in my swim with no signs of fish but by the morning the fish were feeding hard over the blood worm bed




it was very frustrating watching these fish feeding but nothing actually happening and it was hard to see how the fish had missed my baits but maybe it must just be they were more interested in the natural bloodworm than the pellet and boilies i had bedded out .
it was some time during the morning when again my margin rod shot off this time i had a real battle on my hand as a sturgeon leapt out of the water it fought like a demon and at no point did i feel in control( talk about walking the dog) this fish was taking me where ever he felt like taking me i was more than happy to see it in the net i,ve can honestly say i,de never experience a fight like it on weighing it it went 35lb



now i decided during the day that it was time to move one of my rods off the feature in front of me to a hard spot to my left that had shown some sign of activity so out went the marker float and i now could catty around 50 boilies only to it and after tesa i would place a rod on it
Tuesday morning saw me going through the same ritual over all my rods except this spot were i would only put boilies as i felt the pellets were not doing the business and this change might make all the difference .
by dinner time nothing had happened and i was thinking it was going to be another long weight till the morning when so far all my runs had come but i was wrong and at around 1pm i had a tentative pick up but it soon was going and i quickly picked up the rod and leaned into a nice feeling fish it fought hard and it made a couple of good runs and it was nice to know the hook was holding fast soon it was in the net and it look a very good fish indeed and i was not disappointed when the scales finally stopped at 36lb 8oz i was very happy indeed it was soon back in the water after a couple of pics



the rod was back out ot the mark and out followed another 30 boilies as this was the plan after every run to catty out about 30 baits
i settle back to watching the water and just chilling out watching the wildlife and trying to get a pic of the green lizard that kept running up and down my swim



i was very surprised when the same rod was off again and this time on grabbing the rod the fish surge of to the right and with some sort of wall structure to my right i really had to hold the rod up very high to stop the line grating on it and cutting me off i struggle to get it under control and away from this , but manage it i did but this fish felt a lump and i was trying not to put any thought in my mine of a huge fish as i felt this would make me more tentative and probably end up losing it it really was just using it weight rather than burst of speed and when it rolled in front of me i then knew i was attached to a beast i concentrated even harder and was trying to keep calm that i might have broken my pb once it slipped over the draw string of the net i just knew i had a new pb in the net and was very excited indeed .
every one came round to see what i had got but none of us knew how big it was .i lifted it clear of the water and struggle with it to the unhooking mat it was HUGE ! .
it was slipped into the weigh sling and let Adam to weigh it i just waited and listen with disbelief when the weigh of 54lb was registered OH MY GOD i,de only gone and smashed my pb





with all the congratulation out of the way and me still on cloud nine i tried to savour and remember all the the fight the pics and the return of such a beast now i did not care if i caught any ,more fish for the rest of the trip and i also made sure the drinks were on me at tea
again the evening was quiet but i had been up in Dans swim marking up an area,s for him and he placed a bait on it and i was confident he was going to open his account on waking up Wednesday i was out early hoping to get a early morning run but then a indicator screamed of to my right and i just knew it was Dan and on looking i saw Dan going over to his rods i reeled in and went and gave him a hand i all the way through his fight i was praying it did not slip the hook every body again came round while she was playing just adding to the pressure but we had no need to worry Dan played it brilliantly (top angling mate ) soon i gathered it up in the net and every body was relieved .Dan did not know what ot do with him self as he got to see the fish for the first time we weighed it and it went 34lb exactly soon Dan was posing with the fish for everybody and i took some video fir him once again mate top anglng it was well deserved .



we went to breakfast all feeling it was starting to come together and Dan seem to be really up for it and was out in the boat marking up a new spot and baiting accordingly.
sturgeon of around 15lb .the evening again was quiet and it was not till the early hours when i was working up on the radio by Steve who needed a hand and i reeled in and went up to his swim and on arriving i could see he was in a right two and eight as the fish had pick up all his lines i untangle them all and then went on and landed a nice mirror of 19lb it only seemed like i had been asleep seconds when once again i heard Steve on the radio and at firstly light blurry eyed i went up to once again to help .
he played it for a while before we both thought it might be a good fish and it was not till it slipped over the front of the net i realized he had just caught something special we got every thing ready and i weighed it and i could see that disbelief look froim Steve when i told him the weight of 52lb well done Steve awesome angling .
soon w few pics were taking and it was put back to go and sulk but Steve wasn,t he was very happy indeed .



we were all of the mark with Dave also managing a cat and a sturgeon and it was great ot see mike managing a sturgeon as it was a frustrating week for mike with the fish seemingly avoiding his swim apule had also been consisting and with this mike and Dave were doubling up in swim to try and also add a carp to there total with Friday arriving far to quick plans for getting away early on Saturday for the long journey back and most gear was packed away so it was just a case of reeling in but i was confident i could winkle another fish out and sure enough at 5.30 am my margin rod was off and i had a scrappy battle with a carp and in the pouring rain Dan manage to net it nicely this went 22llb

this was the last action for the week although as i said at the start others will report there own pics of the week

well done to all great fishing with you all




tightlines
Kevin

[Twiddler]

Wow some awesome fish were caught ...a very well done to all who best their PB.

Sounds like it was hard going for some, big respect for sticking it out and at least nobody blanked.



Roll on next year.....I'll defo be there

[perch_king]

well done kev mate congrats on the new pb they are cracking fish sounds like you all had a good time top angling mate

[Norfolkboy]

Great report Kev, memories come flooding back when reading all that, great week.

I'd best get on with my report.

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Brilliant read mate and sounds some great carp were had indeed. Will read that post once more for good luck me thinks

[Twiddler]

Pic 8 looks like you guys met before

[baitmaster]

Pic 8 looks like you guys met before

???????????


tightlines
kevin

[geffski]

fantastic report and pics! well done on smashing the pb, looks like a top place
and glad everyone cought!
actualy im green with envy, and its wetted my apertight to
get back into carping!
p,s any danger of tagging along next year?

[Greenheart]

Top report & top fish guys. Well done on all the new PBs too. I was really impressed with that Sturgeon. Makes a change from Carp. Just been told by the FPO that I can have a pass for next year, yipeeee....

[Rob M]

Well done everyone!

Rob