News : Great Lake, Traque, Saules, Robin, Woods...and Pascale, of course

Well, given the fact that on the 16th Jan only Sandrine and myself are members of the blog as it is not yet publicised, I'll crack on and give some winter fisheries management news for every lake, here goes:

Goncourt Great Lake
If it aint broke, don't fix it, in other words we are not adding any fish to the lake as it is doing just so well in terms of natural development. Those having fished it in the early 2000 years would not recognise the lake now. Trees 10m+ high, 2 outgoing peninsulas, cosy discreet swims...
I am pleased that it did a 60+ carp in 2008 and even more enthiusastic in the fact that I KNOW that a sixty plus fully scaled beauty is waiting to be caught. I'll be having a crack at it myself if work and kids allow for a few days there, but the mission is extremely high on my angling agenda for 2009. Those having fished the lake over the last few years will know where the big scaly monsters "sun" themselves during some afternoons... Come on lads, awesome fish caught in 2008 but even better to look forward to in 09. Forget stereotyped angling, behave and fish as a hunter with your eyes and gear.

Goncourt La Traque
The addition of a chalet and own toilet/shower facilities has enhanced the fishery in terms of comfort. The stock is now well known and still growing steadily with the numbers of fifty plusses increasing every year. The lake has a human scale to it for it's angling approach and a social aspect also given it's central peninsula. The fishing can be very prolific on this lake given the numbers present but that does not mean that they will jump into the landing net. Use too much bait in the wrong place and the fish will move away from you much to the satisfaction of your neighbour. My advice is to plumb, fish for one fish at a time then if hundreds of fish are crashing in front of you, adjust the feed going in to the number of takes. Please do not overstrike fish in there on take, I have noticed a couple of horrific rips on some fish due to bad angling and the use of fine gauge wire hooks. No midwater snags are present, so a bend in the rod is good and required to stop kiting but please no sudden sharp jolts back on strike, if the fish has taken 5m of line on take, it's already hooked...
Enjoy the lake, hospitality and fishing, a truly awesome venue by any standard.

Goncourt Les Saules
No changes are planned for this winter, we are all pleased that the 45lb+ commons are now making regular appearances on the bank. Some groups in 2008 had some indecent captures of thirties and forties with the odd fifty, fair play to them. This is a lake where if you wish to get a "result" to get the best out you will need to remove fingers from back pocket and get an accurate picture of features in front of you. Please remember that as much as the far bank is productive, many mid-distance features are more than worth the effort in finding. If you intend to mark these for casting I would advise you placing a marker at the back end of them rather than on them as this does clue the fish up on your intentions to catch them. This lake is one where walking around on a calm sunny day will give you a serious idea on the stock and their behaviour. Les Saules is by no means difficult or daunting, far from it, loads of fish to go for with features to target for all four rods. And yes, if there was an ultimate social lake this is it a perfect horseshoe lake to share fishing with mates whilst never being far away from the rods.

Goncourt Robin Lake
After 7 years of fisheries science studies and 15 years of fisheries management I thought that good surprises would become rarer, wrong... Yep, us here in office were advertising this lake as a low twenty pound+ lake with the odd upper thirty one year and the next year it produces an absolute avalanche of thirties, forties and three fifties ! Nobody is complaining, far from it, get on there quick because if they carry on growing at the same speed god knows what 2009 & 2010 will yield. No major plans for the lake this year, we will be discussing with Pascale the possibility of opening and embanking some of the swims so as to make them more comfy. The mobile home remains on site for exclusive creature comforts and the chance to share privileged moments with angling friends or family.

Goncourt Woods Lake
We will be netting the lake this winter so as to remove some of the young carp present, they have not been too much of an issue in 2008 but would be in 2009. The task of netting this lake is a major one, an island and some serious gravel bars will ensure that this will be a proper nightmare as it was when it was done 6 years ago. If any of you guys fancy wrestling 100lb+ catfish over the net, please join us to get wet, slimy and cold. Apart from being hard work the netting will be a good social and an experience in itself. Woods was from some years "in the shadow" of the other Goncourt lakes, well, the wheel turns and it has become a very natural big fish producing venue. It is the only lake on the complex that has many common carp that fight like demons ! I'm sure the massive cats have instructed them on how to perform fast swimming. Expect your side rods to be ripped off the rod pods because on take both carp and cats go for it big style. A very entertaining lake to say the least.

Goncourt Pascale
I've saved the best till last. If anybody can say a bad word about her then they can expect the wrath of all those Goncourt fans that have ever met her. The whole complex would not be as authentic, as genuine and as friendly if it was not down to her love of meeting guests and making them genuinly feel at home. I don't even want to think of the number of pies she has baked over the years, anybody else would have gone "sod it" let's do industrial pies... Not Pascale, a symbol of a true welcome is far more important that any financial or gain of personal time. She may have a french accent that most will find inviting and blue eyes that go with her kindness but if you break the rules or lack respect to the fish, family or the complex then you can expect her to kick you off promptly with my 100% approval. She enjoy's the job tremendously so it's up to you guests to preserve that ongoing enthiusasm that is so rare.

I'll be commenting on our other lakes on next post.

A bientôt,

Simon