Mac
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MACS DAMVILLERSFriday the 9th of June must go down as one of the longest in history. At work the clock seems to be going backwards and once finished the tackle is checked, rechecked and then checked again The golden time was 12.30am and finally it arrived, with the van loaded to the hilt (Gayle wasn't lying ) and the 3 amigos are off. Mac, Chad and Howard, the trip down to Dover is a good one and we arrive at around 5.15am for the 7am crossing on Speed Ferries. Loaded up and we have a chat with a few other carpers on board, all of us full of anticipation of the French whoppers out there Onto French soil at 9.15am and we're off. The motorways over there really are great for driving on and it seems we're making great headway.  The drive we are told is around 3 1/2 hours but after 3 hours we are still a long way from our destination After 2 x 15 minute stops we eventually arrive at our destination around 2.00pm, nearly a 5 hour trip We are greeted by bailiffs Adam and John, find there has been a draw and the 5 other guys are already set up/setting up so we have a choice of the rest of the lake. As the others were virtually on one 1/2 of the lake we opt for the other end thus spreading anglers around the lake. The 3 of us have a draw to decide between ourselves and I get 1st choice I pick my swim then Howard and then Chad.
Home sweet home
My tactics, I had baits from Carphunterbaits(Sweet corn boilies) and from Baitworks(Monster Red and Atlantic heat) I decided it was a competition. So I baited 1 rod with 2 x sweet corn boilies, 1 rod with 2 x Monster Red and 1 rod with 2 of my own boilies which we have now called EXPLOSION 66 So who's bait is going to produce the 1st run? About 10pm I'd been up around 40hrs so was time for some kip To be honest I wasn't that bothered whether I had a run or not but obvioulsy wouldn't have complained if Mr or Mrs Carp wanted to come and play. As it happens they didn't and I awoke without a single bleep but found out 9 carp had been out during the night, inc 2 40lbers which filled me with confidence. The day was going to be a hot one and so it was time to have a cast around with marker float etc, the lake is VERY VERY silty with gravel around the margins. We are told by Adam the bailiff to fish around 30 yards out or fish the margins and feed on a little and often basis. Well, he knows best so this is what we do. Nothing during the day but for the night I cast a bait to a margin point across a bay to my right, another further up the margin and 1 straight out into open water about 30 yards out. All with a pva bag and about 50 free offerings. 4am and I'm rudely awakened by my buzzer screaming at me, I'm onto it in a flash and feel there's an angry carp on the other whos taking line off me. I then realise it's on the "66" so I really want to get it in. A great fight and this common is on the mat
Weighing in at 22lb 11oz it's my 1st ever 20lb common so was well happy 1.0 to Mac 
The Monday again was a real hot one so we decide to go in search of supplies, and as luck would have it we found a pub too The night time is soon here and the traps are set once again, will the "66" do the business again or will it be the professionals turn? Again its around 4am and my buzzer is screaming and the bait runner is giving out line like there's no tomorrow I cracking fight results in this mirror on the mat
Coming in at 25lb 11oz and the bait responsible? Baitworks Atlantic Heat 
Tuesday, again it's a stonker of a hot day so the rods are reeled in and we go for more liquid refreshment (I've seen a Ray mears prgramme and he says its vital that liquids are taken in on a regular basis ) Once again the traps are set but I only won 1 kg of Marks bait ( 1 1/2 actually but I'd used some over here) so the rods are baited with the 66, sweet corn boilies and one on tiger nuts. About 1am and I'm in again and to be honest it didn't feel that big and came in quite easily, once in the landing net I looked down and saw it was my biggest so far Weighing in at 30lb 4oz, caught on the tigers
So, it's now Wednesday and I've had 3 carp, to be honest I was expecting a bit more action so for the night a change in tactics is required. 1 rod on the sweet corn boilies, 1 on the tigers and I subbed my boiles and put a 22mm Halibut pellet tipped with fake corn on. 8pm and the sweet corn boilie is off, I hit it and this immediatley feels a better fish After about 10 minutes it's gone solid and found a snag We'd been told by the bailiffs if we got snagged to fetch them and not pull for a break, so they arrive and Adam goes in and follows my line down to the snag, he says it felt like a large sheet of corrugated iron, the fish has slipped the hook and I'm totally dejected During the night I have 3 runs on the halibut rod, landing 1 at 16lb but losing the other 2, no idea why.
To cut a long story short, no more carp for me but I did manage this
Caught fairly and squarely in the mouth and it took a halibut pellet.
My final tally
4 carp
5 bream (all around a pound in weight, and were more than capable of taking a double boilie hook bait)
1 pike
On the social side things were good We ate well 
The actual place is great, brilliant facilities, with enough freezers and fridges for everyone, free showers and a couple of toilet blocks.
The web site in my opinon is a little liberal with the truth,
"a 3 1/2 hour drive", I clocked it on the way home and it was 276 miles, thats driving at a constant 78.8 mph so it should maybe read a 4 1/2hr drive
"a 15 acre lake", I'm no expert but I would've said it was 9 acres at the most.
"the lake bed is a mixture of hard clay, gravel and silt", all 8 anglers commented on the amount of silt they had in front of them, gravel around the margins but loads of silt.
"Twenty one swims have been placed strategically around the perimeter and with a maximum of 8 Anglers, every guest is guaranteed his share of water with a minimum of 14 swims to choose from" I've no idea where the 21 swims were, I'd 18 (at a push) but if someone was in a neighbouring swim you couldn't go in the next swimas you'd both be fishing the same water.
"Stock Average: 32lbs", I think 35 fish came out all week to 8 anglers (2 anglers blanked) of the 35 fish I think 5 of them were over 32lb and there was at least 3 single figure carp come out the smallest at 7lb.
There was also a fair few rats, I wouldn't go as far as saying it's infested but you had to make sure your food, bait etc was well out the the way. I took a barbel rod for any floater fishing and they even managed to have some of the cork off the handle Maybe my fault for leaving it leaning against my oval
"Would I go again?" was the question Chad asked me on the Friday night. The answer was a yes and no, it's a beautiful lake with great facilities. The bailiffs Adam and John were very helpful The fish were'nt playing ball but can't blame anyone for that, thats fishing for you but I have to doubt the amount of fish in the lake. All week I think I saw about 10 fish swirls etc etc. The lake is about 5ft deep so would've expected to see a lot more evidence of fish, even on the hot days I only saw 1 carp cruising around. So, maybe I would go again but for the money we paid I would probably go to another venue.
I know the last bit makes it sound like sour grapes but I can assure you its not, I caught 4 carp which is slightly disappointing but as already said thats fishing. On the whole, I enjoyed the week. Away from lifes rigours and just totally chilled out, great company and can honestly say I'd rather be out there fishing rather than here and back to work tomorrow 
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maple
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nice honest write up mac , by the sounds of it , you did well to catch m8
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chris b
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great write up mac a very enjoyable read and honest,glad you caught 
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matgreasley
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well done sir! looks like you had a good time!
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alan
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sounds like you had a great time. nice write up
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NOSEY WIFE
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agree with everyone cracking write up and cracking pics nice one mac
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bigkipper
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nice write up mac and some cracking fish there to
good to have you back fella 
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robvford
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cheers for the honest write up mac, and the four carp you caught were stunners
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JAFFA
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Spot on write up buddy.
kind regards Jeff
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Stu
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nice truthfull write up mac, see you down the river soon
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Steve Howard
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Nice one mac... shame you didn't have a slightly better time of things, but as you say, that's fishin' eh 
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Markerfloat
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Mac as you know, i fished the same lake...and wont be going back
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Mac
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Folks, just to let you all know, I sent an email to the owner outlining our trip and also about the problems we had. To his credit he has replied and offered us a free weeks fishing either at the end of this season or the beginning of next
Now I'm not sure whether we can take him up on his offer but you can't fault that can you
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