FRENCH KIPPERS.
It was Sue's first trip to the awesome L`Etournau , a lake that I have shown in a past blog where James had his French stag do with some giants caught . Although she came with me to France last year , she never actually had a chance to fish , but this year we stumped up the extra cash so she had her own set of rods , and the chance of a goodun . The journey through France seemed a lot longer this time , but around 1pm we pulled up at the lovely lake to meet up with friends Dazza and wife Pam. James had followed us down with his dog Neo , and best mate John , and Neo was to keep us entertained all week with his swiming sessions . we did the normal things , unloading the frozen boillies into the freezer , grabbing a beer and making the draw for swims . After drawing no1 , I could not really decide where to fish as before we had left home I had already picked an area I fancied, but we then picked "pine bay" , but after a better look , and a good think about the whole situation we swapped with James and moved into 2 swims alongside each other , giving us both a chance of fish , and James getting a swim that he could make the most of , and he did over the week landing two 50lb+ mirrors.
Looking down the lake to the island point on a misty dawn .
We set up , and after a long day got 2 rods out each , going in light with the bait to see how the fish were acting , not being sure what other anglers had put in before us . With fish showing in the general area one particular rod screamed out for a bait , it was an island tight to the bank 30yds down to Sues right . The fish would sneak around the point of this little hump ( not really an island as it was joined by a little strip of land) and with a bit of teamwork where I cast to the point , flicking the line off the tree along the edge as the bait hit the water , where Sue was waiting with a hand full of mini and large tigernuts dropping them all around the rig as the pva foam popped to the surface , the trap was set perfectly . In fact it was so well set that an hour later the rod fizzed off , and Sue held onto what was obviously a very good fish !. The fish moved up and down the lake in front of us for a good while , pushing lots of water with it's big frame , heavy " gloops " as it rolled , and time ticked by wearing Sue out . She got it almost to the net in shallow water , but it was obvious that I needed to go out , and stripped off you jeans before jumping in and pushing the net forward . With one last effort from Sue the fish nodded almost over the net , and with it looking strait at me inches from the net the hook pulled out , flew past my head, and it slid away slowly .
40lb + common , and the lodge behind .
I was gutted , I launched the net , kicked the rod , done all the normal stuff . Sue was more calm saying that even if she never had another fish all week, it was nice to feel the unbelievable power of that fish , I was less than happy because close up I could see clearly it was over 40lb , nearer 50 , and it would have been her personal best by some distance , and perhaps her only chance of the week !. As we stood chatting putting some new tigers on the rig one of my rods melted off and another extended fight took place . The fish seemed very strong , pulling my arms off , and after a couple of near chances Sue waded out slipping the net under a good common , in fact a 42lb common !. I won't lie , I was chuffed , but in the back of my mind I knew we would only be picking off the odd fish during the week, and the lost fish was still bugging me .
Relaxing in the evening , Sue,s rods , and Downton Abby
With the lodge behind us it was handy for the loo's / showers / coffee etc , and with the sun up Sue went for a fresh cuppa for the pair of us . She was gone a while , and I was wondering where she had got to. Getting back with 2 cups in her hand she said " I'm winding in and going down to a quiet area in the corner of the dam as Iv watch a fish rolling ". I helped her get a chair , 2 rods and a net for a couple of hours before one of Danny's lovely full English brekkies . She fished a little gap in the tree,s lowering a bait in close left , and right . Rods layed on the floor , no buzzers , just the bait runners clicked on . A small palm full of tigers were spread around the rigs , fishing a Brazil nut on the hair the traps were set , and I wandered off to have a chat with James and John , throwing sticks in the lake for Neo !. we were all standing in Johns swim we herd a shout from Sue , and could see her leaning out hanging onto a rod folded in half !. I rand the 50yds back to the swim as she played the fish from the little gap . I wound the other rod in and herd her let out a little cry as the line pinged of an underwater branch , but it made it better as she then came into direct contact with the carp . Pulling hard she guided it to the net , going in first time in front of all of us . She rushed off for the mat etc while I had a look in the net , knowing it was by mile a PB , but not wanting to say what I thought it weighed . Stuff was zero'd , we hoisted it up the scales showing 45lb 12 oz , and complete revenge for that lost fish , in fact it was better ! as it was done under her terms , in her way ,and after moving when it was easy to stay , top dangling girl !
There was as Iv put bigger to come , in fact every capture that week was an epic tale , and they are to come , France lights my fire.
Hatter
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