Rushes Lake Catch Reports 2010

[mrs_rusheslake]

The weather, like at most french venues this week, has been horrendous, gale force winds & constant heavy rain.

Chris & Terry visited us although Terry had a few days where he couldnt fish & they managed to winkle out a few decent fish and Chris must, as always, be congratulated on the amount of effort he put in.

 

 

9 x 20-25lbs

18 x 25-30lbs

3 x 30-35lbs

5 x 35-40lbs

1 @ 40lbs 4 oz Common

 

3 cats 1 under 20lbs, 1 @24lbs, 1 @ 34lbs

[david1951]

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.

[mrs_rusheslake]

April 3-10

 

Next up was Russ Brown, son Daniel and Russ’s Dad Charlie.A cold wet windy week wasn’t helped by Charlie being taken ill and Russ having to drive him all the way home to Essex on Tuesday, returning here on Wednesday afternoon.Using maize and Trigga, Russ upped his PB to 35lbs 8ozs while Daniel improved his best to 24lbs 12ozs. Between them they managed a total of 13 carp over 20lbs , which considering the weather and Russ’s unexpected trip home was a pretty good result

 

Over the other side of the lake Richard and Kevin helped themselves to over 40 carp both managing mid 30lbers with all the others over the 20lb mark

 

April 10-17

 

Neil and Dale arrived on Saturday for Neils 2nd visit and Dale’s 4th trip

 

They soon got set up and catching although the weather wasn’t helping matters what with warm days but very cold nights meaning the fish never really settled down to feeding strongly. However Neil managed to net 14 carp up to 27lbs 4ozs and a new PB catfish of 49lbs 2ozs while Dale weighed in with 12 carp to 39lbs while managing to completely avoid the catfish which he hates catching

 

Over in Goffees and Beatties Alan and Gordon the chef were steadily catching all week. Alan started off slowly, then got amongst the 30s with 5 to 37lbs 4ozs (common) 4 x 20s and 2 x30lbs+ catfish along with 8 doubles. Gordon had 7 x 20s and a couple of doubles although he managed once agin to lose a couple of big fish, one of which was almost certainly a catfish. Oh and he hooked a couple of trees too !!

 

April 17-24

 

Then along came the Carefoot crew from Manchester and even though they are Man U fans I let them stay !!! Just as well really as they had a terrific time and ate us out of food !!! Sean loves his chocolate puds. Nick (another chef, this one with his own restaurant in Manchester) spent the week rowing out baits for the other lads and was rewarded for his hard work with 5 x 20s (each one raising his PB) then topping that with a new PB at 30lbs 4ozs common.Not to be outdone Matt had a few rig lessons from angling coach Ian Gemson who was fishing the other side of the lake and they paid off with 3 x 30s up to a new PB of 34lbs 2ozs 3 x 20lbs+ and a few doubles. Sean, when he wasn’t eating Kim’s choccy puds had 4 x 20s, some doubles and 3 x 30s including a last night PB mirror of 39lbs 5ozs. Matt also achieved an ambition with a 34lbs PB catfish and Sean caught a pike !!!

 

Over in Blue Camp we had a visit from Ian Gemson, a professional angling coach and Paul Worstencroft from Angling Intelligence. Paul won the week in Geezers charity auction last season. Soon after they arrived Paul had a call from home telling him that his mum had had a bad accident and fallen down the stairs, leaving her in hospital requiring surgery. Understandably they left on Monday but not before having a couple of fish including a mid 20 and a 30 (see the fish on specialistangler.co.uk where Paul will be doing a write up on Rushes). Ian taught Matt and myself a lot about rigs in the short time he was here (Matt reckons his results were mainly down to a combi rig Ian had shown him) so thanks for that

 

Hope your Mums OK now Paul and see you in July!!

 

April 24 May 1

 

Next in line were Mick and Steve Ho from Liverpool. As always these two are great company and love their fishing (and Kim’s food) . Mick was first to score with a lovely 29lb 6 oz common, quickly following it with a 34lbs 12oz mirror. Over what was a quiet week by Rushes standards, they put together a catch of 12 x 20s, 3 x 30s and a few doubles along with Mick’s favourite, a 22lbs catfish, just what he always wanted !!!

 

Over in Goffees and Beatties, complete with the white trainers and hoodies lol we had Essex boys Kenny, Tony and Kenny’s dad Pete. Kenny and Tony came last year with their girlfriends, but managed to escape them this year, and bought beer instead . over the week they amassed a total of 23 x20s and a couple of 30s including a PB 33lb mirror for Kenny. Tony weighed in with a 27lbs 12oz mirror amongst a load of mid 20lb fish. Peter chipped in with several 20sand a couple of small cats

 

The weather has been very changeable so far this year, with a very cold, wet start, then warm, sometimes hot days and freezing frosty nights. Now we are having still warm days and warmish nights, although today we have the longed for South Westerly wind and the promise of rain so hopefully things are ‘about to kick off’

 

May 1 – May 8

 

The Hoopers have just arrived and on the first night Jase has had a PB 31lb mirror and a 25 so hopefully that’s a sign of a good week to come for the boys

 

Well, the weather didn’t do the boys any favours with the cold Northeasterly wind blowing for most of the week and quite heavy FROST on the ground most mornings. Mark, fishing in Stumps had a haul including 10 over 20lbs with no less than 3 x 29lbs + fish but couldn’t quite get the thirty he wanted, along with a further 12 doubles around 19lbs

 

Jason, in Blue Camp had a further 3 x 20s and a beautiful 34lb common whilst over in Goffees Stuart had just 3 x 20s, and some doubles. Dad Martin,next door in Beatties took 7 x 20s to 28.04 (mirror) and a lovely spawned out 26.07 common

 

All 4 of them went away with new PBs (trouser sizes that is) after Kims cooking and we look forwards to seeing them again next year

 

 

 

May 8-May 15

 

Gareth and Tim from Wales arrived next and set up in Blue Camp. Gareth being fairly new to carp fishing surprised everyone, including himself, when his first run resulted in a new PB (by 22lbs !!) common of 31.02. Sadly the fish were not playing ball in this normally productive swim and they finished the week with just a few more doubles and 2 x20s to 25.08

 

Dominic went in Stumps and after a pretty slow start, got amongst the fish with a 32.08 common, a further 12 x 20s up to 28lbs and 18 doubles. Finally on the last evening, the long awaited catfish picked up his double 24mm halibut pellet and proceeded to give him the run around for 20 minutes, with Dom praying out loud that it wouldn’t fall off…it didn’t and a 29lb 7oz catfish was soon smiling? for the camera..his first decent sized cat and was he ever pleased with it?

 

Meanwhile over the other side Alan and David, who only fished til Friday due to having a wedding to attend on Saturday, had 25 x 20s to 29.06 and 3 x 30s. Sketchy reporting I know but we are still waiting for their pics and catch report (well they did have to shoot off in a hurry for the wedding) Oh yeah they also had several 20 -30lbs catfish….more news when it arrives here

 

 

 

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Kim & Iain

www.rusheslake.com

[mrs_rusheslake]

May 15-May 22

 

Up next was the Courtnell party, made up of Rob, Ash, Bill, Ken and Dave

Dubai Dave pitched up in Stumps and was the captor of the weeks biggest carp, a beautiful 38lb mirror along with 2 other 30s and 3 big 20s. All the time he was playing the 38 he kept telling me it was just a small one, and was quite surprised and delighted when the big mirror rolled into the net, a new PB by over 20lbs, for him after his long trip from Dubai (apparently there are no carp waters in Dubai)

Rob (Dubai Daves son) and his mate Ash from Norfolk, set up in Blue Camp where Ash helped himself to 2 x 30s (1 mirror, 1 common) and 7x 20s and a 20lbs+ catfish (his first cat). Rob in the meantime couldn’t quite get his 30 but came close with carp to 29lbs 12ozs (common) amongst a catch of 9x 20s and a rake of doubles

Over in Goffees and Beatties were Bill (Dubai Daves brother) and Ken . Bill managed to land 29 fish including a lovely 27lbs common, loads of other mid 20s and 4 cats up to 31lbs

Kenny, had less fish than Bill but topped him on the weights with a fabulous 33lbs common , several upper 20s including a 29 lbs mirror and a few catfish to 28lbs

All 5 of them went home very happy with their weeks fishing and eating, after booking for 2011

Heard from them the next day and it seems it took them 26 hours to get back to UK, due to an incorrect spelling of Boulogne in the satnav (which took them in completely the wrong direction) and a small problem at the toll when they ran out of cash to pay the nice lady……..

 

May 22 – 29

 

Next a group, although reduced in numbers due to some personal problems in UK, the 3 guys who did get here had a great weeks fishing and some lovely weather

In Blue Camp we had Rob and Tim, who, despite the very hot weather amassed a total of 12 x 20s with the biggest at over 28lbs to Rob, both smashed their pbs by over 15lbs also had a couple of cats, the best being a shade over 20lbs

John moved around from Stumps after a having a 26 & a couple of quietish days and landed up in Goffees, where he turned into Catman, having 4 cats to 31.5lbs, another of just over 30 along with a number of carp to 26.5lbs

A good week was had by all and they too have rebooked for 2011… see you & your wives next year chaps!

 

May 29 – June 5

 

Jez (Jemsue5), Malc (Mach3) and friends have just arrived, along with a whole load of rain, so after a very leisurely set up they have just started getting some rods in the water (4pm !) so nothing to report just yet, but stay tuned cos Jez is ‘gonna empty it this time’..lol

More news later………..

 

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Iain & Kim

[mrs_rusheslake]

A Rushes tale

 

Well it’s about midnight and despite being nearly unconscious I’m still buzzing. This is me last Saturday night after a week’s fishing at Rushes and a 12 hour journey home and this is my tale about my first continental carping experience based at Rushes Lake.

After the 450 mile journey over in a battered old Volvo with my passenger and two sets of kit we were greeted by Kim and Iain on the patio of an old French hunting lodge which they had transformed into their home and a Mecca of carp fishing.

Only one other person was there for the week so swim choice was not an issue so me and Tim settled into the double swim of Blue camp and set about getting ready.

The swims were nicely set out with a bark chipped area and plenty of room for the bivvies and other assorted gear that only a carper to take away with them (although I wish I’d have not lent Tim my pod as the ground didn’t like bank sticks!) but after a couple of hours we were away, just in time for dinner.

The dinner bell goes everyday at around 1800, so we made our way over (after taking the rods out) and awaited the legendary food that’s raved about on all reports from this place. I not sure what I can say about the food that hasn’t already been said but if you like pot noodles and processed ‘food’ then take your own! You’ll get nothing like that at Rushes, over the week we had meatballs, Sunday roast, burgers, chicken and pork, all cooked fresh and butchered the proper way (with all the little bits left in) I doubt very much that the produce Kim and Iain used has ever seen a polythene wrapper or a carrier bag. Food as it should be fresh, tasty and prepared to perfection. Following this a homemade desert comes out every day to the same standards (although, the chocolate fondant doesn’t appear as often as I’d liked!!) Fresh French bread accompanies the meals and bread has never tasted so good. No rubbish pumped into it, just like your granny used to buy!

So back to the fishing and apart from a couple of stockies by Tuesday I’d had nothing where as Tim had had a 25.5lb carp, 20lb catfish and more than few doubles so a change in tactics was needed as I was getting increasingly frustrated and wanted to get some fish out, so I made up some stick mix and cast them out with each rod.

Once this was done, the fish rolled in and I started to catch, Tim carried on catching and the other guest (now having moved swims) was pulling out big catfish like a madman. By the end of the week myself and Tim had new PB’s and had caught that many fish when the fish were feeding we stopped fishing at night to get some rest! Like a lot of lakes, Rushes has periods when it’s really quiet (we found this to be between 1100 and 1600) but it’s busy times can, and were, manic. At times it’s like you’re match fishing, they come that quick and fast!

The last night was the most eventful for me, we’d already decided not to fish over night so we cast our lines out for the last session of the holiday. We brewed up a coffee and I started a nice Cuban cigar ready to catch the last fish of the week when the left hand rod had the weirdest bite I’ve ever witnessed. The indicator lifted and stopped, dropped and stayed still. 5 minutes later the same again but when a little line left the spool I picked the rod up and hit what I was a lump of weed. Dragging the weed back in, the rod tip felt like I was dragging over pea gravel. About 2 rod lengths out the weed had had enough and took off. Now I’ve never had weed do this so fish on!

Little by little, it came in and then went off again taking more line on each run but now the right hand rod goes off. Tim grabs that and starts playing it, and then one of his goes off! Bloody hell, three rods on the go, and two pairs of hands WTF! Tim puts a loose clutch on my rod and goes for his which is then promptly dropped (nothing on it) and he grabs mine again. I eventually get mine ready for the net and the net separates from the block in the water (new net now with a stripped thread on the spreader), [censored] me two fish on, one net. I grab Tim’s net and get my fish on the bank and in the safety of the unhooking cradle and throw the net to Tim as he’s about ready.

My fish is weighed (a 28lb common my new PB), treated, photo taken and put back and Tim lands the other (a 25.5lb Mirror) what a last couple fish.

The Cuban is re-lit and the coffee brewed again and my middle rod screams off again, after an easier fight a 26lb mirror is landed. Three doubles in the space of 15 minutes no one will believe this!

One more fish which came off just at the net and that’s it I’m ready for some sleep and my first French carping adventure is over. Early on Saturday we’re packing up ready for the journey home.

After a long and smelly, what with the fishing kit and the Camembert bought at Boulogne stinking the car out, and I’m home. After getting mugged by the dog and showing the pics to the wife I’m back to the start of this tale looking back at a fantastic weeks holiday.

Kim and Iain are perfect hosts, giving you as better attention and service as I’ve had in any 5 star hotel. They are both there when needed with advice or basically anything you need (thanks for fetching me some cigars Iain!!) and the facilities (which include clean showers with hot water, toilet, chill out room and freezers for bait) are better than needed or expected.

So would we do Rushes again? Well we both would and will next year after booking up already for a week in June 2011. This time we’re taking the wives over, with them sleeping in the room on site and explore France whilst me and Tim settle back in for another weeks fishing.

Oh, before I forget. A fresh bacon and egg stick is delivered, along with a pot of coffee, every morning to your bivvy. This was most days accompanied by Buster, Archie and Harvey (the Rushes really well behaved and cute pets) who hang around until you’re finished or you give them some bread or bacon (or in Harvey’s case some Halibut pellets!). I’m reliably informed, by the Oscar winning performances given by both dogs and the cat that Kim and Iain do not feed them so don’t scoff it all and give em some brekkie!!!

 

Rob May 2010