vallee lake, france

[nield]

Hi, can anyone help me? I have booked to go to Vallee Lakes in 2010 but since booking, I have been reading the various forums and and have read mostly bad things about it. I have have also read some really glowing things about it too. Has anyone been there recently that can tell me their experiences? I am going to peg 10. Thanks.

[thecuckoo]

Hi, can anyone help me? I have booked to go to Vallee Lakes in 2010 but since booking, I have been reading the various forums and and have read mostly bad things about it. I have have also read some really glowing things about it too. Has anyone been there recently that can tell me their experiences? I am going to peg 10. Thanks.

 

Its a good peg that mate, lad with us last august had 3 40's out of there and a few thirties. there is a bar out to the left at 40 yards and he took all his fish from there. It is well run and a good venue, there is a witchhunt on some forums. Don't believe the WWW take a look for yourself.

[nield]

yer i think i will, do you know what bait and rigs work well?

[thecuckoo]

yer i think i will, do you know what bait and rigs work well?

 

Just fish like you are at home, Everyone uses red bait whch he sells there and seems to do well. We all caught on our own as I used chicken and liver, Maize is also worth a shout. In peg 10 to the left is where they boat their baits accross from peg 1 and 2 so fire your left rod up the margin as far as you can and fish two on the bar.

[caspa1705]

Im also thinking about going to vallee aswell.Is it true that u cannot use shelf-life boilies and also have to use running rigs or the lakes own lead clips?

[david1951]

A lot of French lakes do not allow self life boilies which is the way it should be, they take too long to break down and can harm the fish!

[thecuckoo]

Im also thinking about going to vallee aswell.Is it true that u cannot use shelf-life boilies and also have to use running rigs or the lakes own lead clips?

 

No mate it is totally untrue, I fished with running and semi fixed leads on clips. He don't allow shelf life boilie thats correct but your will still be frozen if you put them in a polystyrene box, ask you local taclke shop as they have frozen bait delivered in them, they have freezers for your boilie. don't just look at boilies though as they are pressured fish and most of the action in during the dark hours.

[chrispanddry]

Hi Nield, I've been to Vallee lakes five times now over the last three years. Had some good and bad times there, but only blanked once.

 

If you put aside all the true comments you read about Mark the owner, the lake and the fish are superb and well worth a visit. Sam the bailiff is a good angler, knows the lake well and can help a lot with all aspects of fishing the place.

 

I have fished the double swim 9 before but not 10. 10 is quite small and appears to be prone to flooding if it rains a lot.

 

As you will see from the website there are plenty of stunning fish in lake 1. The biggest I have caught there is 52lb 8oz mirror and the smallest 25lb common.

 

We have fished it in the spring, autumn and winter. Last year March and then October. What has worked best for us has by far been loads of maggots. Last time took 10 gallon between two of us. They seem to go mad for em.

 

Have tried all sorts of rigs and to be honest no one fairs better than others except if you do use maggots then we have found presentation is critical.

 

Now to the negatives. Mark is a total tightwad, he will bleed you dry of every Euro if you let him. Best take your own bait as his works out expensive and we have given his lake bait a try many times and does not work any better than other good quality baits.

 

He seems to me to be too focused on making money rather than keeping his guests happy. Sam on the other hand is the opposite, he knows what is boss is like and tries to make amends.

 

Only took the food package on the first trip, it was [censored] so since then have always taken our own. Talking to other anglers I don't think it's improved as most of it is prepared by Sam.

 

Mark is also very funny about where you put your bivvy. It has to go on the stones in the swim as he does not want yellow grass. We tend to ignore him and do it anyway as the swims are small and I have a two man bivvy so can't fit it on the swim.

 

The showers and toilets are clean but theres nowhere to wash up your pots and pans so take a bowl if you intend to DIY food.

 

As I say just be careful with Mark, check your change and make sure you still have your wristwatch after you shake his hand, he's that bad, no joke.

 

Hope this helps and have a good trip.

 

One last comment, don't be duped into fishing lake 2. He's only had the place 12 months, I'm told the facilities are very poor and it was fishing very badly late last year. Many people were blanking and Sam seemed to be only one catching on a regular basis. We will probably try it but in a few years time once he has sorted it out.