coops_northants

Too late, already packed them Dan. Chargig al my batteries for my camaras..... ill need them you see. Weather forcast for the week, rain, loads of rain, every day rain..... great.

36 hours from now i will be getting rained on at la fonte...... happy days. I am slowly checking off the needed list and coming up with stuff to take every few minute..... paracetamol...... i suffer headaches, must get paracetamol.

ant powder......... much more usefull well unless you are giving the bait to the ants as a sort of peace offering.

after what happened to me last time at moorlands, i would take some ant powder and killer spray. I went to bed one night and as i was laying there i saw something move on the edge of the sleeping bag in the half light of the moon. i brushed it off then felt something on my neck so i reached down and picked up the head torch, when i turned it on i saw ants on my pillow then as my eyes adjusted i saw them on the bed. I lifted the pillow to a sight that would say with me forever, the bed moved as the ants realised i had found them out, it was like when you was a kid and you distrubed a nest with a stick. as i slowy looked down the bag i saw more ants and they were all over me and the bed. i dived out and on inspection they had totally over run the brolly the bed, the tea kit, the tackle bag, everything. I then was given a can of ant killer by Keiths wife Jan, very much appreciated and also some ant powder. I had to pack everything up, get my spare bag and then set everything back up in a different spot in the open away from the cover of the trees and bushs. then finaly to sleep. Gives me the ebeygeebies just thinking about it.

you should do mate. i would try and fish it on the move, maybe bait a spot then try and pinch a few fish to settle me down and then sit it out on the now couple of day old bait with no lines in the way for a couple of days. depends how many are on. Thats going to be my tactics for a weeks time.

yeah, Old JRC lake isnt it? supposed to be a good test, not easy but one for those who dont mind working at it.

see one the other day tha looks like the lakestar boat and sells for £250, think it was on ebay. I was going to buy one for france in september and the commnets from purchasers look good too.

Guys, if you can hook a pva bag on your choddie and cast it out without the bag weight dragging the hooklink all the way up your mainline then you souldnt be fishing. For that to happen the link would need to be fixed. With this type of arrangement the hooklink should be free to slide off in the event of a crack off or the line snapping. With so many people using this rig and so many that try to re create the wheel when is not necessary issues arise. use it as its intended and the results will be just fine and the fish you fish for much safer.

Buy rigmarole fluro, all you do is pull it straight, its awsome.

Are you sure the fishery has banned them or long shank curved hooks (often referred to as a bent hook) If they have then use a different hook set up instead of a kd style hair. Kd is not everything and many other arrangements are as good or in my opinion often better.

Awsome. Keith, I think im going to be coming out with James in may next year.

No way, that is huge, what an awsome result. That is the longest common i had ever seen so im not supprised at all. If thats 52lb...... how big will the long common be..... some lucky angler may find that out soon. I really want to get out there again soon Keith, maybe a short one 3-4 days, monday morning to thursday evening one week maybe.

Incredible, I cant believe i dont have enough time to get out there this year, Im going to miss my trip out to Moorlands with the fish in such fantastic condition and so very big. The pictures of arfur were great, what a stunning fish, breeze block like. Roll on september and october when they huge. Definately one of them will be over 60lb this year, if not a few more

What an awsome report, you will need a holiday to recover from that.

Striker, In that post you managed to show everyone exactly the difference. Im sure if people had the oppertunity to fish 6 weeks in france over a year they would have a mixed plan of different fishing. Finding themselves fishing rivers, inland sea's and the pay lakes. Lets also look it from another perspective, (My persepective) I work 6 day weeks, 12 hour days most days if not more. During my year i consentrate on my uk fishing and take it, in the main very seriously. Now when i have a holiday, 2 a year i dont want to struggle on mis information, and have to put in loads of effort in my fishing during my holiday as i have to make the effort all year just to go fishing anyway. For a holiday i want to relax, socialise, chill out and the best run package waters like Moorlands offers me that. I can book up and know what i am going to get, which is well looked after, great facilities, some cracking banter, the chance of some monster carp in pretty well perfect condition but best of all the chance to relax and just enjoy being there. If i had the chance to fish for 6 holidays a year, explore i would diffinatly do, but only after i have had the rest and relaxation that these well run fisheries offer.

Nice one Dan, i have been wanting to see those pictures for ages. Wicked mate.

ha ha check out Bear Grylls and Ray Mears. Rat wee drink boy..........

Good job you suppressed the urges then Beanz... Berkley vanish transitions on my floater rod at the minute. try the pole lines for a tippet. ultra fine and usually clear.

Dave i would definatley recomend Keiths Place. I have been twice and enjoyed every minute of it. Cracking water with cracking fish. Keith is a top host as well even if on the next trips he makes you listen to the repeated jokes. September is a fantastic time at Moorlands and the fish are absolute chunks which i am sure they will be much bigger again this year coming. I am hopeing to get out there for a week at some point in 2011 if i can make the time and if Keith will have me My description, "the carp holiday that ticks all the boxes"

I xheked recently for a quick trip and the prices were rediculous. portsmouth to caen was £287 this would have near doubled for my van and that was for a 3 day trip and just rules it all out. Im hopeing i can find a few deals like the one last year through sea france at £40 return.

Are you taking bookings all winter? i was talking with a mate the other day about doing a short trip which would be, drive monday night, start 7th and leave 10th early doors. Just the 2 of us. Any space? PM me cost cheers

I should explain, i meant in fish swiming in the lake a probable 1 in four over 40lb.

For me traveling to france is more than the chance of a good fish, Its all about the hospitality and the element of chance for me and lets face it there is no guarentees in fishing but if you can guarentee the experience all you then need is some luck. I have been to Keiths place and is first class in every respect and a place that i would recomend to anyone and also one i hope to visit a good few times over the years. As with the other lakes mentioned, they all run a fantastic fishery, i know guys on here visit Kims rusheslakes often and will continue to do so because they get looked after and obviously catch a few fish and is one that i will visit if there is space when i can go CarpQuarry looks a mad place, a true one of a kind and look what you get for your money, great value and some monsters. I have spoken with Gordon a couple of times and can only say what a nice guy he sounds. Every time i think of fishing there i keep thinking "i could float fish with a waggler down the edge and have a 40 on the float" wicked. Also Gaz just coming back from Genesis and giving us all an insight into the place was great and again the service provided is what shines through and run again by terrific people with a genuine interest in making it a "HOLIDAY" with some cracking fish thrown in too. Why not support some of these guys and give them a whirl and let us all know how you got on. Happy hunting.

just been and had a look..... one of my favourites..... wouldn't mind making it 3 captures in 3 trips..... (it is the half lin right?) Well done Keith, trust it to have been you to have it, Nice one

Jesus, thats a monster. Over 1 in 4 fish caught being over 40lb is a massive acheivement the rest averaging well into the 30s, great scenery, mostly great weather, no outside noise and excellent service........ I better start sorting out some cash for april Nice one Keith. What fish was it?