Barry, his son, Bjorn and his friend Paul arrived from North Yorkshire on the Leeds flight on the Friday, hired a car and made their way to our friend’s B&B in Montamboeuf for a night, enjoying a meal at our favourite bar, Mamie’s there before coming to the lake on Saturday lunchtime, armed with drinks and snacks and plenty of banter.
Barry and Bjorn go carp fishing a lot in the UK but Paul had not been for several years and had pretty much come along for the jolly and a few laughs. With some great weather forecast and a record catch week the week before they were hoping for great things and Lac Lucie did not disappoint them.
Barry set up on the main bank next to Paul who they knew would need a lot of support and coaching and Bjorn went up to the side swim (for some peace and quiet he hoped). They were quickly set up and had baited out using our maple syrup boilies, pellets and parti-blend and were ready to get their rods out after tea. By the time they came up for breakfast at 9 o’ clock the next morning Bjorn had already caught three carp with two coming out in the first two hours.
They all slept out on the Saturday night but Paul was not sure he could handle it all week so decided that if he started catching during the day he would sleep in the chalet overnight. Luckily for him he got off the mark on the Sunday with a 28lb 8oz mirror and Barry also caught one a similar weight at 28lb 6oz
There was some money on the most fish caught and Barry was determined to try and keep up with Bjorn so stayed out for the whole week, whilst Paul stopped fishing late in the evening and chose to have a good nights sleep in the chalet and rejoin them in the mornings after breakfast.
The fish kept on coming, thick and fast at the start of the week with both Bjorn and Barry being pretty much neck and neck most days.
The weather was very hot at the beginning of the week and they all made the most of it, with Bjorn enjoying the heat in the afternoons and Barry and Paul finding it hard to understand how it could be so cool on the main bank and then when they walked up to the chalet it was so hot. Bjorn was the only one of the trio who made the most of cooling off in the dip pool first before relaxing in the hot tub and considering what the next tactics should be.
Temperatures peaked on Tuesday and Wednesday at 30+ degrees and both Paul and Bjorn caught their PBs. A 45lb common for Bjorn and a 37lb 4oz mirror for Paul. Both were very happy with this result and some nice looking fish.
Wednesday was a very sticky night for all of them, whether in the chalet or in the bivvy but then the pressure seemed to drop and the fish were showing on the lake all night. And then on Thursday it rained on and off for most of the day and they did not have very much luck.
By Friday Bjorn was several fish ahead and Barry realised he would have to give in to defeat but they were all really happy with what they had had out, a total of 27 between them and new PBs for both Paul and Bjorn.
The summary of the week is zero babies, 2 at 10lb+, 9 at 20lb+, 13 at 30lb+ and 3 at 40lb+. With a total weight of 811lb (the fish, not the three of them) they had had a great week and we have thoroughly enjoyed their company although it is a lot quieter now they have taken Paul home again! We hope to see you all again someday but until then à bientôt…