I arrived at the lake after taking the ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff (and a short drive of 2.5 hours). The lake is not for the faint hearted it is a bit of a challenge. Like many lakes in France it has a large dam wall from which you can see the fish, but with cars driving up and down all day (and most of the night) fishing from this area is not recommended.

I made my way down to the shallows instead and with about a twenty minute walk with my barrow full to the brim with gear I then headed back for the second load. Everything but the kitchen sink! The swim I chose was a bay and I noticed that a couple of lumps were topping at about 130 meters near an old river mouth. I have to say that just the sight of fish rolling gets the old adrenaline going.

My first action was the baiting. Having just lumped around 100kg of bait (70kg of pellets and 30 kg of boilie) to the swim, I set about getting some of it into the lake. I have a small boat with an electric motor and I know from past trips that the sound of my boat and the scattering of pellets is like ringing the dinner bell!

I had a combination of pellets with me with different break down times and my favourite bait DT Pukka Fish and Oily Chicken. You may say that 30kg of boilie is a little excessive but in a lake this size water that's about the minimum I would take, the lake has a few shoals of carp and they will soon clear your bed of bait.

1 hour later my bed of bait was out at the entrance to the river mouth along with the three snowman hookbaits - one 18mm Oily Chicken bottom bait with a 15mm matching pop up.

My first fish came within the hour not the lump that rolled but a nice twenty. The weather got hotter and hotter thank God for the willow trees! I fished for the next 36 hours without a touch then, at some time early the next morning I had a screamer hit the fish and it ran. Some 5 minutes latter I lost the fish on a bolder at the river mouth. Gutted. No matter what you may read about France – wild big fish are hard to find yet alone catch.

Day break and my last 36 hours lay ahead. Almost all of the rest of bait went out in a 15 meter arc. I recast and sat back the wind was now blowing but still very hot
32c. 6 hours latter the swim came alive and I was getting run after run. I
had 15 fish to 30lbs (Commons and Mirrors) but my lump did not come. By 11pm
the action was finished and I recast for the last time as I was on the ferry
lunch time the following day and had to be away by 8am.

1am and a slow run of the far rod. I hit the fish and knew it was a lump. You know
it, solid power and the thump on the rod. All I could think about was the bloody river rocks and the fish heading for them. I put all the pressure I dared and it rolled and turned. 5 minutes latter my net to the ready and she was mine. You know what it is like in the dark still shaking I had a look at my baby in the net - not such a baby! Having got all my gear ready I weighed my fish and took a couple of photos by myself. 56lb’s – what a result!

The water I fished I have been to many times and have blanked there too. It is
demoralizing but I love a challenge and in the end it paid off. Many people think fishing in France is cast in and catch but on these large public waters (160 acres this one) it doesn’t happen very often!

The final tally for the week was 21 fish landed the best 56lb Mirror.

I run a med size food production factory and believe that food is the most important ingredient in fishing. Many thanks to Simon and the team not forgetting Pukka Fish and Oily Chicken. Great bait!

Tight Lines

Mel [cookie]