Hi, beginning to plan for our visit at the beginning of July, hoping to have a go at the catfish as well as the carp, any advice or tips for bait’s we can bring with us?

We currently have around 27 Catfish in the Specimen Lake, the three biggest are around 45lb, 55lb and an estimated 65-70lb. Five others are between 18lb and 26lb and all the others are between 12lb to 16lb and growing rapidly.

Lake Map

The best baits for the cats have always been live baits (Roach, Tench or Carp) float fished on a size 1 barbless hook somewhere around 2-5 feet off the lake bed (You can catch small Roach, Tench and Carp from the stock lake on float with sweetcorn when you are here). Ledgered dead fish or small squid come a close second place. Large halibuts have caught the odd Cat though I wouldn’t rate these very highly on our lake but they will catch the Carp with the odd chance of picking up a Cat.

 More importantly, if you really do want to put a cat on the bank here, the crucial thing is where you fish for them. The deep end is definitely harder daytime fishing for the Carp but is the place to be for a big Cat, they seem to have regular haunts, under a particular bush on the Gorsebank or the Dam wall or around the Outlet Sluice, It is possible to hook them in the shallows but I only know of one big Cat to actually make it to the bank from there due to the snaggier nature of shallow end. They generally appear at night or before mid morning. they are sporadic feeders and will feed solidly for 3 or 4 days and then stop for about the same, They seem to group feed and may be difficult to find in one half of a week and easier in the other half, if you don’t get a take in the first two or three nights this is usually why!

Hope this helps but if you need anything else please let me know

Lee 

45lb – Daniel Spreckley – May ’13

For more information, articles, photo’s and feedback from Glehias follow the link - French Carp Fishing

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 48lbs – Zach

Ray pushes his PB into the 30s with a 32lb mirror, Ian tops that with a 34lb 2oz mirror and Zach trumps them all with his 48lb mirror, which is the third new 40 out so far this year and a new lake record. Well done all!

Watch below for an interview with the guys and footage of the lake record carp itself.

For more videos and articles from Oakview follow the link - Carp Fishing in France with Accommodation

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39.11

For more information, articles, fish photo’s and feedback from Genets follow the link – Carp Fishing France

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Details of your catches: 14 fish, 1 sturgeon, 2 grass carp, all others were king carp up to 40 1/2 lbs
Your best tactics/bait/rigs: Boilies all the way
General comments: Good fishing

40lb – Chris Pink

For more information, articles and catch reports from Blue Lake follow the link - Fishing France

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Hello Paul,

I have just finished reading your article on fishing tactics at Margot 2012.  I’m due to fish Margot soon, I’m in a party that has the lake exclusively, we have pre-drawn for swims, I pull out of the hat Peg 1.

Using the information and tips in your article, I will contact Angling Lines to find out how many anglers will be on the lake the week previous. I was hoping that you could possibly give me any tips on fishing Peg 1?

Swim Map

On my previous visits to Margot I have not fished peg 1, however I can tell you as much as I can recall about the swim.

Peg 1 is situated on the bank to the left of the facilities which is a corner point swim giving access to an area to your left that is not accessible by anyone else on the lake. You also have the option of fishing directly in front of you to the middle of the lake.

Peg 2 is only yards to your right, however due to the point location, peg 2 has a vast amount of water to fish to the right and also has the option of fishing open water directly in front of the swim. The ground is made up of hard rubble so you will need a rubber mallet to hammer in your tent pegs. There is little shade on the swim so take be prepared for some sun.

From what I can recall the lake depths are around 4 to 5 feet with a thin layer of soft silt on the bottom of the lake, with some graveled areas. To your left is a long peninsular and the gap between the end of the peninsular and the far bank is a good feeding area, but is very shallow. A lot of carp feed and hang around in the shallow bay to the left and you do pick up fish as they return to the main lake.

Fish in the Shallows at Margot

I would select my main feeding area in open water and have 1 rod to the left. There are lots of grassies in the lake to over 40lb which I always try to avoid but still pick them up. To avoid the grass carp I would not use any pellet. Boilies, hemp or party blend should do the trick. Start off light, increasing the amount of bait as you develop your swim. Do not spread your bait to different areas, sticking to your 2 baited areas and you should pick up carp on a regular basis.

Best of luck. I am sorry that I cannot be of more use but as I said, I have not fished this area of the lake.
Paul Cooper

To check out more articles from Margot, including the capture of the 71lb lake record, click here.
Margot Carp Fishing in France

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Mick’s New PB – 42.03

Details of your catches: 28 Carp, 2 x 40′s up to 42.3, 4 x 30′s up to 31, 19 x 20′s.

Your best tactics/bait/rigs: Bottom baits tipped with plastic corn or double 14/15mm boilies. I was trialing baits for Custom Baits Ltd and their peach/black pepper boilies out-fished Mainline Cell, it was only when we ran out (had 5kg) that the cell come into its own.

General comments: The fish in alder are some of the prettiest, hardest fighting carp i have had the pleasure of doing battle with, they don’t know when to give up, amazing stunning fish.

We were up against it before we arrived as the temp dropped 20′ over the 2 days before we got there, we had a NE wind blowing most of the week and this kept water temp cold but the fish still fed. Was harder than expected but in the conditions, what we had was great.

Alan – 30lb

Chris and Steph are two of the most down to earth people I have met, nothing phases them, a real pleasure.
Not in your face but on hand if needed, would walk their dog each evening and call in to see if all was ok and see how we had done ( even gave us warnings of 2 thunderstorms coming which was big help).

40lb on the nose

For more information, articles, photo’s and feedback from Alder follow the link - Carp Fishing in France

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34.04

On Sunday 5^th May at 1pm Dave Wilcock landed his new PB of a 34lb 4oz Mirror at Genets; feeling extremely pleased with himself he decided to reel in for an hour or so to rest his swim & have a chat with his friends fishing with him.

At 4pm having not long put his rods back out he again renewed his PB with a stunning 43lb 11oz Mirror taken on just 2 pieces of maize with a piece of yellow foam in between!

Nice work Dave.

43.11

For more information, articles, feedback and photo’s from Genets follow the link - Carp Fishing France 

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13.04

For more information, articles, photo’s and feedback from Margot follow the link - Carp Fishing Holidays

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Lillypool is a 4 acre spring fed lake with average depths of 3 to 8 feet with features that include lily pads (of course!), extensive reed beds, shallow and deep margins and an island. This lake offers quality carp up to 49lbs  in gorgeous surroundings.

General Comments: Lovely little lake, good stock of hard fighting fish.
Details of your catches: 47 fish between four of us – the biggest was 34.8lb.
Best tactics/bait/rigs: Spread of cell boilies little and often.

26.10

29.04

To see the rest of Mr. Lee’s photo’s and feedback from Lillypool follow the link – French Carp Fishing

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53.02

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