Steve Kemp 25th May to 1st June 2007

Well what can I say about my visit to champagne carp tours Lac du Saule, other than ‘fantastic’.

From the moment I got there Chris the bailiff took excellent care of us; from telling us about the lake, where the fish had been showing, what bait to get on, even helping us get our gear to our chosen peg and then helping us move a couple of hours later (too many mossies). Nothing was too much trouble for him.

Jumped on what I call ‘Andrews’ peg (the lads know why) and fished two rods tight in the margins and one on the gravel hump about 70 yards in front of me. ‘Reg’ had been banging on to me about Cotswold Baits and getting on their ‘Kick’ boilies, I have never been one to not listen to local advice so decided to get away from my usual boilies and get on to this ‘ere Kick. Glad I did within the first hour of fishing properly I got my first run, turned out to be a 27lb mirror.

From that moment onwards I had steady action. By the end of the week I had 27 fish to 37lb (not one fish below 20lb), Didn’t have the biggest though, that one came out to my mate,  weighing in at 44lb. Although I have caught bigger fish the fact I converted 27 of my 29 runs into fish on the bank, for me was a real result. Lac du Saule is not what I would consider a runs water, but if you put the effort in you will get the results.  Apparently Notre Damme is the runs water...

The fish in Lac du Saule fight hard. I have been fishing in France for 15 years and I have never known a place that provides such hard fighting fish. Every fish fights like a monster - you would guess you are into either a cat or a very big carp. The lumps in the lake fight even harder, not like some of the lumps I have taken from other French waters that come in like a sack of spuds!!! You get a real sense of achievement landing the fish on this lake, particularly given that you know its done just about all it could to get away from you. I don’t know what it is, ‘high oxygen contact’ or anabolic steroids but these fish just don’t give up. My arm is still recovering!!!

Our evenings were spent in the company of Chris and his French girlfriend by the side of the lake. After overcoming my initial difficulties with my lack of French (Chris will tell you the story) we got on really well together, enjoying locally produced sausage with the locally produced wine and champagne. All this while I was fishing… I was beginning to think I was in fishing heaven. We managed to fit a couple of BBQ’s in as well, again while I was fishing.  Does it get any better?

Chris is a very experienced angler, but is not one who rams it down your throat, if you know what I mean.  He sees himself as on hand to provide tips if you ask for them. Don’t be afraid to ask him, given his knowledge I am quite sure that even those of you that think you know the crack could still come away from the place having learnt something, even if its just about fishery management.  Come to think of it, Chris is perfect bailiff material, he can’t do enough for you (including your daily shop!!), he cooks, he cleans and he knows a thing or two about fishing...

So in short I have managed to find after 15 years of searching my perfect French fishery, what pains me is that when word gets out every man and his dog is going to want a piece of this place………(Reg make sure you keep a place for me). If you decide to go (and I wouldn’t blame you) make sure you listen to Chris and get on ‘Kick’ (sorry Nash I am a convert), it really does get ‘em going.

Tight lines

Steve Kemp