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Post by cleckfisher on Mar 18, 2013 10:39:01 GMT
love to go france but not confident in driving there n playing with a big carp me PB is only 9lb on pole though keep looking at full set ups on ebay to get into it but am probs too used to pole fishing
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Post by jdcalling on Mar 18, 2013 15:58:07 GMT
I would be happy with a 2'6" cat... Well happy And as you say Dave, with my new knowledge it should be fun.. This was the spot that got me into fishing catching a huge barbel on a bit of sweet corn on a 5ft kiddy rod with a 10mm socket as a weight .....that was just over a year and a half ago.... I haven't stopped fishing since can't wait!!!
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Post by bostonman on Apr 10, 2013 22:16:17 GMT
Back to the cost of French trips..... Me and the Wizzard plan trips well in advance, in fact over a year in advance as Ive no doubt said already. This years trips are taken care of and now are the trips for 2014 as the deposits have just been paid after several weeks of on line studying. Found a very nice mature gravel pit in the Marne valley, a few miles from Vitry le Francois which is available as an exclusive booking for just the two of us and all for £600 for the week. Obviously ferries on top and shared fuel will make it about £400 each. Bait and food should realistically round it up to £550 which is pretty good as the lake is all ours with carp to high fifties. At the time of researching last week I had a little look at an old favourite venue - "Les Quis" which I last fished in about 2009. I was staggered to see that a trip to the lake we fished now starts from £700+ per person ! With food on top I reckon thats about £840 and thats without considering bait and spends ! And you need a fare bit of bait on there so a trip there will end up hitting a grand....... I'm not knocking Les Quis as I loved both trips Ive had, but I'm afraid its gone out of my price range now.
So quite a difference in costings, however "you pays your money and you makes your choice".
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Post by Kezzer on Apr 11, 2013 18:30:23 GMT
I've said it before, for a trip to france.....by the time you've budgeted for everything....you're looking at close to a grand ! It's an expensive week in a tent at the end of the day.
But that said, it's a holiday too, and is there to be enjoyed, when I've been, I've always tried to look at it as 'a holiday with a chance of some big fish' don't put too much emphasis on catching a shed load of fish.....cos sometimes it just don't happen.
Kezzer :-)
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Post by bostonman on Apr 26, 2013 7:01:36 GMT
Well here's a pic of the French venue we will be at in a fortnights time - Definately a place "not to avoid" as I'm sure you will agree ! Another of those exclusive waters just for the two of us, so no noddies to share it with on the far bank to spoil it by long casting or sending out toy boats ! Not a bad price at £700 for up to three anglers + guests if required, a lodge, showers etc etc [ ferries xtra ] And not an out and out big carp water really with mainly 20's and 30's up to 51lb, but stalking does produce so that will be high on the list in methods.......
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Post by bostonman on May 25, 2013 17:38:47 GMT
Just got to bob these next pics up for the slavering food gobblers on the site....... This boulongerie / patteserie is in the village of Beauce just outside Fourgeres, and is owned and run by the lovely Yvette. I would have to say it is one of the finest bakeries I have ever had the pleasure of visiting, not only is the choice of bread outstanding but the collection of assorted french cakes and pastries is mind boggling. And I can honestly say I have never munched on a crispier bagguette anywhere in France. Get ready to lick those lips boys ! Whatever you do never miss a trip to the local boulangerie when French carping
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Post by bostonman on Jun 1, 2013 11:50:42 GMT
Another slant on France...... I do like the French peoples attitude when it comes to where they live, and the care and desire they show to enhance their collective lifestyles. Not only am I and the Wizzard slowly becoming more and more obsessed with French architecture - "oooooh look at the exterior stonework on that farmhouse" etc etc but also the incredible work they put in to their gardens and shared spaces outside of their homes. Over here I've noticed that a verge is just a plain old weed infested verge, but in many small French hamlets the verge and roadside pavements on the public streets become and extension of peoples gardens as you can see below. I asked our recent French lake bailiff about this and he explained that the locals in the nearby villages take enormous pride in the appearance of their homes and villages and shared expense is used to brilliant effect as you can no doubt see. village of Luitre snapped on the way for baguettes........
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Post by freddie on Jun 2, 2013 18:52:11 GMT
My mate goes to Miller"s Fisheries in France and he says its a awesome place M8
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Post by greenhorn on Jun 25, 2013 8:05:49 GMT
I have a question about France if that's alright. Went last September with a few others to a runs water and caught loads really but they were averaging just under 20 pounds. I had five over 20 to 24 and about 30 doubles in total. The advert said the water was mainly 20's up to 35 pound and I mentioned this to the lake owner whilst there about the low weights. He said the weights were down due to time of year but I would have thought in September weights would be on the up as it was so long since spawning. Is it bad advertising just to get you there or is it right about carp weights being down in September.
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Post by bostonman on Jun 28, 2013 7:13:02 GMT
I have a question about France if that's alright. Went last September with a few others to a runs water and caught loads really but they were averaging just under 20 pounds. I had five over 20 to 24 and about 30 doubles in total. The advert said the water was mainly 20's up to 35 pound and I mentioned this to the lake owner whilst there about the low weights. He said the weights were down due to time of year but I would have thought in September weights would be on the up as it was so long since spawning. Is it bad advertising just to get you there or is it right about carp weights being down in September. Hmmmmm Six of one and a half a dozen of the other I would have thought. I'd say the lake owner is being a little swervy with the truth about fish weights going down in September, They should be going up not down. Unless there's a problem with the water of course, or the carp were very late with spawning. I can't comment as I don't know the lake in question, and I don't want libelling ! However I'm always a bit cynical when I read a french lakes own website and you read the well trotted out quips such as the following....... "200 carp stocked, but some originals to 50 pound plus have been seen" - right, the 200 stocked carp is checkable but the "originals to 50 pounds" is usually rubbish because you can put that on an advert and get away with it legally as nobody can prove it either way until they are caught that is ! And if the lakes record is 41 then the mythical 50 pounders will always be just that. I read about a french water that claimed uncaught 50's are always seen swimming about, but on another page on the website several years later they vindaged the water [ drain down ] and guess what ? No fifties, only the low forties which have been caught and photographed. Another water on the internet claimed to have stocked a dozen lumps between 41 and 53 into a lake no bigger than three acres, and after three years not one had been caught ? Bit strange those fish farm carp that have never been hooked avoiding basic rigs all that time ? Or another favourite often quoted in websites - "120 carp stocked up to 42 pounds, but with some uncaught surprises". What surprises ? The only surprise will be that several anglers will have fallen for that one ! Call me an old cynic, but as a northerner with a good selection of French trips under my belt I don't take on board wild claims on carp stocks. Ive said it before but indepth researching a potential water over several weeks or months will pay off in the end, and you should be able to pick and rule out the 2 acre "fantasy island" waters with all those uncaught 50's and 60's that never seem to get caught or seen by the visiting anglers.
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Post by greenhorn on Jul 7, 2013 7:01:15 GMT
Thanks for that Mr BM, I know those type of French lake adverts claiming uncaught original biggies and surprises, as we all commented when originaly looking and booking on how many lakes over there say the same thing. I suppose your right in that they can get away with that as it cant be proved or unproved until they are caught and they never will, clever con really. Want a runs water again for next year with true carp stocks, anyone know of one that they have fished.
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Post by BOF on Jul 7, 2013 11:03:32 GMT
Heading for Northern France myself in a few weeks with Elmo and Luke, hence the recent mega baitmaking sessions, see here:- yorksfishing.proboards.com/thread/26747/home-boillies?page=3The one we are going to is a Cats water that Luke and his dad fancy,(cats to well over the 140lb mark!), and I'm just tagging along, and going for the head of Carp it holds. Fortunately for me it's also one that has a track record of holding some fair size specimen Carp. The trick will be separating the 20+ ers from all the smaller ones stocked as fodder fish for the big Cats. BOF
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Post by bostonman on Jul 13, 2013 15:07:38 GMT
Dear Greenhorn.......
Told you the other day but I'll tell you again as your from the Cas area and struggle with simple memory ! Best runs waters over the water that blokes I know have ACTUALLY fished recently are......
Beurapeare [ angling lines ] And Gigantica's new runs water - the road lake [ opposite Gigantica main lake ]
Get sorted out !
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Post by smiffyuk2003 on Jul 28, 2013 10:10:08 GMT
Hi, I am going to vallee lakes 1 on August 16th for our first trip,, 3 of us in my motor, I have researched quite a lot about what I need an have bought the Europe driving kit with French breathalysers and everything else's legally needed for France, Vallee is only 1.5 hour from Calais so probably one of the closest carp lakes I'd think
How much are the tolls likely to be, something we stupidly overlooked thinking a few quid but after reading the post thinking may hurt the pocket a tad more.
We plan on making this a yearly thing so I will be having a word with heritage about a trip for next year when I get back.
Thanks and any advice welcome
Andy
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Post by bostonman on Jul 28, 2013 15:58:13 GMT
I know the area of vallee lake but have not fished in that vicinity but as it is very close to the ferry ports I wouldn't have thought it will be more than 20 euro's either way, or if at all, as you might find a good alternative away from the Sanef toll system on the back roads.
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Post by smiffyuk2003 on Jul 28, 2013 16:17:17 GMT
Thanks, that's good to know
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Post by bostonman on Aug 17, 2013 13:58:39 GMT
Another place to pay a visit would be the "Carre four" supermarket....... Easily recognisable as they all look exactly the same and are dotted all over France. Loads of top and tasty treats for the visiting hungry carp angler from cooked meats to a fantastic selection of crusty bread and succulent cakes ! Various household goods are also on sale including fishing tackle at the store in Bray-Sur-Seine ! I wandered over to see their selection of rods and poles and was astounded to also find a big stand up glass fronted fridge full of tubs of maggots !!!! Imagine that back here in England, a supermarket full of food selling maggots ! Even more bizzare - imagine if they escaped from the fridge ! Think of the chaos as 15,000 maggots descended on the meat counter and cake stand !
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Post by krisg91 on Aug 24, 2013 7:03:52 GMT
Been to a few carre fours in the UAE only no maggots in this on it the electronics section was stocked with fake electronics gear.....
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Post by greenhorn on Jan 21, 2014 20:50:37 GMT
Another question on France if Bostonman is still using the forum ? Which I dont think he is anymore, and I dont work in the same office as him anymore but just in case I will ask anyway. Is it really neccesary to take freezer baits to France as the place Im going to has no freezers and i have no experience with air dry baits. So what shelf lifes could you recommend ? I know you once said dynamite red fish boilies but they are no longer made.
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Post by BOF on Jan 22, 2014 0:05:28 GMT
Greenhorn do you always use all of your favourite freezer baits you take on a trip in the UK? Or like the rest of us, do you have a kilo or more left at the end of the weekend? If you do, simply go down to Wilkinsons and buy a pack of their Laundry bags, and take them with you next time you go fishing. Then when it gets to Sunday morning put what you have left over into the mesh bag and zip it up, then tie it to a tree branch, and leave it swinging in the breeze, (not forgetting to take it with you when you go, and hang it someplace dry till you go again, when you get back home). That gives you air dried baits to use when you next go. BOF
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Post by musselman on Jan 22, 2014 0:31:08 GMT
A tip I picked up from a carper: to rehydrate air-dried baits, don't use lakewater. Use the liquid additives/flavours associated with your boilie.
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Post by Kezzer on Jan 22, 2014 12:18:30 GMT
You only need to air dry your hookbaits, or if you're firing your free offerings out with a throwing stick, so air dry a couple of kilos before you go, stick em in your airing cupboard at home, and as bof says, shove the rest in a sack/airdry bag when you get to France, bring any back you don't use, rehydrate em and re freeze em.
Kezzer
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Post by greenhorn on Jan 23, 2014 9:09:32 GMT
Thankyou for those tips above, I ask as I don't want to ruin a load of freezer bait by not knowing or having tried to air dry before.
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Post by Scaley on Feb 13, 2014 20:23:23 GMT
Back to the cost of French trips..... Me and the Wizzard plan trips well in advance, in fact over a year in advance as Ive no doubt said already. This years trips are taken care of and now are the trips for 2014 as the deposits have just been paid after several weeks of on line studying. Found a very nice mature gravel pit in the Marne valley, a few miles from Vitry le Francois which is available as an exclusive booking for just the two of us and all for £600 for the week. Obviously ferries on top and shared fuel will make it about £400 each. Bait and food should realistically round it up to £550 which is pretty good as the lake is all ours with carp to high fifties. At the time of researching last week I had a little look at an old favourite venue - "Les Quis" which I last fished in about 2009. I was staggered to see that a trip to the lake we fished now starts from £700+ per person ! With food on top I reckon thats about £840 and thats without considering bait and spends !And you need a fare bit of bait on there so a trip there will end up hitting a grand....... I'm not knocking Les Quis as I loved both trips Ive had, but I'm afraid its gone out of my price range now. So quite a difference in costings, however "you pays your money and you makes your choice". I went to Les Quis last April for a week and if memory serves me right, it was £750 for coach, ferry, fishing and food! Drinks are totted up end o't week and came to about £30. With bait and the other obligatory spending associated with such a trip, it's well over a grand! Worth every penny though if you ask me! And must say the 20-odd lads on the trip who id never met we're spot on, made me feel welcome as it was my first trip and we all had a good banter every day over who caught what, I couldn't have asked for more really
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Post by bostonman on May 18, 2014 6:55:35 GMT
Just a quickie while I remember !
Whilst coming back from France yesterday we stopped off at the last major service station on the A26 approaching Calais which was called Anders or Angers' or something. The "Wizzard" stayed with the van and asked me to pick him up a couple of cans of "red bull" from the shop bit and would give me the money when I got back. His chin hit the dashboard when I gave him the two SMALL cans which were a staggering 4.90 euro's each !!! Yes virtually a fiver a can ! His tears when he handed over the ten euro note were a joy to behold !
So tip number whatever is - "Bring loads of cash if you intend to purchase anything from a service station in France, or take loads with you from the pound shop in Yorkshire".
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Post by jerseyman on Aug 25, 2014 15:29:42 GMT
Yes they do know how to charge. I try not to buy much from the service stations close to any port or major intersections as they alway seem to be more expensive. Whilst most on here talk about lakes, i have to admit that the last year of so i have become more transfixed with the Rivers in France, its not easy, but the bits of info i have picked up over the years match fishing have turned out ok. Google, whilst brilliant for ID'ing stretches to look at ,are a bit less useful when it comes to fiding accessible swims.Some stretches of the Vilanne in Brittany for example might have 3-4 swims in 3-4KM. nuts, and bloody frustrating. The Locals who fish there ,tend to be either very clued up and helpful, or weekend "carpistes" with the emphasise on piste.
Downside as with any river fishing, is location ,location. you can spend a week in the wrong stretch, let alone wrong swim. But the feeling when you succeed are very nice.
Cost wise,78 euros for 4 rods in a area, or 98 if you are going to fish different ones .
Night fishing is allowed, but only in specific "night zones" which are freely avaiable on line. the only downside of the Vilanne, is there are no barbel, you have to go down to the Loire for those.
its not for those needing to catch, but if you are pleased by the though of fishing places rarely, if ever fished by others, or the sight of buzzards nesting above your head, kingfishers rattling the rods with fry as they beat them to death, leotard clad young ladies going for their mornibg jog, etc, then try a bit of river fishing if you venture over there
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Post by bostonman on Jul 23, 2016 18:00:26 GMT
Bit of a "heads up" on this rather inactive thread ! If your heading over to France this year then allow LOADS of extra time to get there ! Heading towards Dover on the last 10 miles or so the speed limit has been dropped to 40mph [ traffic calming measure ] !!! And the tailbacks are unbelievable ! And once at the port the new French custom systems are the worst Ive seen anywhere in the world with new lane filtering systems that are scandalous ! We were lucky to catch our ferry and we allowed plenty of extra travelling time, be warned !!!
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Post by BOF on Jul 25, 2016 10:32:42 GMT
Thanks for the warning BM. I had seen aerial photos of the tailbacks, but not heard about the French Customs delays. So, as I am a chronic "last minute" merchant, I stand to miss my ferry if I dont mend my ways. BOF
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Post by musselman on Aug 26, 2016 11:04:33 GMT
Regarding the ferry situation, we were there fifty minutes early.... and still missed the one we were booked on! On a different note, if you are visiting a fishery where you have to take away all your rubbish, don't take black bin bags (unless you are going to take it home!)...get pedal bin liners. The reason being, these smaller bags are easy to push into the bins at supermarkets (letterbox style) even when full.
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Post by maf on Aug 28, 2016 8:01:07 GMT
Hello all.
The last time i visited France was in 2014 to John Hoftgartners water, Etang des Royales (thanks Kezzer :-) )and for the 2nd year running we went via Hull to Zebrugge. Now this won't suit everyone but we found that when you balance the cost of Fuel and such like it came out preferable to slogging it down south for the Ferry crossing. The benefits for me are the 30 minute drive to Hull and then you can relax on the Ferry overnight ready for a drive the next day through Belgium and into France. A tip though, get to Hull in plenty of time and have a bar meal in a local pub before you board as the food is a tad expensive on the Ferry.
For years I messed about taking my own bait but in 2014 i listened to the lake owner and bought my bait from him when i arrived at the lake. We found that catch rates improved and the better fish came out when we shifted to his bait which you would expect as its a constant prebating!
Driving in France and Belgium is fantastic and the Toll system is easy peasy.
Another little tip would be to hit the Hypermarket before you arrive at the lake (unless you take your own food and such, i don't bother) to get some supplies in. nothing like relaxing at the lake on your first night with the rods out and some fresh local produce to eat and drink :-)
Cheers
Paul
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