This is the time of year that many fisheries have their draindown and netting, in order to remove unwanted fish and bring the overall biomass back to acceptable levels. This week I have helped in one lake netting and will be assisting in a couple more before the weeks out. Some interesting aspects of fishery management became apparent at the recent netting and several points are worth a mention. The lake was around 5 acres in size and in addition to the existing stock a ton of good carp were stocked at the end of 2005. As well as a good head of 20’s and 30’s the owner also purchased a couple of 40’s for close to £1000 each. In the time since then a great deal of work has been carried out to improve the fishery, however one thing that was neglected was the regular feeding of the fish. Financial considerations always play a big part in how much food is put in and also the quality of the food in question. In this case it was deemed that the money available was better spent on improving facilities rather than buying several ton of pellet each year. The outcome was a real eye opener with a good head of stunning but rather slim fish showing up. The largest was just 31lb !!! There were other considerations that would have impacted on lack of growth, in particular a large head of poisson chat.  Thousands of the dreadful little things were disposed of and the owner will now have to quicklime all the puddles and wet silt to ensure none are left to repopulate the lake. They are such aggressive feeders that wherever they are present it not only upsets the anglers but also makes deep inroads into the natural food supply. For those that have never met a pc I will describe them. They are like a small catfish (same family) but with spines on the dorsal and each pectoral fin. Sharp spines I will add as my thumb took a few during proceedings and very painful there are too. They only grow to about 8ins generally but the parents are very aggressive guardians of their young. The fry will swim round in a large ball formation with the parents swimming around it and attacking any potential predators. In fact as far as I am aware the only real predator on poisson chat is their larger cousin the silure or Wells catfish. Hopefully the fishery owner in question will enjoy much better luck with his growth rates now that the nuisance species have been removed and a regular feeding pattern is introduced.

On thursday we will be helping with the netting of the lake just over the road from Etang Mèe. With French owners everything will be done in typical French fashion. Mostly small fish are likely to be found and the day will see everyone round the sorting table where buckets of fished are poured on and sorted into bins of different species. A warm afternoon watching thousands of roach, pike, carp and tench gasping away in just a few inches of water is hard to get used to. What does surprise me about this particular lake is that so few small fish are returned to grow on and yet, the next draindown 2 yrs later will see literally thousands of fish in the net.

Saturday will see Jimmy and I helping at Etang Rendezvous where our friend George is having his first ever netting since he purchased the lake in 2002. Besides a good head of big carp the lake contains around 50 big catfish running up to over 100lb. Should be an interesting day!!!!

Back home the carp are still pretty active with temperatures being very mild for the time of year. Surprisingly, most action seems to be in the shallower water with plenty of big fish crashing out at dusk. We will start letting water out of the main lake later this week to enable us to carry out work on the swim fronts and also cut back tree’s and remove snags. If we can get the work done in time we can then top up the lake levels by opening the valve and letting Poplars drain into it. Our hope is that we will then be able to net Poplars to remove all the smaller fish leaving a good head of bigger ‘growers’ to be fattened up over the next couple of years.

With all this work its a good job I am still so young and fit  !!!!!

As always the first couple of weeks after the season ends take some getting used to. Not seeing bivvys around the lake and not having the daily banter with the anglers seems very strange after 7 months of the same daily routine. For us this is actually our busiest time of the year with so much work needed to prepare for next season. We are determined that we break the back of our tasks before Christmas as from then on the weeks until opening just seem to speed away. Last year we left it to late and the run up to opening day was far to hectic to be repeated. At the moment the lakes are looking very quiet with just the odd fish rolling around the island and the occasional crash of a good fish in the middle of the lake. This morning whilst walking the dogs we spooked a lot of fish up in the shallows where they had ventured right up into the channels to feed. There were also a lot of signs that the carp had been feeding off the dam with huge patches of bubbles about 3m out and stretching from the vidange to the shallow bay at the end of the dam. Poplars is looking well stirred up with the large stock of smaller fish really getting their heads down for a pre winter feeding spell. As always we will be feeding heavily initially with boilies and pellet but as the weather turns colder cooked maize will gradually be included more and more. We plan to drain and net Poplars again this back end to remove all the tench and small carp that we can. By carefully selecting the better carp for retention and supplementing them with larger fish over the next couple of years we should be in the position of opening this lake to anglers as a runs type water with the chance of some really large fish to boot. The next two winters will see a lot of planting with lilly beds being created and lots more flag iris planted in the margins which together with further landscaping of the bank should ensure that Poplars becomes a little gem of a lake for our anglers.

I have recently been watching extracts from the Korda underwater films and must confess that I found them very interesting. In my earlier days of carping I spent a lot of time watching carp and the more I watched the less confident I became. The reasons for this are obvious from the Korda film as the amount of times a carp will move onto the bait and then totally ignore the one with a hook attached leaves one with the distinct impression that actually hooking a fish is a lot more difficult than we would hope. The amount of times anglers have sat by silent buzzers and complained that the carp are just not feeding when the truth is that they may well be feeding but just not taking the bait with the hook ! I often relate that when I sit touch ledgering close in I feel lots of little pulls, tightenings and twitches without a proper take materialising. The secret imo is that we need to create a ‘feeding frenzy’ where sooner or later a carp will make a mistake. Perhaps thats why the large beds of pellet/boilies works so consistently as they will attract a shoal of carp to feed rather than just attract the odd small groups of fish. The more carp feeding over a baited area the more competition is created and the less caution exhibited by the carp! Mind you that doesn’t explain why the single bait cast into a unbaited area will also work sometimes !!!!!!!! Oh well, back to the drawing board.

With the shooting season now in full swing the local wildfowl appear to know that Le Moulin du Mèe is a ‘no shooting’ zone. From our usual dozen mallard we now have great rafts of them on the lake accompanied by hoards of coots and the odd grebe. They are not a problem at this time of the year and in truth I rather like watching their antics as they bicker and complain to each other. The kingfishers are more evident than at any other time of the year and are constantly to be seen and heard over the lakes. This afternoon I watched one on the old jetty grooming himself for about 10 mins before diving down and returning to his perch with a small fish for lunch. Our first egret of the winter turned up earlier in the week to be followed by several more in the next couple of days. They seem to have particular area’s of the lakes that they feel comfortable in and are rarely seen elsewhere on the lakes. So different are the herons that are to be seen everywhere and at this time of year will spend lots of time in the watermeadow presumably feeding on the voles and field mice. When we are walking early in the morning the mist hangs over the meadow and the herons can be approached quite closely before they become alarmed at your presence. The dogs always thing they will catch one but old  Mr Heron is always a yard to quick for them.

Well, less of my musing and back to business !!! We are fortunate in as much that bookings for 2010 are well ahead of expectations and although we have odd spaces for one or two anglers in most months there are only a couple of full weeks still vacant. Any of you that normally leave their booking until after Christmas be sure to check availability asap as it is looking likely that our diary will just about be full by then.

The weather is so mild  at the moment that I may be tempted to put a rod out sometime soon !!  Watch this space……..

Well, another season comes to a close and its time to reflect on just how well we have done and where we can expect to be in 2010. Our expectations for this year were to see good overall growth in our carp with lots of 30’s and regular 40’s showing up each week. There is no doubt that growth has exceeded our wildest hopes with over 400 carp of over 30lb being banked. Included in that were 48 x 40’s plus a huge amount of big 30’s that can reasonably be expected to break the 40lb barrier next spring. To take the place of the 30’s that will be moving into the 40lb category we have seen 453 carp of between 25 and 30lb banked with a high percentage being at the top end of the weight group. So I believe that we have met most of our targets for this year with the one great exception of not seeing our first 50lb carp banked !! I have no doubt that we now have several carp that are already above that mark but unfortunately we never saw the back end of the year producing the big catches necessary to ensure the big girls were caught. Some of the upper 40’s landed in the spring months seem to have evaded capture for the remainder of the year so we have no idea of their current weight. The weather has played a big part in the way events unfolded during the season with the start being hit by sudden temperature drops and the end of the season likewise being hit by a high pressure weather system sitting over much of France and refusing to move despite my most energetic cursing !! We have also seen many months of hot dry weather with very little rain that has seen many lakes in France experiencing close to unfishable water levels. We actually have had phone calls from anglers struggling to find a replacement venue after their booked fishery had to cancel their bookings due to low water levels. Fortunately our situation in a chalk valley has seen our water level and water quality hold up well although the last month did see our levels down by around a foot. During the height of the heat wave we were concerned that oxygen levels may become reduced so to ensure that if a similar heat wave takes place in 2010 we will be fully prepared we intend purchasing oxygenators to ensure conditions are kept tip top for fishing. One thing that our anglers continually comment on is the superb condition of our carp. As most of you know we take great pride in the way our carp continue to grow and keep great condition and believe that our policy of keeping angler numbers down to no more than 6 in most weeks has been a major contributing factor in this. Obviously with bookings increasing to maximum level the carp will get a little more cautious in coming years but equally the rewards for good fishing will be so much greater with average weights increasing month by month. We have also learnt new lessons this season and as a consequence have been forced to make a few rule changes to protect our fish. As you will be aware we have banned leaders of any sort for carp welfare and in 2010 will be banning any and all plastic baits. The reason is that when a rig is lost a natural bait will soon break down however a plastic bait will continue to fish until a carp takes it and becomes hooked. I have followed several other lakes in this action as one in particular lost several fish last year due to this problem.

Our projects for this winter will include cutting back the tree’s at the top end of the lake to ensure that all underwater timber is removed. We also hope to be able to build up a causeway between the bank and the small island between ‘Deliverance’ and ‘Island’ swims to help handling big fish that kite around the island when hooked. We will also be netting off the no fishing zone between the 2 spits next to ‘Deliverance’ as we have had many weeks when a great many carp just hold up in here and avoid capture. We have a lake where there are always area’s not being fished so the carp will have many other options should they decide they need a break. Obviously the mobile angler will have a few more options with the whole stock of fish being available at any one time. A new outdoor eating area will be worked on during the winter and we will also hope to be able to build the cabin adjacent to it. This will be used as an office with a little shop with 24hr tea and coffee avialable along with chilled beers and snacks. We feel that the lake is reaching the level we would like it with a careful balance between natural surroundings and comfortable fishing area’s. The swims are to be re-vamped this winter to cut back the tree’s that hinder casting and to offer larger bivvy area’s to accommodate the huge homes some of you bring with you !!! lol. Overall I think that those of you returning in 2010 will find Le Moulin du Mèe is getting better and better with bigger fish and more comfortable swims and surroundings.

Total catch for 2009 is as follows.

48 x 40lb + carp

353 x 30lb+ carp

979 x 20LB+ carp ( including 453 over 25lb)

305 x doubles

8 x singles (I think that a good few more were caught but not recorded).

A grand total or 1693 carp.

We also had a dozen cats up to 55lb landed.

In late November we will be netting Poplars lake to remove all small carp and tench leaving a stock of good doubles and 20’s. Our intention is to feed heavily for the nest couple of years to bring all the existing stock to over 20lb and supplement them with some 30’s and 40’s to offer another lake offering exclusive booking for 2 or 3 anglers. We would like to install a cabin before opening to ensure it is both a comfortable and productive little fishery. This winter will see a lot of planting carried out with beds of lillies and reed beds being established to enhance the natural environment and encourage insect life and wildlife. A little gem for 2011 I think.

Finally the Le Moulin du Mèe team would like to thank all our visitors during 2009, many of you now old friends, and hope that the laughter, good humour and enjoyment continues throughout 2010. Obviously we are first and foremost a commercial carp fishery but like to feel that the relationship we have with our anglers is more one of friends than clients !! This has been a wonderful year for us and we anticipate 2010 being even better. Thank you for your continued support and look forward to even better things next year.

The last week saw a continuation of the strange weather with our final three anglers struggling to come to terms with conditions that really were against them. With warm days and cold nights each dawn was greeted with thick mist that took until mid morning to burn off. A great disapointment for us as with 3 regulars expected to bank some large fish and even a lake record was hoped for. Alas, our final weeks tally was one of our lowest ever with Cumbrian Dave just having 3 carp topped by a 34lb mirror and Danny doing little better with 5 carp including a couple of scraper 30’s. Roy managed just 4 carp but they included a couple of pb’s with all his fish being over 35lb topped by a brace at 38.5lb’s followed by a 38 and a 35. The most frustrating thing is that last night the weather finally changed with warmer temperatures and rain. Dave actually banked 2 of his fish in the final hours and would have stayed on if it had been possible. Lots of fish are seen moving and I have no doubt that the lads would have had a grand time if the weather had broken a week earlier……thats life !!!

A few pictures from Roy and Danny.

The three Bolton lads on a return visit after bagging a few nice fish in April have had a slowish start with a sprinkling of real quality to bring a smile to their faces. Simon has had several carp including a 31 and a 33 along with several 20’s up to 29.5lb’s. Tom arrived with a pb of 22lb and after breaking his pb with  a 29.5lb mirror he banked a cracking 36lb mirror to raise the bar once again. Poor Shaun arrived at breakfast with a rather depressed look about him after helping his mates land some good fish but not having anything on the bank himself. He was talking about a move to another swim but I insisted he stay put and told him he would have a 40 today !! Whilst out with Jimmy during the morning I again mentioned that I felt Shaun would have a 40 by the time we got back home. Well………………we were welcomed by a very big smile from the lads who proceeded to relate how Shaun had had a hard fighting sturgeon of 25lb followed by a stunning mirror of 46lb 8oz !!!!! A great result and a great prophesy !!!! Who’s a clever boy then ??

Our Dutch guests, Reinier, Ernest and Grobert, returning after a visit in May have had several carp but mainly 20’s so far so they are hoping another one of our big girls will grace their nets before they leave. Lets hope so.

Shaun and his 46lb 8oz mirror.

A few of Simons fish.

I will try and post Toms pictures tomorrow.

We experienced an interesting and potentially disastrous little interlude this evening whilst Jimmy was baiting up. The lads on the Chateau bank mentioned that one of the marker poles had been moving around all afternoon so Jimmy boated out to it to investigate. He found that a line was tangled around the base with a fish tethered on the other end, about 15m away. After a period of Jimmy playing the carp by letting line through his hands  the carp in the boat a good fish was netted and brought to the bank for unhooking. It turned out to be a fat mirror of 45lb !!! I have put a picture of the fish together with a picture of the rig complete with half a yellow pop up still intact. The great shame was that the hook still had an intact barb !!! If this carp had become tethered to a tree root or suchlike the result would probably been fatal. As it was the hook took a great deal of effort to remove. Our strict rule of crushed barbs only is for a reason and I think its a great disapointment that knowing this one of our anglers still fished with an intact barb………..with potentially disastrous result.

A great shame for the angler that lost such a fabulous fish and great shame to the same angler for flouting the rules.

With temperatures dropping to freezing during the night and dawn breaking with a bitter north easterly wind you would expect the fishing to be pretty hard to say the least. Well, it certainly has not been ‘easy’ but we still have seen some cracking fish banked. Mark has had 2 x 40’s with his latest being a chunky 44lb leather. Its not a fish that I recognise so it would be interesting if any of you regulars remember catching it at a lower weight in the past. Mark has also bagged 4 x 30’s and 6 x 20’s as well as his 2 x 40’s so despite a few days of sickness he is a very happy chappy indeed. Andy is also doing well with 21 carp falling to his rods including a new pb at 40.8lb’s and 5 good 30’s as well as a host of upper 20’s. Good fishing in hard conditions. Fergy, Sam and Alan have all had a few fish but have yet to land anything over 30lb 12oz (Fergy) with good 20’s making up the bulk of the catch. With another heavy frost this morning and bright sunshine accompanied by the cold wind today is not expected to produce lots of fish  however there are plenty of signs that the fish are active and likely to feed so all is not lost. The coming week is set to get cloudier and a good bit warmer so perhaps we will see fishing back to normal for this time of year.

Mark and his chunky 44lb leather.

Another of Marks catch.

Colin Berry, a regular at Le Moulin du Mèe since our first year, has had a great week with some stunning fish falling to his rods. Bearing in mind that Colin only ever fishes ‘part time’ it would have been interesting to see what a concerted effort would have achieved………..fingers out next time Colin !!!!

The fishing was far from easy but the quality of catches was superb with Colin banking a mirror of 42lb 10oz and a common of 43lb as well as 7 good 30’s up to 37.5lb’s and 6 x 20’s. Ronnie and Alfred from Holland managed 10 carp with both boys having 30’s and newbies to French carping, Paul and Lewis also managed  new pb’s of 30+ in their catch. All in all fishing was once again a lot harder than we would have expected with plenty of fish showing over baited area’s but takes were slow in forthcoming. The carp are certainly active and feeding and  those banked are in superb condition however they really are a bit fickle when it comes to taking a bait. I am afraid that our very odd weather this year must be a major factor as a great many fisheries are reporting similar ups and downs where no real pattern emerges with each week seeing some cracking catches accompanied by others that are well below the norm for the time of year.

I cannot post pictures at the moment as I have changed computors and all my pictures from last week are still on the old laptop. I will sort some out in the next day or two.

The new week is once again unpredictable but as in previous weeks some cracking fish have already been banked. Mark has had 7 carp topped by a brace of 30’s and a new pb at 41lb 12ozs and Andy (Redmire Legend) has already had 15 carp topped by 3 good 30’s up to 36lb 8oz and a new pb at 40lb 8oz and he only started fishing on Sunday evening. With the weather turning a lot cooler I feel sure the fish will soon start their winter feed up and perhaps then we will see some of the big girls showing up in catches.

Mark and his new pb at 41lb 12oz.

Colin Berry is with us once again and in his first 24hrs or so he has banked mirrors of 16.4, 22.12, 30.4, 31.8, 32, 37.5 and 42.10. The two Dutch lads have also managed 3 x 20’s up to 27.5lb but Paul and Louis are still to get off the mark. Paul has actually bumped 3 carp so is due to bank one soon. The weather has turned to a gentle autumn mix of sunshine, mist and soft southerly winds so conditions are good for a fish or two. Lots of carp are to be seen crashing out and this afternoon Paul had them crashing over his baited mark. Lots of line lifts and slow drop backs are being experienced by Paul and Louis but real belting runs are just not happening for them yet………..perhaps tonight !!

Well we have just waved goodbye to the Motley crew that have kept us entertained all week and despite all their best efforts not to catch they actually banked a total of 61 fish. Most notable catch was that achieved by Kyle the Unwashed who fished extremely well all week for his 21 carp and 3 sturgeon. Good fishing that man !!! The best fish of the week was landed by Dan at 41lb, another new 40 it seems. Overall the lads were happy to just chill out and enjoy being here with many hours spent on Poplars tangling with the feisty double and singles and often the rods were not even put in the water until evening so whilst keen anglers the crew were not exactly grafting at the job……..thats just how I like to fish these days!! The exception was Kyle who took it easy for a couple of days before he set about the job in earnest and certainly deserved his ‘top rod’ badge. Generally it was a strange week with the daylight hours providing little action for those who bothered to fish and the hours of darkness provided most action with fish often to be heard crashing all over the lake. Temperatures are starting to cool now and last night was the coldest so far this autumn so the carp should start to respond with some heavy pre winter feeding. I suspect they have been gorging on the myriads of fry that we have this year that will go someway to explain how they have grown so well whilst at the same time proving particularly elusive. Its sometime now since the bigger 45lb+ fish have graced the net so hopefully the next week will see the lake record move upwards a pound or 5 !!

Final count is as follows:

1 x 40 at 41lb

4 between 35 and 40lb

7 between 30 and 35lb

17 between 25 and 30lb

17 between 20 and 25lb

13 doubles

2 singles

This week we have our old friend Colin plus a couple of London lads on their first French excursion plus a couple of Dutch lads. Fingers crossed for a goodun.

Another nice fish for Aaron.

A couple of hard earned mirrors for Dave.

And a couple for Jason.

And a few from Kyal.

And 2 at once for Kyal.