How big are the carp in the Moulin du Bley, and how many are there?

The carp range from 20lb to the mid 50's, but 1 fish in 60 may be a high double. Although the lake has not been drained down since 2004, from our catch records we estimate that more than 130 of the almost 300 carp are between 30lb and 44lb, with a good number of them being high 30's and low 40's. A further 100 of the fish will certainly be over the 25lb mark.

The biggest carp that we weighed in 2006 was a 54lb mirror and 4 different 50's have also been caught. The biggest common banked so far has been 46lb, and that’s one of at least 6 different 40lb plus commons. We estimate that there are approximately another 40 carp of more than the mid to the upper 40's to 50lb. This leaves the rest of the carp at the low to mid 20's end of the range.

What about the cats in the main lake?

We have introduced 30 cats of mixed weights from, 20lb to 65lb. We know that they have grown on a bit since then and expect this year at least two or three cats to be out at well over the 70lb to 80lb mark. They do come out on boilies but live baiting is certainly worth a go at night.

Have a look at our new cat lake on the web site with 100lb plus cats exclusive for 2 anglers only per week.

How many carp am I likely to catch?

Yeah right, and how long's a piece of string?

The top rod for 2006 was Graham Hares with 62 carp in 6 days to 50lb, but that’s exceptional. Plenty of anglers land 30 to 40 fish a week, but the average is about 20 fish per angler and the odd angler has struggled for 10 fish and less.

Looking at 2006 and taking that in an average week 6 to 8 anglers saw between 100 and 160 carp on the bank for a weeks fishing, you certainly have the chance of quite a few.

You still have to catch them though, and we guarantee nothing other than we will help you if you are struggling, so please ask us. We really do know the lake very well and really want you to catch.

How much bait will I need and what sort is best to bring?

If you have one particular boilie that you only use and nothing else come hell or high water then by all means bring it. You don’t need to bring any bait with you at all, as we keep all of the going baits at the lake at well below the shop prices, and we will put you on what’s catching at the time.

Loads of our own specially rolled bait is going in the lake every week and the carp are on it big time, so we would certainly recommend you at least try it. I promise you won’t be disappointed, as in 2006 it out fished all other baits hands down and has accounted for all of the big hits on the lake, plus most of the biggest carp.

On an average week you will make a mess of 10 Kg of boilies and 20Kg of pellets / method, and if they are really having it big time you could double that, and for big hits, treble that.

Ask us to post you our bait price list and you will see how inexpensive our top quality baits are compared to the UK prices.

What sort of rigs work, and are the carp hard to catch?

What ever I write for this answer some one is bound to disagree, but that’s carp anglers for you. This is how most of the carp were caught last year.

Keep it simple, It’s a muddy lake with a clay bottom, Rigs not too short 10” to 16”depending on your baiting strategy, leave a gap between hook and bait on the hair 7mm to 10mm seems to work best, try to keep the bait out of any deep mud patches it may land in by using a P V A bag / stocking or paste each cast.

Balanced baits that settle very slowly are really worth a try, (snowman etc.) and PVA your hooks with them.

Don’t bait up too closely with the freebies, but don’t spray it all over the lake either.

Keep a steady stream of bait going in all of the time if your getting runs, set a trap to catch them one at a time, then repeat after each fish. Don’t try to catch hundreds of fish by putting in bucket loads of bait in when you first arrive. Little and often but don’t skimp, and bait up after every run, that’s the secret to the big catches, it’s very simple and very affective.

What some people see as a lot of bait, may in fact not be a lot for the big French carp especially when they have got their heads down. If your not sure, ask.

The carp absolutely love our special French carp farmers pellets and they have proven to have out fished all particles hands down in all cases every time in the past, as have our catapult Method balls. Over 2 tonnes of our pellets went in during 2006.
Try to stay as quiet as you can especially with your feet and do not shout across the lake to other anglers. Avoid walking passed other anglers baits when cast into the margins if you can.

If you can, try using a catapult to bait up with, this really does make a big difference, as it’s very quiet and deadly accurate.
And lastly, if you are struggling ask some one to help you, as we are at the lakes all of the time and know how the fish live there, so if we can’t help you, no one can.

We can show you the rigs that work and how best to fish the lake, so please ask.

NOTE :  ALL particles have now been banned on the Bley due to idiots. They have also not been very successful either so it’s no loss.

How long is the journey?

It’s a five and a half hour drive from Calais, but you may need to stop for fuel, coffee / meals if needed and toilets, so you can expect up to 7 hours in all.

Almost Lastly,

After reading the above answers to frequently asked questions we invite you to add any points, or indeed ask any questions that we have not covered.

We would very much like to here from you so as to enable us to improve our service to our future clients and also your good selves. email tony@carpruns.co.uk
  
And Lastly...

After you have spent your week at our lake we would certainly value any thoughts or suggestions that you may have so as to improve the quality of our fishing holidays in France.

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