It’s all about tenacity! Every “NO” brings you closer to a “YES” and every “Blanking Session” brings you closer to your next capture! (or at least that’s the way I try to look at it). January 10th 2003, my 34th Birthday came about with an excitement second to none after hearing “why don’t you sod off to France for a long weekend why I look after the kids?”. I’d already booked a weeks fishing in France for this coming July and with the four day Selby trip coming up, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Three kids and the eldest being just 3 and a half, getting breaks like this and being able to feel good about yourself whilst being away is a rare emotion. No sooner said than booked. I’d discussed the event with the boys at Ashford Tackle in Kent who said it was only fair that they accompany me on the trip. (tough decision there boys – thanks). We set the date for January 31st then sat back and waited. Out of the four of us who went, (Ray, Kirby, Darren and myself) I was the only virgin France tripper. I’d wanted to go last year but with the arrival of my third family addition, it just wasn’t going to happen. January 28th was giving long-term, blue-cold severe weather conditions and temperature drops at around minus 6 without windchill factors. Admittedly it was touch and go right up to the big day, as to whether or not we would brave the elements. Braving the blizzard At 4am on the big day the horn was being blown and we were all packed up in the van and ready to roll. We hit the ferry at Dover in blizzard snow with temperatures well below freezing, but of course, totally optimistic (I mean off our trolley’s)! With a big full English stuffed down our necks on the ferry we were witnessing sun-up (or should I say snow down) in Calais. The journey in front of us was estimated at around 7 hours, which was literally a left at Paris and down towards Paulnay to reach our final destination; Maison Du Lac Bleau found here: www.maisondulacbleu.com. As we pulled away from Calais we were hit with blizzard conditions and an indication of what was soon to come. Visibility was bleak and road conditions worsening by the mile as we pondered the journey ahead of us. After about the fifth full play of ABBA’s greatest hits, Paris was soon upon us with the weather slowly clearing, but the temperature slowly dropping. Three hours on from Paris and we were back-roading it to our destination. Maison Du Lac Bleu is a 250 acre carp fishing heaven owned and managed by an English couple with a passion for the outdoor life. We were greeted by Nick and Cindy who were entertaining and feeding a gathering of French gunmen down for a traditional shoot of Wild Bore and Duck. With a swig of beer and a warm hello and strict instructions to come back up to the lodge for a warm meal later, we were off to set-up camp for the following three nights. Back up to the lodge before casting out for the evening, we were greeted with a superb three-course meal, commencing with fresh wild boar pate and a jug or three of red wine to warm the cockles. Back to the 12-acre lake selected out of the four available to fish and we were ready to gun out the leads. Our bait included 5 gallons of maggot, glugged NRG and Grange, hemp, maize and pellet. Four anglers and 12 rods between us saw the first night glide silently by. Not a bleep or a liner from a lake that we knew held an abundance of 30’s and 40’s (captured on previous trips). Unfortunately the cold snap had followed us south and was now hitting the predicted lows with snow and freezing sleet along the way. A few days before our visit, based on many phone calls to Nick, we had learned the temperatures fluctuated between plus 8-12. The day before our arrival saw a drastic drop to plus 2 degrees and for the entirety of our trip continued to drop to the minus and beyond. Day Two and I’m ratted… Day two and although no fish were to be seen, even on the baitboat sonar, and weather conditions far from ideal, it was time to think harder and dig deeper if we were to capture one of our intended monsters in the snow. I’d all but given up on the boilies and opted for maggots. I was using a running rig to a 4oz lead stopped by a bead and swivel which hosted 15lb braid hooklength to a size 8 hook with a Kryston Supersilk 10lb hair. To this I mounted around 15 red maggots on a thread and then pulled tight together around the loop of the hair. This was then placed into a PVA bag with and additional handful of wrigglers (very inactive due to the weather funnily enough!) and a spoonful of pellet. The whole lot was cast out and left to settle. On the other rod was the same deal but popped up maggot using foam. The last rod played host to a Grange bottom bait. As the dark drew in and the sharp spike of frost descended upon us once more we eventually returned to our bivvies for the night. All settled and as warm as toast I slowly drifted off. And then all hell broke loose. Beep……..Beep……Beep..Beep Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep off went the buzzers and whack, my swinger hit the rod and the popped up maggot rod was away hard and fast. As I panicked, still half asleep, and tried to get out of the back of my bivvy where there was no door, I slowly gained focus, stuck my boots on and made for the screaming take. I cupped the spool and struck whilst slowly walking back a couple of steps and I was in at last. This was what I was waiting for, my first French take and the fight of a potential whacker (or so I thought). About a minute into the battle and something appeared seriously wrong. I was gaining line at a good rate, but still felt resistance, which immediately ruled out a big fish swimming towards me. With no moon and sheer darkness ahead of me I stopped to feel the tension once more and was then amazed to find that the so-called fish I had hooked was skimming across the surface like a snowboarder on ecstasy. Two minutes later and the result was a hooked Regunda (Fat French Rat) in which I’m afraid to say didn’t count as my now gathering team mates commented on it being foul-hooked. So there you have my first run, where a fat rat decided to scoop below surface and snatch my bunch of maggots. Needless to say, the rest of night two passed uninterrupted for the whole party. Day Three and I’m piking! Day three started on a high with a large serving of bacon, sausage and eggs served up from Nick and Cindy (expect it daily if you decide to visit) and out went the spinning rod. Within the hour a nicely shaped 10lb pike was banked followed by another at around 6lb and a few perch well over the 2lb mark. A couple of single beeps at 3pm and a slight move on Darren’s Indicator, to which Darren responded expertly to connect with the only carp of the session. A strong fight resulted in a beautifully shaped Mirror for 32lb. Safely netted, photographed and returned, we went to the lodge for dinner once more. This was the last night of our trip as we were packing up first thing to make for the ferry the next day. A good pork roast inside us all and a large helping of fruit crumble followed by a jug or eight of red wine saw us all back off to the communal bivvy. Although the temperature was starting to soar, I’m afraid it was all a little too late. Night time came and went with no more excitement, although the following morning the chill had disappeared and had been replaced by pouring rain. All packed up and back to the lodge for a hot shower and breakfast before we headed off left us all wondering what would have happened if we’d stayed another couple of days based on the temperature and weather conditions getting better by the hour……? We don’t catch on all our sessions, even the ones that cost us dearly in both cash and travel, but to live to fish another day, makes it even more exciting. My first session in France resulted in a blank, but it’s not my first blank and no doubt won’t be my last, but I do live in hope! |
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