News

Date: July 2010

Details: YES!!! Alex has only been and gone and done it.

YES!!! He’s only been and gone and done it!

Alex, after 2 years of not being able to fish because there was no swim spare, finally got his rods in today. He decided to use tinned potatoes as bait as an experiment, because the French use tinned potatoes, or as they call them pomme de terre, and do very well.

At 2.30 this afternoon the left rod screamed off, Alex struck and brought in his PERSONAL BEST 35lb 4oz carp. His previous PB was a 34lb 8oz carp, TWO YEARS AGO. Was he pleased!?!?!? He was beaming from ear to ear!

Before this happened, at around 2.00 this afternoon, Alex also caught a 30lb carp and was well pleased with that but getting his PERSONAL BEST 35lb 4oz carp overrode this catch.

There is a competition between us now, my PB is a 42lb Virgin Mirror. Alex said that he likes to slowly build up his PB’s (yeah right!)

Well done Alex, job done till next time says Carolyn. Watch this space!!

Alex with his PB 35lb 4oz carp. Well done you!

Date: July 2010

Details: Beaute gets a pool!

THE SUMMER OF 2010

What a beautiful summer we are having! Tropical you could say, one day terrific thunder and lightning, the next, fantastic hot, sunny days.
How could we improve on such wonderful surroundings, we thought? Thats it!! We had a swimming pool but it was getting old, so we decided to purchase a new one.

Compared to the old one, it was huge. It measured 21ft x 18ft and took, believe it or not, 4 days and nights to fill which, being on a water meter meant that we just had to forget about the wheel whizzing around and think about lying in our new pool and cooling down. There has been many a time when we, and the guys here have made use of the pool. It is a particular hit with the guys who bring their families with them, the children absolutely loved splashing around and even learning to swim. We also bought 2 large plastic armchairs for the pool and its wonderful to relax in an armchair whilst also topping up the tan.

Next, we thought “why not get something else that would entertain the little ones”, even some of the ‘grown up’s’. So we bought a set of swings with a see-saw. In order to make it as safe as possible, first we had to lay a thick layer of sand, then cement in the footings. Looking good, we thought. That too is a great hit.

We had a lovely surprise ourselves a couple of weeks ago, I think we have mentioned in previous articles that we have 12 hens. As well as the hens, we acquired a cockerel about 7 months ago. Yes, you guessed it, we opened the hen house and there it was, a tiny, tiny black chick.
What a wonderful summer.
 

Date: December 2009

Details: 42lb Winter Mirror!

WOW, YIPPEE, MY VERY FIRST PERSONAL BEST 42LB VIRGIN MIRROR CARP.

I had a bit of work to do around the Lake. I finished around 12.30pm, came in for a cuppa and Carolyn said “Can we do a bit of fishing today”. It was quite mild and looked like it was going to rain, it did about 2 o’clock.

I got my fishing gear out and set up in swim 4, baited up all three rods and went and got in the rowing boat with some freebies. Carolyn held the rods in turn and I placed them out in some of my favourite hotspots, rowed back in and Carolyn set the rods on the alarms and rod pod, so I was able to sit under the umbrella with her as it was lightly raining.

At 2.45pm, the middle rod screamed off and as Carolyn had only caught a sturgeon two days before (her very first ever caught fish by the way, at 28lb) and had not caught a carp, I let her strike the rod. She hooked the fish perfectly and gently began to steer in around the other two rods.

Well, when I saw what she had caught as I got it just in the net, I thought “Ba***rd!!” All praise to Carolyn, she held the net while I removed the hook which was perfectly caught in a virgin Mirror Carp, took a photo, looked over the carp, then weighed her.

Wow, a first Personal Best 42lb Virgin Mirror Carp. “Ba***rd!!! “ I thought, “she has beaten my Personal Best.

After the great amount of carp in the 40lb plus this year, this was the most beautiful, virgin 42lb Mirror Carp.

Carolyn is now banned from fishing, just joking....hmmm, maybe!!

Now, here comes the technical bit.....Carolyn was fishing with a Nash Hooigan 2.75lb Rod, Shimmano XTEA reel with 25lb Bullit Braid, a 3ft of Nash Limpet Leadcore with a running Korda Gripper 2.8oz Lead, tied to a 6” 45lb quick silver Hook Link, and Korda Buffer Lead and a size 6 Nash Uni Barbed Hook. A single Nash B2 14mm boilie bottom bait just tipped up with a single piece of plastic corn, made by Enterprise was used. I put it out with the rowing boat with around 10 freebies.

JOB DONE, WELL DONE CAROLYN!

We have not had a chance to fish all year, with a very busy season, thanks to the great team at Angling Lines, who do all our bookings now, this is the first chance we have had to get a line in the water, and what a way to go!

AND HERE SHE IS !!!!!
P.S. The multicoloured fingernails were just because it’s Christmas !!

Best regards, Alex.

Carolyn's first ever caught fish, Surge the Sturgeon at 28lb.	Wow, that's what I call a fish, Carolyn's Virgin Mirror Carp at 42lb.	Phew, she is a heavy girl, bless, my virgin Mirror Carp
We just had to take another photo.

Date: November 2009

Details: FAMILIES AT THE LAKE

Now that summer is over, well, I say over... officially it is but looking out of the window, the sun is shining and it’s still lovely and warm. And we are nearly at the end of November!!

This brings me to ponder on the summer season we had here at the Lake. We have had so many different people here, all very enjoyable and it was our pleasure to welcome them here.

We have had a few families this year, Rob, who came early in the season with some of his mates, came back with his young family. They had a wonderful time here, playing in the swimming pool, going out on the rowing boat and of course, helping dad bring the fish in.

Then there was Gary who also came over with friends the first time, then brought his young family over to enjoy the whole experience of fishing, and France.

The environment at the Lake is so child friendly, secure and safe. Alex’s family came over in August, Linda, Tommy, Tina, Andy, their 6 year old daughter Amy, and 6 week old twin boys, Alfie and Alex. They had a whale of a time, going to Le Mans and Le Fleche Zoo, which was amazing.

Next came Carolyn’s son, Anthony with his wife, Michelle and their two boys, Callum 9, and Connor, 2. We were looking after 2 dogs for friends at the time, a Labrador and Jack Russell. Connor, and Bella, the Labrador became best of friends. They also had a wonderful time.

Last but not least, Helen, Carolyn’s daughter, came over with her children, Amy, 4 and Daniel, 2. The acorns and conkers were falling while they were here and they delighted in filling bags and bags of them. We were thankful because there were so many of the things, all over the place.

The anglers who were here when all the families came over, were so kind and helpful. Having children around didn’t bother them in the slightest, in fact, they thoroughly enjoyed having the little ones around.

Talking of little ones, we bought some hens back in June. They were only a couple of months old but settled in very well. We now have 12 hens. We get beautiful fresh, free range eggs which are wonderful for breakfast, dinner and tea. No, only kidding, we just have them for breakfast. The hens are getting really tame, walking around the Lake, making friends with the anglers and generally have a really good life.

All in all, we have had a wonderful summer, the temperature peaked at 44, and although most of the Lakes have lost around two and a half feet of water, it didn’t stop one of our anglers catching his Personal Best and New Lake Record, a 48lb 8oz Mirror Carp in the shallow water. We have had a busy but rewarding summer. Thanks to all who made it so.
 

Rob with his son	Amy enjoying a ride on tractor	Daniel didn't want to miss a ride too
Tony with his Personal Best and New lake Record

Date: October 2009

Details: DEDICATED ANGLER, COME RAIN OR SHINE!!

DEDICATED ANGLER, COME RAIN OR SHINE !!

On the day Carl, one of our anglers, arrived, the sun was shining and it was very warm. However, the weather changed on his fourth day when the heavens opened and it poured down.

Undeterred, Carl got himself out in the rowing boat to drop his baits. His fellow anglers thought he was mad, but Carl was determined not to let the rain come between him and his fishing, especially as he had just landed his Personal Best, a 29lb 4oz Mirror Carp, caught using jumbo prawns.

His determination rewarded him when, a short time later, Carl caught and landed a 25lb Sturgeon, also caught on jumbo prawns.

So it just goes to show, dedication, determination and hard work pays off, come rain or shine!
 

This catch prompted Carl to take to the rowing boat.	Carl getting a soaking.	Carl getting even wetter
Carl's reward, his 25lb Sturgeon