Jackcatcher

Hi Chris – I think we fish some of the same waters. NAA + TAA.? I knew keystone kops straight away, the product of being a silent film addict when I was a kid! But I’m sorry to say that I’m struggling on the others, but I’ll keep trying – it’s better than work

59: LAWMEN WITH A STERLING LEADER(8,4) KEYSTONE KOPS - their police chief was Ford Sterling Cheers Jess

Hi All Just thought I’d let you know how we got on at Anglers Paradise as we were there the same week as J.Green – good to meet you Joe? It was Joe wasn’t it – I’m not good at remembering names !! All in all I was a little disappointed with the week as I failed dismally with the catfish hunt and felt that zyggy had let the place slide a bit (lots of overgrown swims etc) This was a summary of our week. Saturday – arrived 2pm – quick drink in the bar then off to Mystery lake for a few hours (szabi wanted to catch a barbel) I stuck to mini meat bites on the hook and blanked, szabi had a few orfe to maggot. Sunday – AM – trip into Holsworthy – we had forgotton to pack a kettle or a flask!! Then onto the Float lake around lunchtime. Lots of orfe, a couple of goldfish and ghost carp. I also managed to catch some orfe on my flyrod which was fun. Monday – 6am start on Octopussy – Tried Leeches, liver + squid all day – no bites for me. Szabi stuck to boilies and managed 2 carp, 10.09 lb and 14.11 lb (a new pb) so she was happy. Tuesday – Koi lake – loads of fish up to just over 4lb to Mini Tutti Fuitti boilies, cockles + sweetcorn – and a few on the flyrod aswell. I took a good look around in the afternoon when many of the fish were up in the water. There were no where near as many larger fish 5lb+ as last year - all the big ones seem to be gone or hiding! – I wonder if he has sold them off. The 2 big grassies seem to be absent as well – we caught a total of about 50lb or so each, with most fish between 2 and 3 lb. Packed up about 6pm. Wednesday – Didn’t start until mid morning due to food shopping trip. Fished the rest of the day in the near corner of the Main carp lake which was very busy, again tried an array of catfish baits – no takes, eventually managed to weedle one out on cockle, it weighed a massive 2.02 lb yes 2 not 20!! Szabi blanked chasing the carp with boilies. Thursday – Easy access lake. Another 6am start. Again tried all the baits for cats – no good. Switched over to big halibut pellets around midday and had 3 carp in the afternoon biggest just under 10lb, and a 3.03 lb golden tench. (Lost a couple of fish as well – one may have been a small cat as it charged up and down a bit in a cat like fashion) Szabi had a succession of Golden tench and orfe and a few smaller carp, mostly on sweetcorn and then cockle. Friday – Main carp lake – another early start. Fished hard again, usual catfish baits on one rod, big halibut pellet on the other. Result – one cat (approx. 5lb) that came off at the net. One other run that came off after a few seconds – it didn’t feel big and was probably another small cat hooked in the mouth pads. Szabi had no action on either of her carp rods. We’d had enough by mid afternoon and packed up. Once back at the villa we decided to pack the car and clear off home and avoid the Saturday holiday traffic. I was surprised how busy the main carp lake and the specimen lakes were. We had planned to have at least one day on the speci lake, but felt it was a waste of time due to the pressure already on it. None of the bigger fish lakes seemed to be fishing well. I heard of a 23 lb carp caught on the speci lake by a young lady during the night before we got there and a couple of 20’s coming out of the main lake during the week, but I didn’t actually see anybody catch a decent sized fish myself. I think Zyggy has expanded the accommodation a lot over the last few years, increasing the weekly headcount and the big fish lakes seem to be suffering as a result of the extra pressure. Which is not surprising as there seems to be anglers on them 24/7 through out at least 6 months of the year. There also seemed to be groups of anglers “holding” swims continually throughout the week. We will have to think hard before making a return visit – I think there may be better options available elsewhere. I don’t see the point of paying for accommodation if a 24/7 bankside approach is required. Orchid Lakes nr Oxford and Furnace Lakes in Sussex spring to mind as alternatives. Sorry if this is a bit long but I wanted to say it as I saw it. :-) Jess

Thanks for the info chesh - it's greatly appreciated. Cheers Jess

My targets for this season are as follows :- Catch a species of fish I hadn’t caught before – completed in July with a Pumpkinseed. A 20lb carp and a double figure catfish and to catch a carp on the fly – non of them acheived yet – but watch this space as I’m off to Anglers Paradise nxt week :-) To spend more (productive!!) time fishing the river kennet in winter - to be seen.:-) And I’ll also second awaar’s target above, having taken a swim the last two seasons (although last years did result in a new P.B. barbel)

Thanks for the info, sounds like there are going top be a few of us chasing a 20 nxt week :-). Actually my main aim for the week is a double figure cat – sounds like octopussy or the speci lake are the best bets? – Rich – do you know what the stock of cats is like in the main carp lake.? Any pointers for swims / baits. I was intending to try the usuals i.e. liver, squid, big fishmeal boilies, perhaps bunches of lobs (although these got destroyed by the orfe when I tried them last year.) Last year I took my father with us, who was new to fishing and therefore spent a lot of time helping him. We stuck mainly to the small fish lakes so that he had plenty of action. We did spend a day on the main carp lake but it chucked it down all day and we had a mini hurricane by mid afternoon so we jacked in without a carp bite (had two 8oz cats and an eel on float fished cockles though!:-) Also had a day on the koi lake – loads of action but the biggest fish was just over 7lb. I spent a couple of hours trying to tempt a bite from a couple of big grass carp that were cruising about over the side by the dragon raft – god, they spooky easily !– I eventually managed to get them interested in floating baits and had one of them taking reasonably confidently and heading for my hookbait, only to get sideswiped by a 3lb koi that appeared from nowhere and engulfed my hookbait!! – result 1 surprised koi on the bank and 2 disappearing grass carp!! :-( still we had a great day, i caught over 20 fish with most weighing around the 2 to 3lb mark. Szabi and my father both caught well too. There are some very beautiful fish in there. Oh – in case any one is interested - baits were float fished maggot + ledgered ,small tutti fruitti boilies. cheers Jess oh and j.green - if you want to say hi - look out for a big bloke (17st 6ft1) with a goaty type beard - thats me :-) + a shorter girl with an Hungarian accent and pony tail - thats szabi :-) or alternatively a big bloke spending most of his time netting his girlfriends fish!! ;-) [ 17. August 2005, 10:02 AM: Message edited by: Jackcatcher ]

Hi there Myself and my partner szabi are off to Anglers Paradise on the 20th. So see you there. :-) We went last year and had a great time, hense the return visit. Grant - what time of year did you go?? we went early July and the specimen lakes were practically deserted most days?? Cheers Jess [ 16. August 2005, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: Jackcatcher ]

Myself and a friend spent 48hrs on it in the middle of May. We both blanked. Only one fish was caught whilst we were there, but a mid 30 had come out just before we arrived. I think the stock is good (some big cats as well), but it gets a lot of pressure. There were at least 8 anglers there all the time we were there which was midday wednesday to midday friday. To be fair we had a sharp drop in temp. the first night we were there and an over night frost!! Followed by a very strong cold easterly wind, i think that pretty much killed it. I dont think it's a "runs" water by any means, but i will be going back as it's a nice lake, it's clean and well run. Cheers Jess

Thanks Elton I hope someone can make use of it - although i know it's short notice. Cheers Jess [ 20. May 2005, 01:49 PM: Message edited by: Jackcatcher ]

Hi all I’m not sure if this is the correct place to put this - apologies if it's not. Myself and my partner were planning to celebrate my 40th birthday with a weeks carp fishing in France. Around Christmas time we booked with Vallee Lake and paid our deposit for a week in July. Sadly, for health reasons, we will not be able to make the trip, but have been informed that we can not get a refund on the money already paid. However we can transfer the booking to someone else if we want. So if anyone is interested in a week for 2 at Vallee lake ( www.valleelake.com ) in northern France and wants to take over the booking then please contact me with an offer against the 50% deposit that we have already paid. This was 414.25 euro’s which is about £300. Any sensible offer will be considered – I’d rather someone made use of it rather than it being a total loss. Total price for the week per person is 360 euros + any bait /food you decide you want to order from the lake owners. You will need to make your own travel arrangements etc. Dates = 1st to 8th July 2005. This is a genuine offer – if you check out maggotdrowners.com - you’ll see I’m a regular member on there and this situation has occurred from a failed planned fish-in on that site. I hope that someone can make use of the week. Cheers Jess

Thanks guys Based on what you've said - I think i'll leave it a few more weeks. best regards Jim

Hi all Being fairly new to this forum and basically from a coarse fishing background – I’m hoping one of you out there can help me. Since spending a few days last year spinning for mackerel at West Bexington on Chesil Beach and having great fun, my 12 yr old daughter (and her grandfather!) have been plaguing me with requests to go again. Last years sessions were in June and August, but can any one tell me if the mackerel are around in any numbers now. They want to go this coming weekend but as it’s a 2 ½ hour drive each way - I don’t want them (or me) to be disappointed. Last year I set them up with Dexter wedges on carp rods which seemed to be fairly successful, both in enabling casting distance and in attracting fish – any other suggestion for lures/spinners from this beach – I assume Bass may also be present.? Hope some one can help Many thanks in advance Jim