Trips 2024

France

So this year we hit France for the Second time with a lake exclusive - Val Dor Lakes - 1 Week.
After knowing we get power to swims we make the most of it, cookers, heaters (as it was freezing most nights). we drained as much power as possible until the fuse blew for one night and we all learnt our lesson on taking the piss.

I had a plan. Stiff Hinge rigs with cream seed boilies and a small pop-up keeping it buoyant. then 10 spods of natural partical over the top of each rod. I brought a solid bag option aswell but never used it. I used a huge amount of tigernuts that i prepared perfectly.

I caught my new PB! after the first trip i caught a 30lb Carp to get me in the 30s club and my second catch on the first day got me a 47lb mirror! the funny thing was I thought it was a 30 until it landed in the cradle and the difficulty i had trying to pick it up (you will see this in my bad handling picture on the left).
With the new PB, I have to split my personal best to an English 24lb and a French 47lb. This is mainly due to the chances of me catching a 47lb Carp in the UK is slim.

I did not use the bait boat this year and i enjoyed casting spombs or bait everywhere. I improved on accuracy later in the week as my technique slightly improved but I find if I limit myself wrapped up and clipped i never seem to reach the distance and my accuracy drops. Remove the rules and I am so much better getting things to the correct spot.

This year the weather was wet, really wet. the Westlake 2-man does exactly what was needed. its the perfect bivvy for the trip and stayed warm even though it did have a 1.5kw heater running inside most nights.

Val Dor Lake 5 - its a good lake, but the same issue as last year. The ground was really tough to peg down and the water would just sit on top with no natural hill to flow back to the lake. after visiting more venues I feel it would only take a small amount of effort to make them swims brilliant but its being held back. The cabins have increased to all lakes and now you have to purchase the cabin with the lake if you like or not (luckily we had pre-cabin prices so didnt use it).