cowley1963

Thanks David, I'm still full of it To be honest, I don't know the complete stock details. All of the lads on our week caught, and we're going back twice next year We loved the place that much! It's not easy, but French lakes aren't the pushover they used to be. I like the balance and feel of Moorlands. 15 odd acres stuffed with too many fish would be called catching not fishing When we turned up, it was full. We hired the lake for our week, then it was full again the following week. I don't know how hard it is advertised, but it seems to have paid off. I'd book early if your going. Thanks again, might see you on the bank one day. All the best cowley.

I have just returned from Moorlands, first time there. I have read this complete thread and will simply state things as i see them. We did the draw for swims and I came out last All the fish were showing towards the dam wall end of the lake, and by the time my pick came along, that end of the lake was pretty much taken, so i plumped for the entrance to the southern arm swim called 'the boneyard'. I ended up with 9 fish including 4 40's, very nice! The fish seemed to come out from different areas at different times of the week, so I can easily see how Robin managed his fantastic haul if he kept mobile and 'on' the fish. I tend to think of French holiday fishing as a mixture of fishing and holiday, but if Robin worked hard to stay with the shoals, all I can say is well done and great angling! His catch is definitely feasible. Keith fished from the dam wall for some of the week, and was very helpful. We had a mix of angling abilities and nothing was too much trouble. It was interesting to see his rigs, baiting approach etc, and some of our fish caught were due to mimicking Keiths approach. I really enjoyed my week here. It's not easy, you have to work at it. Proper fishing i'd call it. I for one recommend Moorlands. I'll be back! Cheers, Cowley.

Only got as far as the 2nd. I'm guessing he doesn't use the ring then

Written by Stephen Donaldson. Blimey, six books. Can't put them down!

I've fished Dreamlakes 1 five times. Up to two years ago it was superb, great fishing, great food and great bailiff's. Then three or so years ago they had a massive fish death. They attempted to resolve this by trading cats for carp with a local French guy, pound for pound. Good in theory but in practise, the big cats being taken out resulted in a kitten explosion (no big cats to eat them). It was impossible to catch carp because the kittens were straight on your bait. Head bailiff Matt and the gang have worked hard, painfully extracting the kitten's, albeit with the help of the hapless angler's over the past couple of years. To say the staff are un-helpful has probably been true over the last couple of years. Because of the dip in action they have been at the sharp end of angler's complaints. Whilst these complaints have been justified, it's human nature I'm afraid to clam up under these circumstances, remember they work there, they don't own it. Now, all the hard work has reaped its reward, and with the help of a boilies and plastic only rule, the action is now as good as ever. The staff, who were always excellent before, are now able to concentrate on the important stuff, like fishery management and making your holiday what you would expect. So basically, it's had problems but they seem to be resolved. And if they are, there's nowhere better, in my opinion. Cowley.

I'm off to the above venue early April. They offer the rental of a rowing boat for £70 for the week. Is this an advantage on this lake or a waste of 70 quid? Cowley.

Great point. Combine this with a great pair of polaroid's and it's just as exciting as free-lining crust. Proper fishing

France's weather is completely different to ours. Most lakes are situated 4-5 hours from Calais, in the champagne region. It gets hotter in the summer and much colder in the winter. Last year in early April, some lakes were frozen in the edge and it snowed heavily. Admittedly, it was cold here too early in April, but not that cold. I would worry about February/March big time. I've booked the week beginning the 5th April 09, and i feel like i'm chancing it. I wish you well, hopefully it could be an early spring and you'll be hauling! Be interested to know how you get on. Steve.

Try cross channel carping's 'Lac Tellait's.' [edited to remove link]

Could anyone recently returned from cross channels 'Tellaits' please post their results. I'm going early April 2009. Cheers.

So that's 9% on a pb, 90% disappointed and 1% feeling very unlucky! I think. Medic! I'm going for a lay down Cowley.

Have just booked 6 April 09. Fished it myself in 2001, but fish were alot smaller then. One of my fishing buddies fished it in September last year. He had 12 fish, biggest 43lb. He loved the place, his only complaint was no on site shower facilities. You get taken to a local camp site every other day so keep those bivs apart He said rent a row boat. Those that didn't struggled a bit. Cowley.

Yep boilies and plastic are just about all that's permitted. Might be worth taking some chops just to be a bit different? Cowley.

Good on you, the best of luck! I'll keep an eye out for your progress. Cowley.

Hello Sir! Dreamlakes has had a negative press and i know there are those on this site that have, shall we say, reservations. However, i can only speak as i find so here goes..... I have fished dreamlakes 1 on and off for the past 5 years. I have never blanked, the least amount of fish caught during a week being 6, the most 14. That's not to say it hasn't had its problems. There was a reasonable fish death a few years back, which wouldn't be a problem in itself, but the remedy decided upon did create a new problem. They decided to replace the lost carp by exchanging the big cats pound for pound for carp with a french guy. In theory, perfect. Trouble was the little cats had no big cats to eat them, and the kitten population exploded. It was difficult to have a bait in the water long enough for the carp without being intercepted by the kittens. Over the last couple of years, head bailiff Matt and the guys have been meticulously removing the little blighters whilst continuing to stock more and more carp. Last year i had no cats and, although the fishing wasn't (and never has been) easy, i really enjoyed my week. Cowley.

Just booked teillaits april 09. All excited! Cowley.

Early or late for the fish. Any time in between for the weather. The choice is yours! Cowley.

Really enjoyed the programme. Certainly whet the appetite, especially after winter with spring beckoning. Cowley.

Have been in 01. Used nash baits on 2 rods, there bait on the other 2. 12 fish on nashie and 11 on there bait, so dunno whether its baitie or not. Lovely lake, take advantage of the boats, much easier. Plenty of room to follow showing fish during the day. Good luck, cowley.