david1951

90 big fish (over 40lbs) between 200 anglers isn't bad!!

Well done m8, 4 40's on any lake in France is a good result!! So 2 of you have now had almost 1/8 of all of the 40's caught there so far this season (according to Keith's stats, which I am sure are correct and not exaggerated, hat's off to that)! Other venues advertise so many big fish (and they rarely get caught!!) It doesn't really matter though, but what have all of the other guys been doing wrong who have fished there or has the place been empty a lot of the weeks this year, which explains the excessive advertising?? Keith I think that is a fair comment??

There are a lot of sceptical people out there in the carp world, including me with no points to score on this occasion!! I think Keith's report of a record week is great, if true. 1 of Moorlands main supporter from another forum there, Keith not on the lake and how many anglers fishing in total (?) and the 2 guys catching a total of over 10% of the biggest fish landed all season?? What were the other 200 guys doing the rest of the season while Keith was on site, after all we have all read his own personal catch reports which are impressive, probably true but I have to say boastful and probably wind anglers up who have struggled there!! Keith I am sorry to post this on here, but with such a successful lake why are you spreading the gospel (and paying to sponsor) on more forums? Word and mouth is the best way to get bookings!! I actually wish you every success, but there is room for improvement, take a back seat and don't boast about what you have caught etc., I have probably caught more 50's in 1 year than... enough of that!! Best advice is 4get the forums and rely on recommendations, trust me you will get more respect!! I am looking for another venue to recommend people who can't get on a certain venue, but you are putting people off. Hope you take this in the context it is intended. edited for swearing. gaz

I don't think you can generalise on this subject, some lakes in France produce more fish to traditional methods than using baitboats or spodding. The best advice is to ask the owner about the most productive methods on his lake, you can either then accept the advice or do your own thing, but remember that the owner knows his venue better than any visiting angler and you only have a week there to achieve the best result. I have seen on a lot of occasions people ignoring advice and sadly blanking! Not all lakes react well to heavy baiting and the anglers worry about bait presentation after casting is really a confidence thing. I would prefer to fish with a cast bait on a silty (but not too silty) lake knowing that the fish feed in the silt rather than use a bait boat to drop the bait on top of the silt, if you think about it, why do the majority of fish in France get caught on bottom baits rather than pop-ups or snowmen rigs?

It is sad when any venue has to close down whatever the reason!! There have been several reports in the past 2 months of lakes in The Champagne Region losing lots of fish, whatever reason has caused the closure of Lac Unique, hats off to the owner for honouring his promise to refund his customers. I have not read the alleged slagging reports on any forum, perhaps they have been removed? I would be surprised though if a few bad reviews would cause a lake owner/operator to close his lake. Anyway it is history now!

i dought fish farms will have them off you tbh, Diseases and parasites etc? Fish farmers also act as agents for other people with lakes that want to sell fish, as Mrs Rushes says, Fatfish would be a good person to contact. Of course fish farms wouldn't take them as they farm their own fish and keep the same strain (usually) and as you say wouldn't take the risk of diseases being introduced.

Water temperatures in the Champagne Region currently around 13/14, forecast next week is low/mid 20's daytime and double figures at night so water temperature will go up. I think that they will start spawning the 2nd week of May, caught a fish the other day milting, but not seen any females carrying spawn yet.

Sorry to post this thread, but I find it a little confusing when this venue has recently changed hands due to the previous owners (Adam & family) sadly having to call it a day due to personal reasons, the new owners stating on another forum that they will not be returning to France due to personal reasons but are looking for people to run their venue in 2011 and yet the website makes no mention about what is going on? No points to be scored here, but I think that the anglers should have a little more information, guys are writing on other forums that they are trying to contact the new owners but no reponse, a whole set of mixed threads on this venue! Matt & Melissa, a good tip would be provide a little more information on the website, not enough to post on a forum that you are sorry that people have been let down for 2010 and yet let other people believe you are still open!! Best advice I can give, for what it is worth, is wait until you are ready to open again and then tell everybody! Good luck for 2011!!!!

Well done Kim, good 1st week and yes the weather has been horrendous! How much did your water level rise? I think there will be plenty of lakes in France flooded last week.

As far as I know it shut down a while back. After an additional stocking of several hundred carp there was a major fishkill and a lot of unfavourable reports about the venue being spread around.

Shizle, have you been to France before? The best people to advise on which baits work best are the fishery owners, after all it is in their interest that you have a good week and rebook. I have fished in France for many years and from my own experience, I think that the trend is that smaller baits 16mm and 18mm are more effective these days, I no longer fish with 20mm boilies. Obviously every venue is different! I would not consider trying a venue for the 1st time and put all my eggs in 1 basket by only taking 1 size and 1 make of boilie. If you are considering booking a holiday for April/May this year, you have left it very lake. Have a good holiday.

The website is a lot better than some, I think it is not a well known venue, at first I thought you might have got the name wrong and was asking about Mirror Pool, but having looked at the website the venue does exist. What I can never understand especially from 1st time posters on forums is why they book venues and then ask about more information about them??? You should do your homework first, personal recommendations are always the best advertising!

You are right Kim, I should have clarified that I have only fished Northern France and the Limoges area. Happy New Year by the way and wish you every success for the 2010 season.

Been to France the last 15 years (or more) including many times in April, I have never seen or heard of carp spawning that early, think you will be ok!

Posting removed as my comment was mistakingly about the wrong lake.