Carp Fishing France - Les Teillatts

Trip report by John Paine

{We don't usually do the 'fishing report' thing on Anglers' Net, but when John sent us in this report and accmpanying photos, it seemed a shame to waste it all...especially when the carp fishing looks this good! John's the second person to send me something France-related this week to whet my appetite. I'm starting to feel that I may just have to give carp fishing in France a try! - Ed}

I was fishing in France last week (19-26 March, 2011) on Les Teillatts (http://www.crosschannelcarping.co.uk/).

The week started very slow for me - I blanked for the first 3 nights in Bailiff’s Point, but Lee over in the swim they call ‘Rock in the Woods’ had a flying start with a 59lb Mirror on the first day and Dean in ‘Nice Andys‘ swim had a 51lb Common in the fist 48 hours. Also, Lockie had a good start on the field bank with 6 fish to mid 40s in the first 72hours.

But back to my fishing; on the Tuesday about 2.30pm, my right hand rod rattled off and after about a 10 minute battle, which at most stages I thought the fish was winning,  Lewis slipped the net under a stunning 53lb 40z mirror for me. Two hours later, the same rod went off again and once more the fish felt a very good one and 5 minutes later a lovely looking 46lb mirror was in the net. I decided to move one more rod to the same spot which was in over 20ft of water and over the next couple of days took three mid 30s and two 15lbers.

On the Friday morning, I was just about to wind in to go to breakfast and as I was walking to the rods at 8.45am, the right hand rod tore off on a one-toner and, soon as I hit it, I thought, “this feels very special”. It took line throughout the whole fight, which seemed like it went on forever. Once again, Lewis was in the water with the net and as he slipped the net under her. You knew it was a very big fish. On the scales she went and the needle on the Reuben’s went straight round to 58lb 8oz. All I can say is, what a place - very very special.

All fish were caught on;
Sticky’s bloodworm 20 mm boilies with each rod having about 50 baits per day and per fish round them which were crushed down.

Tackle consisted of;
Rods Eric’s Angling hand built x2c 12ft 3-25tc, Reels Shimano tec 1000, mainline Ultima pure power Fluorocarbon green 16lb, Business end was ACE lead clips and Ace large ring Swivel with 16 “ of Rigmarole 25lb hydro link in black camo with 7” of the fluoro taken out and tied to a size 6 atomic hula with the barb Crushed and filed down in a kd style.

All the best,

John Paine

A Few Photographs From The Trip