When Mike visited us in April 2024 (https://carpfrance.com/27-04-2024-lac-lucie-the-final-hurrah/) he said that it was his final European fishing trip and he had a great week with 10 carp up to 50lb 8oz that week. Nigel had been on hand to take some great photos for him as his friend had had to cancel his trip. So when Ian suggested to Mike that they came this year Mike decided he would have a final final hurrah. With Lucie already booked that week they chose to go on Kingfisher and see how that went, a bit more challenging, especially for only two anglers but they certainly tried their best to beat it.
Arriving a bit later than planned on Saturday evening after their plane had been diverted to Toulouse due to the weather, refueled and then got into Limoges they decided that they would set up the next morning and got an early night. Overnight there was heavy rain and who knows how the fish would react to the sudden downfall and more oxygen in the water.
They both started on swim 2, sitting outside the hut all day on Sunday and as Jo was walking round with their breakfast baguettes Ian had just landed a baby 2lb carp but put it straight back in the lake. Mike had a 28lb common whilst we were stood there chatting with them but chose not to have his photo taken with it.
On Monday they decided they would tackle the shallower end of the lake and Mike moved to swim 3 and Ian to swim 4. They were only fishing during the daylight hours from early morning to late evening, choosing to enjoy the comfort and warmth of the chalet and on Monday Ian had had a common weighing 34lb 8oz and had lost one and Mike had a 34lb 8oz mirror. Mike also managed to lose a spod in the trees and ended up out in the boat to try and get it.
On Tuesday they decided they would try the deeper end of the lake and put a bivvy up (just in case it rained) on swim 6. But the fish did not seem to want the bait. There was plenty of activity, with fish splashing on the far bank margins and lots of fizzing in the silt but for whatever reason they were not wanting to be caught.
With no activity on the dam wall on Wednesday they moved back to swims 3 and 4 where Mike caught a small 7lb fish and lost a big one (it is always the big ones that come off, isn’t it?) and the two of them were getting more and more frustrated. The pair had tried one of our new bait boats but couldn’t get on with it so went back to old fashioned casting. They were using all of our bait, the two different varieties of boilies, with spodding pellets, parti-blend, maize and chilli hemp and had some wafters on their rigs.
Thursday arrived and they moved back to the dam wall again. The frustration was mounting so much that Ian came to get some catfish hooks as although they didn’t really want to catch a catfish they were reaching the point where they just wanted to catch something. And typically Mike caught a carp, another 34lb 8oz mirror.
Friday always comes round a bit quick and the pair had a final attempt in the deeper end of the lake but this time fishing off the house swim 1 but it was again a very slow day, albeit a warm one. Ian had the final fish of the session, a 34lb common
So over the week, Mike had two mirrors both weighing 34lb 8oz and a 28lb and lost 2 and Ian finished the week with two commons 34lb 8oz, 34lb, 2 babies and a 24lb
Final summary of the week is 2 babies, 0 at 10lb+, 2 at 20lb+ and 3 at 30lb+. As we said, Kingfisher lake can be more challenging for two anglers on their own and who knows why they decided not to take the bait this week. For us it has been lovely to see Mike again and to meet Ian and until next time bonne journée et à bientôt….