Fishing report from: Neil & Family

This week we welcomed Neil and his family to the venue for their first trip to France. The trip would see all three generations of anglers on the bank at the same time!  The trip was originally planned for 2020 and cancelled twice so it was three years in the making. Needless to say everyone was very happy just to be here!

I learned more this week than in many years of carp fishing. Matt’s tuition + experience has given me the confidence to make these rigs and going forward I will be able to go fishing with a plan.

The tuition session was a busy day as I went through the program. It was never going to be possible to go at the right speed for everyone but I did my best and everyone enjoyed the day.

A tricky week

It was young Ollie who caught the first fish. They really wanted to catch the sturgeon and he provided lots of fun for all the family. Neil lost a good mirror at the net in the early hours of the morning and as expected they met a few kittens along the way.

The week was ticking by fast and Thursday night was going to be their last of the trip. With a PB of 17lbs, Neil only needed one carp for a new PB and thankfully he got the run he wanted in the early hours of Friday morning. It came from the same “rock spot” as earlier on in the week but this time, all went to plan and the carp was slid over the cord. Neil was fishing the shallows from home swim which is strewn with large boulders that will cut you off very easily if you approach them carelessly. Thankfully, following the tuition session, Neil knew exactly how to tackle this area and waded out and placed the trap by hand to get it absolutely spot on. It was the first time that Neil had ever fished in this manner and I’m really glad that he was properly rewarded. Although the carp was not weighed due to the prolonged period of heat it was clearly a mid twenty and a new PB. Well done guys for putting the effort in and staying in the game until the end!

Bait & Rigs

The guys used Scopex Squid and some of the new particles along with a sack of our veggie pellets. The carp caught fell to tigers over a veggie mix of particles. Sammy fell for a Scopex boilie. 

Oxygen

Conditions were not easy this week as we struggled to maintain good oxygen levels over the whole lake. We have two large aerators running flat out but the algae bloom is causing violent swings in levels and this is making the fishing challenging.

Previous week

As we had no one on the week before, I spent a few days on the bank and had six out to 38lbs. I fished 3 nights and a few afternoons and had the same conditions as our guests over the past few weeks. I was reminded once more how vital it is that the tactics are 100% spot on at this time of year as there are fewer chances than in the spring but for those that can join the dots, the rewards are extra special.