The lakes are mature sandpits covering around 17 acres in total, excavated in the late 1970’s. There are 3 waters; the 6 acre Croix Blanche, 8 acre Tortue and a 1 acre stock pond (no fishing allowed).

The banks, while quite steep, are grassy with trees around most of the margins. There is weed present, but it's not normally a problem and there are no obvious under water obstacles or snags. The water itself is crystal clear with a bluish taint characteristic of sandpits.

The number of pegs as been kept to a minimum... Croix Blanche has seven, with eight pitches on Tortue. Many of these pegs are cut back into the bank to provide comfortable pitches.  Access to the pegs is excellent with a track around the whole property and Martyn transports your gear to the peg with a quad bike and trailer, so there's no long walks humping gear!  You're quite welcome to double up in a swim if you wish. The property is entirely closed with a secure fence around the whole perimeter.

Show me some pictures of the lake. 

Show me a sketch map of the lake. 

There is a good shower and toilets on the complex... so there's no excuse to be slimy all week!  You can get fresh water from the kitchen or by the toilets at the far end of the lakes, so you can make us a cuppa when we come round to see how you are getting on. We're there 24 hours a day to give you help and advice if you want it, so basically all you need to do is fish.  But of course, if you'd prefer we'll be happy to leave you alone for the whole week - it's your holiday, it's up to you!

There's a small amount of terminal tackle for sale on-site... hooks, leads, reel line etc, so if you have any losses give us a shout. Bedchairs, unhooking mats, weigh slings and landing nets are available free of charge – in fact the only unhooking mats, weigh slings and landing nets you are allowed to use are the ones supplied, so there’s no point in taking your own. Let us know when you book if you’d like to reserve a bedchair. If there's something you forget let us know - we can usually sort it.

There are bait boats available for rent (Angling Technics Microcat) - these are great for dropping off your bait accurately and they're dead easy to use. The cost is £85 per week based on two people sharing. For people who bring their own bait boats we can charge them for you no cost.

Show me some pictures of the facilities  

Included in the price of your trip are breakfast and evening meals. They can be taken back to your swim or you can come to the dining area adjacent to the kitchen - whichever you prefer. There is unlimited free tea and coffee... when you fancy a cuppa just go to the kitchen and there will always be hot water. There is a lunch and dessert menu if you fancy a midday snack, or maybe just a Mars Bar - they're always available (these items are chargeable).

Show me a sample menu from the venue.

The initial stocking of carp into the lake was carried out by the original owner in the early nineties and consisted of 250 two to three year-old carp. By the time the current owner purchased the pits with a view to transforming them into a carp fishery, the largest of these carp had topped 44lb, with an estimated 60 fish remaining from this first stocking.

During 1999, 2000 and 2002 a large number of carp were stocked into both of the lakes as part of a progressive fish management programme on the venue. Commons and mirrors were purchased from a number of French fish farmers, their average weight at the time of stocking being 15lb to 30lb. Catfish to 55lb and Grass carp were stocked into the Tortue lake also.

These fish have thrived in the waters, gaining weight very rapidly due to the rich environment and regular feeding with quality carp bait and pellets and they’ve grown on to make an incredible head of big carp. The largest to date, one of the original fish from the 1990 stocking, has topped 76lb! Each lake now has well over 200 carp to over 70lb. Other species include the Wels catfish to over 85lb (present in both lakes), grass carp to 40lb plus, tench, bream, crucian carp, roach, rudd, pike and perch. A scan of the average weekly catch reports shows exactly what you can expect to catch at the lakes.

The stocking policy for the future is to continue to introduce fish over 20lb progressively to the main lakes from the stock pond over the next few years. These fish were purchased in November 2004 and weighed from 15lb to 26lb. By introducing them one by one the risk to them and the existing stock is kept to a minimum. All these fish will have spent a minimum 18 months in quarantine, regularly fed but unpressured by anglers.

Show me some recently caught fish. 

Click here to read customer feedback from this venue.

You can save time and aggravation by leaving certain items at home and hiring them.

Show me what tackle I can hire.

£475 for a fully inclusive trip. 

Some self-drive dates are available out of season - from £220 per angler including ferry. Interested? Give us a call.

To learn more about A & J trips via their own Website click here.

Visit this lake 2 (or more) times in 2008 & get a 10% discount on the return visits!

Conditions:

• Applies to fishing only (excludes accommodation, food, bait etc)
• Applies to ferry crossing for vehicle only (excludes trailers, cabins etc)
• Members of a group booking who have not visited twice will not be eligible for the discount.