Les Burons netting November 2011

[jpaveley]

I was very lucky to receive an invitation from the owners of Les Burons Rob and Lin Parrish to help net the lake in November. Rob’s only request was for me to photograph the whole event. This is was the second netting of the four and a half acre lake. The first in November 2008, took stock of the carp, reduced the roach and pike population and introduced some small zander. Rob thought that the first netting did not capture the majority of the fish. For this reason an English firm, who had vast previous experience of netting and surveying lakes both in England and France, was hired to travel out to France. A local French fish farmer was to collect the roach, pike and zander.

 

As all keen carp anglers will appreciate this was not only a chance to actually see the vast majority of the stock of carp but to examine all the spots I have fished in the lake over the last 2 years. The lake is to be drained down to the near edge of the islands. Exposing the far margin and both the margins at each end of the lake. This was most of the areas I had fished and I obviously new the so called “hot spots” that had produced the bigger fish.

 

I had a day to check out spots both from the bank and in the lake with my chest-waders. I needed waders just in case the silt was deep. I was joined on my survey and investigation by Steve, another keen Les Burons angler who Rob had invited to the netting.

 

We walked along the bank from the northeast corner of the lake. The margins were exposed but there was a steep drop off to deeper water. Once we were level with the edge of the island the water became shallower until what looked like a silt lake bed exposed past the island and up to the far margin. We continued to walk along the south bank until we reached the boat jetty in the middle of the far bank, where we entered the lake in our chest waders. For safety Steve and I explored each area together and we both carried prodding sticks to gauge the depth of the water and silt.

 

Observations

The first steps in from the margins we experienced silt of about 6 or 7 inches deep. This was to be expected as the area is surrounded by deciduous trees and the edge of the island created a funnel for the wind, blowing the lake debris down the margin. There were numerous blood worm beds and the silt smelt full of nutrients. Not the smell usually associated with silt, which are bad eggs. We picked up a number of stranded fresh water mussels and threw them back into deeper water. The lake bed was clean apart from the odd leaf and thousands of worm holes.

 

Rob the owner had been in the lake most days of the previous week cutting back overhanging branches, clearing snags and collecting discarded line and rigs. Despite the rules being very clear Rob had found lead core, leaders and very badly tied rigs. I hate this outright abuse of the rules!! As anglers we continually complain about strict rules, obnoxious bailiffs and stringent rig checks. Why is it always a small minority that abuses the trust and good nature of the fishery?

 

We took another three steps across the lake bed and were shocked to find we were standing on very solid sandy gravel. Rob had treated this area with chalk to breakdown the silt, obviously this had worked. We could easily identify feeding holes as deep dips in the lake bed with hard bottoms and sides. Some holes were in the margins but others situated in very open spots at either end of the lake. Some of our “hot spots” had no visible previous feeding signs. In fact one very “hot spot” was covered in a layer of silt and there were no visible signs as to why so many large fish had been caught from this spot, apart from being under a tree. Another well known area of the lake where fish regularly show was fed constantly by an underground spring. This would be impossible to know if the lake was at its normal water level.

 

Other feeding areas took both of us completely by surprise, wading through 3 feet of water and to suddenly have your prodding stick disappear in front of you from a flat lake bed was scary at times. Some of these were in open water. These had solid gravel bottoms and sides, wide and deep, which suggests have been regularly visited by fish over a long period. These were all clearly regular feeding spots.

 

Steve had the advantage of being at the previous netting in 2008. He was certain that some of the feeding holes had moved completely from 3 years ago. Others had grown in size and Steve was amazed as I was at the location of some of the bigger feeding holes in open water. We both agreed that only a very skilful exponent of the marker float or a feature finder on a bait boat may have a slim chance in finding these feeding spots. Anglers often forget that a bait boat can be used to accurately position a marker float.

 

The margins at the southeast end, where the inlet pipe enters the lake had at least 8 to 10 inches of silt. Shallow feeding holes were close to the margin and under several trees. Again as we moved away from the margin the lake bed became solid. Another known “hot spot” showed no visible signs as to why this was such a popular feeding area. Again silt on the bottom and no dips or holes in the lake bed.

 

Our conclusions were simple. I am sure there is no theory or combination of theories any angler can put into practice that will provide every fish feeding location in a lake. But it is quite simple, watercraft!!! Watching the water, regular walks around a lake and the obvious. Talking to the Lake Owner or bailiff who will obviously have intimate knowledge of their water!!!! Steve and I found this whole experience fascinating and I suggest if any other anglers have a chance to view their lake drained that they seize the opportunity.

 

The netting

The netting started at dawn on Monday 21 November. The two netting guys arrived the previous evening to unload their equipment, walk around the lake to decide how best to net and where to net and load the roach, pike and zander.

 

The net was to be pulled from the far margin where the inlet pipe enters the lake. The islands did not complicate the netting as the water was drained down exposing the banks of each island. This allowed straight netting down the lake to the opposite end where the monk is situated.

Several other lake owners in the area had turned out to help. With the two netting guys organising everyone it was a very smooth pull from one end to the other. However one big carp managed to swim around the edge of the net making a huge bow wave as it swam off at the speed of a torpedo. Two guys were positioned at either end of the width of the net to stamp their feet in the water. This made sure that all the fish remained in the centre of the lake as the net was pulled to the opposite end. Once the net reached the margin it was held in position by poles.

 

The fish farmer arrived and we started removing the roach. Most of the smaller fish had now risen to the top of the net allowing the roach to be scooped off the surface with a hand held net into a metal hopper. At the same time pike and zander were removed by hand into large containers. The hopper was lowered into the lake making the whole exercise very easy. Of course this seemed easy because of three key factors.

 

• The lake was drained to the correct depth for netting

 

• The netting guys from England were very professional, and organised the whole netting from start to finish

 

• The netting guys and the fish farmer had all the correct modern equipment for the job.

 

Rob had planned to weigh and photograph some of the larger carp to monitor the each fish’s weight. However because of the warm weather the carp were very active. Rob decided that it was not worth the risk of any damage to the carp for a few photos.

 

The following fish were weighed and counted

• 147 carp, very few carp were seen under 20lb

 

• 47 kilos (103.40lbs) of zander removed and taken by the French fish farmer

 

• 60 kilos (132lbs) of pike removed and taken by the French fish farmer

 

• 854 kilos (1,879lbs) of roach removed and taken by the French fish farmer

 

Rob the owner was very pleased with the netting. It was estimated that the majority of fish were netted. Rob said that it was a big improvement from the first netting in 2008 and he was very pleased with the number of carp, weight and condition. He could not believe the growth of the zander put into the lake three years ago. He also thanked everyone that came to help and particularly Lin and Francesca, who provided all the tea, coffee and food for the whole day.

 

I must confess I was a carp angler that took a great deal of his fishing for granted. I was completely ignorant of water care, stocking levels and fish nutrition. Since fishing at Les Burons and getting to know both Rob and Lin I can now appreciate how much Rob knows about his business and how hard they both work all year, not just when they have bookings. Rob obviously cares very much about his lake and makes extraordinary commitments in providing an excellent venue in a peaceful environment.

 

One of my fishing mates asked me recently if I would consider a different French lake to Les Burons. I thought for a split second and answered “only if Rob and Lin sold it and were no longer there”. It is not just the fishing at Les Burons, they are sincere, honest and extraordinary hosts.

 

Thank you both for a great week.

For the all the photographs and video of the netting, please go to www.lesburons-carp-fishing-in-france.com