mrs_rusheslake

We have a cancellation for w/c May 21st, would prefer an exclusive group but a 2 and a 3 is fine. This is the only availability for 2011. Feel free to pm or email us.

Have to disagree with you there are a number of excellent lakes in the £195 - £250 price bracket. But you will find if you widen your search to 3.5 - 4 hours from Calais you will find a whole load more... Better negotiating DIRECT with the fishery... How about starting on the carp.com fishery page http://www.carp.com/fishing-holidays.php

Have you thought about taking 2 cars and hiring a trailer for each? This, I think would be probably the most economical way to go. There are a few places in the UK that hire trailers and we have a few groups of 4 anglers who do this. If you need any more info on trailer hire let me know and I will try and get some contact numbers for you. Probably the cheapest ferry will be Norfolk Lines from Dover to Dunkirk. Maybe get your group organised and draw up between you a list of things that you need for your trip, decide on the amount of bait you need (contact the lake owner to see the average amount of bait his anglers get through). Make sure you have enough end tackle as good tackle shops are few and far between here and wont offer you much choice and are expensive! Hope that helps getting the ball going.

I am glad that you are now giving France a go. Given the choice I would certainly pick September, weather wont be scorching and fish will be beginning to put on some of their pre winter weight. I am not sure how many lakes would be offering short breaks during the season as most only offer a Saturday - Saturday week. I would certainly email Eddie at Genesis Fishery he is fairly new so he maybe able to accomodate a short weeks break, this lake would certainly fit the bill on all counts of your wishlist. Gazmeesh went there in the autumn of 2010 for a short break and was full of praise, his catch report is in the French Catch Report section http://www.genesis-carpfishery.com/

Just pray to the weather God krafty..... and have a selection of 3 lakes in your pocket.

My best advice for you would be to draw up a list of 5 fisheries that could cater for you in February & try and make sure they are fairly spread around France ie Limousin, Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Champagne etc. DONT book any of them but ring them up in the week leading upto your dates and speak to each owner/bailiff regarding the weather there & if the lakes are frozen or not. Then make your choice & book your ferry. You do not want the expense of a ferry & a journey (& lost deposit or balance) to a venue that is frozen or otherwise unfishable.

My advice, in general, about your proposed trip to France next year. Dont pick a venue on the look or feel of a website after all Luke would never win any prizes for the Graviers website would he?? I couldnt find any catch reports for your proposed lake, so to be honest with you I would email them and ask for them... they will, as with any other lake owner worth their salt, be only too happy to provide them. Even be more cheeky and ask them to put you in touch with a couple of their regulars who will be able to give you a full run down on tactics,baiting etc. We have a Facebook page where we do exactly that and put all our anglers in touch with each other and are, as such, fully visible to everyone.

2 pints of lager... and a big lump? Nice photo & well done!

Dont be shy Keith... ! The grapevine has it they you were the captor of these fish? Well done on Clover... she has to be a prime suspect for being your first 60 next year

Is it best to go where the fish are biggest or head for a more achievable target water that will give me better sport To be honest only you can answer that question.... Once answered make a shortlist of venues based on the other things youve mentioned bearing in mind ALL catch reports & reviews, then really go to town finding out as much as you can about the lakes on your shortlist. Bon chance!

I believe Gazmeech returned from there recently... maybe worth a pm? I know one thing though... Eddy & Val will certainly look after you!

Just to reiterate.... I have moved another thread offline. If you wish to advertise your lake, your services or indeed your publications please contact richardf by pm.

Have a great time Gaz.... look forward to some great photos & write up! Give my regards to Val & Eddy

Found some reviews/ experiences for you elsewhere on a forum & have pm'd you the link

One piece of advice I will give is not to take too long making a decision. April is an extremely popular month and many will already have limited availability.

Its a bit of a myth that the south of France will have better weather in April. I would be looking at venues around Brittany edging Mayenne & Southern Normandy which seem to fare better that time of year. To be honest April is always a bit of a gamble but if you hit it right the rewards are there, indeed in this area April some years produces some glorious tshirt weather and others weather fit for ducks! I would rule us out as we have no exclusive weeks available for 2010 at all, (thanks for the recommendation tho Jez!) Have a look at Genesis Carp Fishery... absolutely ideal for the 5 of you. Eddy & Val I know would ensure you have a great time. www.Genesis-carpfishery.com Also Windmill Lakes run by Sue & Dave the whole venue is absolutely ideal for a group with a specimen lake & a runs water. www.windmilllakes.co.uk

Genesis Carp Fishery. I know Eddie and Val are top top hosts, will be sure to get a bend in your rods ( a very special place!)

Vinyl says a Lake Exclusive is a must.... think BV might be a tad expensive for just the 2 of them fishing??? Gordon to be honest was thinking more of your place which suits better but lacking a pool. Vinyl you said close matches.... what parts could you compromise on if you had too?

I am not ignoring you vinyl... just been racking my brains. Most lake with pools & accomodation are in the central & south of France which is a much longer drive from Calais. Of course unless someone knows different?

anything over 20..... upto a 30

I have pm'd you... Lots of choice and one complex I am sure will do day tickets

Is it the villages 'plan d'eau'????? most villages have a communal lake for the villagers... most have carp in but dont go to much size in fact we donate some of our small carp to our local village lake every couple of years. Did you have to buy a carte de peche to fish it? Cant find any info on it so am presuming the above is correct

Presumably you have emailed the owner of Meadow Lake to voice your concerns. I am sure that this should be the first port of call as he may unaware of the particular goings on you have described. To be honest with you I have heard nothing but exceptional reports about the owner & his lakes and am sure he will be more than happy to address your concerns.

Fairly up to date info on Vallee lakes on here:- http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=45922 Have you had a look through our fishing holiday section - many choices on there. Can recommend the following lakes:- Windmill Lakes (one lake is a specimen lake & the other a runs water with huge cats) CarpQuarry (specimen lake) Genesis (runs water with some fantastic fish & good food package) Planchon (new venue for 2011 so a bit of an unknown quantity as regards specimen or runs water)

This thread in the catch reports section is very up to date (Apr-June 2010) http://www.carp.com/carp-forum/viewtopic.php?t=45922