cobleyn

is 3 lakes up your way (selby)?

Just a quick post for those that have ever wondered what Gillahms is actually like. I'm lucky enough to able to say that the week before last (a week to get over jetlag and get some work done before getting back on the forum!) was my third visit to Gillhams and it wont be my last. Stuart (Gillham- the owner) made a decision to shut the lake down for 6 weeks to add some extra stock to the lake and rest the fish through the hottest part of the year. I was lucky enough to fish it on opening week. I wont bore you with a full holiday review- so far as to say it is in one of the most stunning parts of teh world and you feel very looked after out there. The fishing is certainly not what you would call easy and will really seperate thinking, talented anglers from 'chuck it and chance it' anglers'. If your watercraft isnt up to the mark or you know your lake and thats it-I would consider twice whether Gillhams is the fishery for you. That said the guides are alll excellent and will put you onto the fish and help you to catch your target species. If your prepared to work at the fishing as hard as your UK or French fishing- you'll get some awesome results with true 'fishes of a lifetime'. Several anglers have turned up in my visits there, not willing to listen to the guides who work on the water every day and have left empty handed. Its a long way to go to blank through not wanting listen to some local knowledge. Anyway- long story short... We (and my dad) arrived on the Saturday morning jetlagged and tired. Rather than nap we went straight out onto the lake chose our peg and started to talk about strategy. We chose the peg on the basis that there is a big plateau around 60 yards out that the carp seem to like to feed on (our focus for the week was the carp and a Mekong Catfish). Our plan was to spod maize and boilies onto the Plateau and create a situation where the fish came to us. I'd had 15KGs of Trigga, N-Byuric, pineapple and GLM mixed up with some additional hardener in (due to the shrimp population) by rollin' baits. The first after 1/2 an hour casting the marker float around I spodded out around 3KGs of bait and pur the first of the rods out. As the second rod touched down it roared off- producing a fit fighting 30lb'er. The power of even the small (25-35lb) siamese is incredible. Even with a 6lb Free spirit rod- they rip your arm off. What was clear thayt the fish were taking the bait on the drop so I switched to a floating method style set-up with critically balanced pineapple and n-byruric pop-up trimmed down to just sink under the weight of the hook. This took a further 6 fish until it became too dark to fish it. This was the story of the first three days, with most of the fish coming to the float and us catching around 4-5 fish each per day. Once the fish got on the baited patch though (we were putting out 6 or7 kgs of bait in the morning), we started to pick them up off the bottom with the Mekongs really getting switched on to the bait. My goal was to catch one of thses fish during the trip, but my final tally was 6. If god made a freshwater fish with the intention of being to smash angler us- this is it. Truly mind blowing runs of 60 and 70 yards interpseced with 10 minutes of heavy charging up and down before roaring off again. Awesome fish- with the shortest of the fights being 25 minutes (of me locked and gurning- no pussying around with them) the longest being 50 minutes. The week produced carp up to around 85lb's with a few around the 55-70 mark. The highlight was a very rare Julians Golden carp on the last night of 30lbs Mekongs ranged from around 60 up to 120. Great fishery- a good crowd at night having a great crack. a week was just not enough![/img]

ditto. short links when pva bag fishing...long when fishing boilies spread out. I sometimes like a longer hooklink when I'm fishing for bigger carp too, I think they can get it in their mouths easier due to their bulk (when they are having to 'up-end' to get food in their mouths) and the sucking power that they can generate with their bigger mouths and gills.

I've noticed that scaling right down produces more bites. I've only fished method before- I tried to sort out the better fish by using bigger baits - but I just caught less fish. Light hooklinks, small hooks and small baits will increase your chances.

Good report.

Its a great water, at least it was when I fished it 10 or so years ago. Some really nice old fish in it. Its not overly stocked and some of the fish grow legs and move between all of the lakes on the complex (which makes them all worth a bash).

I had the mis-fortune of trying this place last year. Nothing wrong with the pools...just the owners. We got there on friday night, for a weekend stint and didnt see anyone 'till sat morning. No probs there. Then the ownders son came around the peg (and without introdcing himself) critiqued everything I was doing. Not want you want from a 13 year old. Once he was introduced, he then waited until I was just about to cast before informing me that he wanted to inspect my rig. I was then informed: No artificals (ie Maize), No safety clips - no helicopters- no chods(running rigs only), no combi link material- Mono only etc etc etc. I politely said "I'll tell you what... I'm off". 10 minutes later his 20 stone Dad came down, sticking his chest out and looking all surly. Lifes too short and there's too many good waters out there to waste money when lake owners want to get arsey with people- they dont publish their rules at the lake (and dont meet you to tell them to you)and then pick fault with perfectly sensible rigs that would be allowed in every other lake in the country.

In the words of homer simpson... "Marge...can I play devils advocate"? Now dont all lose your collective minds on this...But they are ... after all...just fish! We all stick bloody great hooks in them and drag them out of their homes as often as we possibly can... so come on lets not get too precious here. We all eat meat and fish (well most of us) and carp is considered a delicacy all over the world. I'm all for fish rights and looking after our quarry. Buts lets not forget that they are a non-native species... theres no such thing as a native carp. OK there are wildy's- but how many of us fish for them. even mr. Leneys were taken from not native staock at some point. The worst fish kill I have witnessed was down at whiteacres where all of their british stock was wiped out through (alledgely) bad fishery management (in my opinion- please dont sue me clint!) - not importing french fish. Pavyotts has nets, slings and matts on every peg- erradicating most chances of contamination. I would urge you to go and fish the maze at Pavyotts (rather than regurgitating what you have heard) and see if every one is 'guaranteed a fish' (queue- I wouldnt fish on that place if it was the last place on earth comments). These fish have seen every rig and every bait known to man and are pretty cute... they dont give themselves up- so comparisons about shooting deer in an enclosure dont stand up. All of that said- I'm not a huge fan of the place- just wanted to present a balanced arguement. I wouldnt consider a Pavyotts 30 or 40lb a huge accomplishment, as a good angler who spent enough time there would snag one. But thats the same any where... if you sit on a venue long enough you'll catch every fish in there. Perhaps we should ban anyone from fishing a venbue more than 6 days a season to give the fish a chance, or if you're on the dole you shouldnt be able to fish at all. Now how much of my post is a joke and how much is serious?

- Mate, I've got to take offence at the statement 'carp fishing is better off wihtout people who fish at places like that'. Why would carp fishing be better off without me? What difference does it make whether I fish there for one day a year when I fancy a change to my 2 local syndicates? I've been fishing for carp for 30 years and have caught them all over the world and from pits and lakes all over the UK... some hundereds of acres where the no-one really knows what the stock level is (albeit that it was less than 20). Have a go at the lake by all means- but randomnly attacking people for fishing there... a bit naughty that. Be happy in your fishing and just let other get on with their life and enjoy their fishing.

12lb line in open water. 17lb line when its weedy.

Could be Pavyotts mill or Orchid.

If anyone knows of this venue- can you let me know...coz I've lived here for 40 years and it sounds pretty good. -Seriously though...There just isnt anywhere that you can drop onto in this area. The East mids is lacking in decent waters and the few that are around are syndicate. Unless someone can tell me otherwise???

If its Mike Boyce- yup I can vouch for his outfit too. Mike's always been helpful to me and their guides are some of the best on the river.

Anyone got any contact details for it?

Make sure you are not using it on the wrong bottom/ rig. It can have a tendancy to stick up at funny angles and look a bag of spanners on the wrong bottom.

If its your first time I would have a guide for at least half your trip. Its truly massive and you could waste a lot of time blanking when there are fish not too far away. Mequinenza is obviously good- but busy. The top lake lends itself to the pioneering spirit- there are some huge uncaught fish swimming around up there (200lb cats and 40lb carp)... but its massive, rocky, deep and you'll need a boat.

I think there is a large piece on it in Bill Cottams book. If its is the one that I am thinking of - get ready to be smashed by Crays!!! You have just enough time to prepare 'the ultimate cray deterrent'. PM me.

Well... what can I say... its a good set-up down there. The huts are very comfy and the place is well kept. The staff are friendly and helpful and there is no doubt they have some big fish. Whether its everyone's cup of tea... that's for the individual to decide. I'd put it in the category of 'holiday carping'- just something a bit different. general comments: Make sure you take a rod-pod. if you're in a hut- pack some tea lights for the lanterns. The fish are very cute and managed to 'do me' because of sloppy rigs- so be sure to make sure that your rigs are honed and that you can change them appropriately. The local Indian will deliver food and beer to your peg and is of decent quality- result! PS. make sure you pack an extra £20 for your 'bait package' that you have to buy!

I'm fishing The Maze tomorrow for 24 hours so will report back with thoughts/opinions.

have a search around extramadura on de web. two awesome lakes there.

I genually have no problem with other cultures and people wanting to eat fish. My rant was more around how these people are destroying the area and bullying anglers to give them the fish. There's some areas on the top lake that just look like dumps.

Try using a ring swivel with it, or attaching it to the swivel with some sort of loop not ( I tend to use an overhand loop because I'm lazy- I know theres stronger loop knots but its never let me down yet on fish over a ton). The extra flexibility will allow it to pivot easier and go in the fishes mouth more naturally.

I had a heated exchange with some eastern europeans last year over a 90lb catfish on the top lake. He was pleading with me to give the fish to him to kill so he and his family could eat it. At one stage I was surrounded by around 4 or 5 of them- all pawing at the fish. Needless to say I barged them out of the way and returned the fish. theres some places up there that look a complete hole as they turn up, party all weekend (Car doors open and "ethnic" music at full tilt")-killing all the fish they catch leaving carcasses everywhere for the flies to settle on them (believe me there are millions) and leaving all of their cans, rubbish and Faeces behind them. Edited for swearing, PLEASE don't do it! On the plus side, it's nice that someone has used the search facility even if this thread is almost 2 & a half years old x2gsd

Progress is slow I'm afraid- all the pits that I had my eye on have been lined up for other use. I suspect it may take a year or so to find a suitable location. I suspect the pits you are talking about are near eggington? Long waiting list- one-in-one out and a very full reserve. No night fishing either.

its dependant on what waters are availible when people start responding to my enquiries and find out whats out there. If theres no-where suitable, I guess I need to widen my search or just carry on sitting on the trent.