Paradise Lakes - Norfolkboy's report

Norfolkboy · #1 05-27-2007, 04:23 PM

After such a long wait, I was surprised how quickly the last few days rolled by.
I awoke Friday morning around 8.30am after a broken nights sleep, it was just like Christmas eve all over again.

After a small bowl of cereal, a final read on the forum and a last minute check on my gear, I was pleased to see Kev turn up around 10.00.

We loaded my gear into the car quickly, a final goodbye to my dad and we were off to Kev's house to sort all the gear properly and wait for the seconds to tick by. It wasn't long before we arrived at Kev's and over a quick coffee we decided to watch the Paradise Lakes DVD. As if we weren't already motivated enough, the sight of these big fish pushed us over the edge and we packed the car in no time.

The time was 11ish and as the plan was for a midday departure, we sat down twiddling our thumbs. We couldn't wait any longer and by 11.05 we were in the car making our way to the local tackle shop. I was shocked to see us walking out empty handed, was this a dream? Had Kev just been in a tackle shop surrounded by bling, and not bought a thing!?!?!

After I finally came round, we were on our way to Kev's brothers. We had a quick chat about carping abroad and we made our way down to FishyPaul's house. It was a nice relaxing journey and after a bit of a mishap with the Sat Nav, we pulled up to Paul's house. Mike was already there and we just now had to wait for Dave and Steve and for the clock to make it's way to the early hours.

We all had a laugh and a great meal (thanks to Paul's missus for looking after us). Dave and Mike decided to try and get a couple of hours sleep while the rest of us stayed up chatting and watching a bit of fishing on the box. The clock chimed around 2am and we could wait no longer. In the cars and we were off down to the Channel Tunnel.

After a nice, easy crossing, we were in France and were all very keen to get on the water. An uneventful trip followed and by mid afternoon we were pulling up into Paradise Lakes and it was surreal to finally be on the water after such a long time coming. It looked a lot different "in the flesh" and after a quick meet and greet with the owners we all made our way around the lake to pick our swims. After a bit of thought from all of us, we had picked our swims and were heading to them via quad bike and trailer (much better than pushing a barrow round).

After setting up and the guys checking our rigs, the bell rang and we headed off to the lodge for a spot of grub. A nice chicken pie, tatties and veg meal was soon consumed and the guys all headed back to our swims to cast a line or three.

We'd all had a quick brief of our swims and knew roughly where to cast. Tonight was all about getting some decent rest, we would work harder Sunday onwards.

My 3 rods were put on the likely spots and I settled down taking in the French countryside and wildlife that was abundant all around the lake.

It wasn't long before I was in the sack and tried to get my head down for a good nights sleep. The lake was lovely and still as the rain headed in, causing a lovely mist over the lake. I was awoken from dreams of big carp and brought back down to reality as I missed an absoloute screaming take on a double bottom bait. The rod was re-cast and I stay awake for the next hour or so feeling very disappointed at the thought of what I could have just missed. After a good think I perked up a bit and realised I should be a bit more confident, it was the first night and within 8 hours of fishing a new lake relatively "blind" I had had a run. So, I missed it, I convinced myself there would be other chances and was determined to make them happen.

The rest of the night passed silently, so around 8am Sunday morning I reeled in my rods and wandered down to Kev's swim. I was surprised to hear Dave and Paul had also missed runs, and Kev has caught a 27+ mirror. My confidence bar increased yet again and I made my way over the other side to have a chat with the guys. We were soon heading up to the lodge for breakfast and a chat about our experiences that night.

A lovely sunrise early Sunday morning:

By the time I was back in my swim, I was really up for it and wanted to get my first fish out of the way. I didn't want to get to midweek without a fish, especially after missing a run the previous night. I got the marker float set up and had a quick feel around my swim. It was mostly very soft with the odd hard patch. These were the area's to aim for and I soon had a few markers out in the swim. I rowed out in the boat and baited 2 marks with about 5kg of pellet over each. 1 rod I had in my margin line where a few fish had crashed out and this was baited with around 1.5kg of pellet and the odd boilie. I helped Steve mark up his swims and put some bait out for him.

When I finally got back on to land and out of the boat it was as if I had just been drinking for the past 12 hours, I managed to stumble back to my swim with my legs feeling very funny and I was relieved to make it back without falling over.

The rods were cast out and I took a bit of time to appreciate the surroundings. Sunday passed very quickly without much action. I had been ghilly a few times and was priviliged to see some truly magnificent fish.

Kev came down on the Monday and helped me search around for a few nice features. He found a nice one around 70 yards away to my left. Around 25 boilies were scattered over the top and we both felt very confident. I left the swim for an hour or so before casting the rods in, by this time the evening was really drawing in, so the rods were cast out and I slipped into my bivvy early in anticipation of a run during the night.

I awoke around 6am Tuesday morning and was a little disappointed not to have had a take. I was very heavy eyed so decided to give it another couple of hours and went back to sleep. I awoke to the sound of a screaming alarm and taking a second or 2 to come round realised it was mine and was soon lifting in to a fish. The fish wasn't moving much and I was worried I had snagged on something and lost the fish, I tightened right up hoping to move it and I was pleased to feel a fish kicking on the end of my line. I was playing the fish very tentatively and after around 15 minutes of playing the fish, finally got it in the net. She was put on the scales and I was over the moon to be told it weighed in at 34lb on the dot.

The sheer weight off my shoulders after that was great, I finally felt I could relax and enjoy my fishing now.

The rods were back out onto their spots and I sat around the rest of the day with a huge grin on my face.

Wednesday morning arrived, and just before brekky, the decision was made to move down 1 swim. I soon had all my gear in the chosen swim and ready for when I came back from the lodge. It was an easier cast to my marks in the lake and I could also avoid a snag easier.

It was a very hot day, and a lot of fish had moved into the shallows. Steve had a cracking fish the Tuesday night so he was very relaxed and as a lot of fish were moving up his end of the lake, he kindly let me take 2 rods up and fish a couple of baits into the bay for the evening. Steve had 1 rod on his favourite mark, and I fanned both my rods out across the bay. It took about 10 minutes for some action when Steve hooked into a fish. He was playing it for a good 10 minutes just hugging the bottom, Steve finally seemed to be gaining some line when the leviathan just screamed off down the other end of the lake, the monster was on for another 10 minutes or so, before it finally dropped off. It was clearly one of the big 100+ cats in the lake and Steve was gutted to have lost it, although I think he was also slightly relieved.

I had a run not long after and it was great to be playing a fish again. It gave a decent scrap and was soon wallowing in front of the net. We had it on the bank and the needle went round to 26lb. I was well made up and pleased to be posing for the camera once again.

I recast the rod and about 30 minutes later while Steve was on the phone to Greenheart, my pop up rod screamed off and I was into another hard fighting fish. It gave a great account of itself and felt a decent fish. It went 24lb on the scales and was a gorgeous plated mirror.

I was elated and thanked Steve for letting me fish his swim. We had a good social that night with no further action and I retired to my bivvy at around 2am. I decided not to cast out my rods, but instead to have a good nights sleep.

The night passed and it was Thursday morning, I baited up a close in mark with a few boilies, but wasn't going to fish it until after breakfast. Another lovely fry up was consumed and I was back fishing around 10.30am. I had a lot of time to admire the wildlife yet again, as the rod remained very quiet. It was great to see some unusual creatures and I tried to savour the moments.

After a few hours out in the local town Limoges, it was soon time to be fishing again. I scattered about 50 boilies into the shallow bay and went for tea. I would be fishing Steve's swim again that night, so we made our way back and got the rods out. Kev had also came down with a rod as he tried to winkle another kipper out.

It took about an hour before we had any action was my rod had a slow pick up. I wound down and leant into the fish. It was a very slow and easy fish, the fish was in the net within around 5 minutes and I wasn't sure on the size, but thought it would be a high double - low twenty. I was astonished to find it had gone 31lb 8oz on the scales and when I had a proper look at the fish, could see why. It had a decent gut on it.

That was the only action we had that night, so Kev and myself headed back to our respective swims. Again, I didn't have my rods out that night and managed to get a great nights sleep yet again.

Friday had come round all too quickly and I found myself using it as a chance to pack up some unnecessary gear slowly. I took some gear back to the car around tea time and was astonished to see a tidy bivvy for once. Dave came over and fished Steve's swim with myself again. No fish were showing, and with the heavens looking like they were going to open, we headed back to our swims once again.
I had 2 rods out for the night and listened to the thunder in the distance seemingly getting closer.

I was awoken at 6am by Kev and then a little while later by Steve to pack up the remaining gear. As is so typical with fishing sessions, the rain really came down and for the rest of the morning we were soaked through as we took gear back.

The last breakfast was eaten and we all headed off home to tell friends and family about our tails fighting huge monsters from Paradise Lakes.

I for one had a fantastic week, and would definitely do it again. It was great to finally meet Fishypaul and Pingu and am looking forward to meeting for a fish again.

All the best guys.