A beautiful venue
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I think Spring is one of my favourite times of the year, as we emerge from the chill of Winter and welcome the warmer weather and flourishing vegetation. This Spring we have been particularly spoiled in France with positively Summer-like conditions.
And so it was with the windows down, a full tank of gas and wearing sunglasses I hit the road..... destination a four day session at the Domaine de la Ribière, near Limoges. |
I had visited this extremely attractive venue a couple of times and had fished it briefly in April last year. But following a hugely impressive stocking programme this past Winter by the owner Michel Bonneau, I was more than a little keen to wet a line.
The journey was easy enough, not even a traffic jam around Paris slowed my snail paced progress. (my trusty old Patrol is no Ferrari). I pulled through the impressive gates at the entrance to the property early in the afternoon, to find this most majestic lake bathed in the glorious sunshine and not a ripple broke the surface. It was like a giant mirror looking back at me, only the fluffy white seeds from the bankside willows broke the limpid surface. |
Welcome to the Ribière
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38lb 8oz
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I took a walk round the banks with the on-site bailiff, Eric, and he pointed out some of the better spots over the last week. In fact two English anglers that had left the day before my arrival had done particularly well, with carp to 37lb. As we looked out over the water a large carp rolled about 40 yards out in front of a likely looking spot..... a French angler had caught well off this peg the week before, so it seemed as good a place as any to start.
I unloaded my gear and decided to spod out some trout pellet immediately to give the carp something to home in on in the swim. Spods had not been used to any extent on the venue so the carp are not at all afraid or put off by them. I put out about 20 or so spodfuls per rod and scattered around 30 or 40 boilies per rod in the same areas. |
Three baits, enveloped in PVA bags of mixed pellet were then cast to the baited areas. Two bottom baits and one pop-up.
Once the rods were out I sorted my bivvy and thought about a meal, as my stomach was now telling me to feed it. As I was just relaxing, sipping a glass of red wine and savouring a piece of Roquefort cheese on a chuck of crusty baguette, (well hell...we're in France guys!!!) my middle popped up bait was taken, momentarily interrupting my Gallic feast..... It hadn't been out more than an hour. This resulted in a lovely 19lb 4oz mirror that fought like a demon. In fact throughout my stay the carp, even the smaller ones, scrapped like stink, struggling all the way to the net. Their sheer fighting ability is likely to surprise the visiting carper.
| The rod was repositioned and things remained quiet until after dark, and I was able to finish my meal and the bottle of vino, without further interruption.
Around 10pm, in the now chilly night air, the same rod was away again and after another impressive tussle a chunky dink mirror, with pretty star burst scales over it's flank, rolled over the net cord. This was a much better fish and tipped the scales at just over 30lb..... what a result!!! After only 4 hours fishing. As it was still early, I didn't want to hold it in a sack all night, so I had to forgo the photo and slipped it back.
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39lb 2oz
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The night was punctuated at regular intervals by the sound of my buzzers, and I was woken bleary eyed by Eric the next morning. I'd managed a further 4 carp all 20's bar one, the best caught just before dawn at 25lb 8oz. This I had retained for an hour or so and a quick photo.
34lb 8oz
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Eric informed me that the carp were spawning in the shallows, and that we should go and have a look. As I looked down from the high bank over the rush covered shallows I could see a mass of fish, thrashing, and writhing among the plants, launching themselves occasionally completely out of the water, a most impressive sight.
As can be imagined the day, hot and still, produced no fish, but my tan got topped up for the first time this year, so all was not lost.
That night, despite the spawning activity, turned out to be a virtual carbon copy of the first and I managed 4 more mid-twenties before dawn. The next morning the spawning activity was of an even greater intensity than it had been the previous day and my area of the lake seemed devoid of fish for the next 24 hours or so. I did manage to pick up just two fish in this time of 18lb and 26lb. |
Regal Ribière, by Gareth Watkins, April 2003 - Continued ......
With the lack of evident fish activity I decided to top up the swim with bait in the hope that if they did come back I'd be ready for them. So I got spodding and put out a few kilos of mixed trout pellets and a further scattering of boilies.
That evening it clouded over and started to rain hard. A couple of dropped fish signalled an early night, and I reeled in and got my head down, for some much needed shut eye. I awoke late and it was still tipping down, so I decided a recast could wait. Finally the need for my daily caffeine fix got too strong and I got up and put the kettle on. Once the strong black juice had started to work it's wonders I felt much better, and recasting looked like it would soon be on the cards.
| By mid-morning my lines were out and the rain easing. A very small carp at just after noon signalled the opening shot of what can only be described as one of the most hectic few hours carp fishing I've ever had.
At 1:30pm my right hand rod tore off and as I struck into a carp the middle rod sprung into life and ripped off too. Thankfully, my habit of setting up two landing nets paid off and with much aggro, cursing and a bit of good fortune, both fish were somehow netted, weighed and released, in a frantic twenty minute period.
Just as I was getting my breath back, the remaining left hand rod was away. This fish felt much heavier and stayed out in the open water, taking line and not giving an inch. After a powerful, and enjoyable scrap a very good fish rolled into the net. Up on the scales and the needle settled at 38lb 8oz. This was sacked and my rods were repositioned. Not wanting to leave the peg with so much feeding activity, I called Michel, at the farm, on my mobile so he and Eric could come down and do the honours with the camera. |
My peg at Ribière
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Not a bad fish at nearly 40lb...
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Before they could get to my swim, one of the recast rods screamed only seconds after it had landed and a lively 20lb mirror completed half an hour of sheer mayhem.
I had just about had time to have a meal and calm down when the carp came back for round two. A succession of runs from six thirty to eight o' clock saw me bag a further four carp and somehow, (my own fault) drop three others. The best fish picked up a bottom bait as Eric was round for a chat. As the fish came close to the net, wielded expertly by Eric, we both looked at each other and said in unison,
<<Celle-là n'est pas vilaine!!!>> (That's not a bad fish!)
And we were right as she took the scales round to just under 18kg, or 39lb 2oz if you want the proper measurement.
The calm then settled over my peg, and one fish at 10pm was the only activity experienced until the buzzer sounded, like carp fisher's wake up call, at 6:50 am. This turned out to be my forth thirty pound plus carp of the week at 34lb 8oz.
I then set about the arduous task of packing up my gear and loading the car. With the rods still out a 20lb mirror gave me a last ditch chance, and signalled the end of a superb and most enjoyable session. |
For the record:
Total Catch:
I finished my four day session with 25 carp banked, 7 lost fish. I had 9 doubles to 19lb 8oz; 12 twenties to 27lb 8oz and 4 thirties of 30lb 8oz; 34lb 8oz; 38lb 8oz; and 39lb 2oz.
Tackle and tactics:
These fish are extremely hard fighting carp and there is every chance of a 30lb, 40lb or even 50lb fish ... so it is wise to tackle up accordingly. My tackle consisted of:
Rods: Bruce Ashby "Mirage" 3lb TC
Reels: Daiwa Emblem 5000T's with 15lb Daiwa Sensor line.
Rigs: Snake bite combi rigs with size 4 Drennan continental Boilie hooks or size 4 Long shank nailors.
I used a spod to introduce mixed sized trout pellets and fished PVA bags on each cast over the top. My boilies were Mainline Fruitella specials 20mm, rolled by BRB Baits (you can order bait on our website from them to be delivered to this venue). I only fed minimal boilies, about 3 kgs in total over the session and 10kgs of pellets in all.
PVA bags can be a bit of a pain, as you have to dry out your rig before each cast. I prefer to place the whole rig in the bag as it makes for longer and more accurate casting, but this really seemed to pay off. ........alternatively you could used funnel web and just hook it on your hook.
Both bottom baits and pop ups produced.
| Conclusion:
The Ribière is a great family venue and indeed two French lads with their parents managed a 35lb PB mirror during the time I was at the water. The accommodation is excellent "Gîte de France" three stars. Facilities are superb, and there are showers and toilets for bivvy-up anglers. The very hot and powerful shower is 2 Euros 30 a go.
Michel has stocked a large number of quality carp over the last couple of seasons and from my own experience this week visiting carpers should be in for a field day.
The bigger fish have yet to put in an appearance. The average size of my catch was over 23lb so you are pretty much sure to get into some decent fish. There are no poisson-chats, and only some crayfish that posed no problem to me. I used 20mm baits as there are a lot of very small carp that can give aborted runs if you go too small on bait size or use too much particle. I was not troubled by this at all.
I hope you enjoy your trip as much as I did.... but go soon before the secret gets out!!!!
Tight Lines
Gareth
gareth@anglinglines.com |
Young Mathieu Nouveau with his 35lb PB.
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