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River fishing in France
- Thread starter Steve Arnold
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Steve Arnold
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Just a few videos on YouTube, mostly of the Lot in spate! Maybe one day I will try making a proper fishing video.....maybe not as I concentrate too much on the fishing!Great report and some nice photos Steve.
Didn't realise you had a Youtube channel, will catch up with some more when I have time.
JLD
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Great report and photos. Some very nice fish there. Very sophisticated with the bottle of red wine etc too. Best I ever manage is a cheese sandwich.
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Nice catches well done
Steve Arnold
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Yesterday I talked Alistair into following up on a recent days exploration I had taken further down the river. I had spotted one swim where his 4x4 could back down a short track and we could fish out of the back of the car into deep water with a nice flow.
When we arrived there was already a car parked down the track and a family was having a picnic. Well. it is "le Week-End" as they actually do say here and we are now close to the large town of Cahors. I guess I half expected this!
So we walked down the stretch, the banks are rather steep. After spraining my ankle two years ago and then developing a thrombosis I am in no mood to take risks. Alistair is a year older than me at 72 and I would not expect him to tackle the loose stone bank either! But I was viewing the opposite bank of this wide stretch, I spotted a swim that looked perfect with access steps to a landing stage. I noted there was shade and that was useful for us on this bright day, that is often where the fish chose to lie when the sun is fierce.
It meant a drive into Cahors and across the river there, but it only took a 20 minute drive so soon we were at the perfect spot.
There was a good flow and a back eddy towards the lock entrance. Alistair took the landing stage and fished the back eddy and I was happy to fish the main river. For four hours I baited the swim hoping to draw some fish in, apart from little, sharp tugs there was nothing to show. Alistair had not bothered bringing groundbait and was catching zilch, not even these little bites!
After trying all of the several boilies I had with me, large, small, different flavours and colours I had concluded the little bites were just little fish. So I decided to have my lunch and a beer. The bread roll was a little too stuffed and had some smoked salmon in with salad stuff, hmmmm!
I would sacrifice almost anything for a fish just now, so the sacrifice was made!
I chuckled, laughing at myself over such low tactics, as I cast out. The feeder settled on the river bed and seconds later the rod was nearly pulled out of my hands, FISH-ON!
Next cast the same experience and a 4.2 lb chub was the result.....
Three more barbel quickly followed, all around the 4 lb mark. My fishing was then interrupted by a shout from Alistair, he had hooked into something that was not moving. So I reeled in and walked to his swim, just as the something started moving slowly into the main flow.
After a peculiar fight Alistair drew it slowly towards us, I could just make out the shape of a zander. But a very big and swollen bellied zander it turned out to be!
It was taken on a small boilie to a size 12 hook and 10 lb line. It’s the spawning season for zander and after quickly weighing in the net it was returned to the river.
After the weight of the net was deducted the fish was just over 16 pounds, a giant of a zander in any anglers eyes! I doubt we will ever see a bigger zander in our lives, but now we know where it lives we shall return later in the season.
When we arrived there was already a car parked down the track and a family was having a picnic. Well. it is "le Week-End" as they actually do say here and we are now close to the large town of Cahors. I guess I half expected this!
So we walked down the stretch, the banks are rather steep. After spraining my ankle two years ago and then developing a thrombosis I am in no mood to take risks. Alistair is a year older than me at 72 and I would not expect him to tackle the loose stone bank either! But I was viewing the opposite bank of this wide stretch, I spotted a swim that looked perfect with access steps to a landing stage. I noted there was shade and that was useful for us on this bright day, that is often where the fish chose to lie when the sun is fierce.
It meant a drive into Cahors and across the river there, but it only took a 20 minute drive so soon we were at the perfect spot.
There was a good flow and a back eddy towards the lock entrance. Alistair took the landing stage and fished the back eddy and I was happy to fish the main river. For four hours I baited the swim hoping to draw some fish in, apart from little, sharp tugs there was nothing to show. Alistair had not bothered bringing groundbait and was catching zilch, not even these little bites!
After trying all of the several boilies I had with me, large, small, different flavours and colours I had concluded the little bites were just little fish. So I decided to have my lunch and a beer. The bread roll was a little too stuffed and had some smoked salmon in with salad stuff, hmmmm!
I would sacrifice almost anything for a fish just now, so the sacrifice was made!
I chuckled, laughing at myself over such low tactics, as I cast out. The feeder settled on the river bed and seconds later the rod was nearly pulled out of my hands, FISH-ON!
Next cast the same experience and a 4.2 lb chub was the result.....
Three more barbel quickly followed, all around the 4 lb mark. My fishing was then interrupted by a shout from Alistair, he had hooked into something that was not moving. So I reeled in and walked to his swim, just as the something started moving slowly into the main flow.
After a peculiar fight Alistair drew it slowly towards us, I could just make out the shape of a zander. But a very big and swollen bellied zander it turned out to be!
It was taken on a small boilie to a size 12 hook and 10 lb line. It’s the spawning season for zander and after quickly weighing in the net it was returned to the river.
After the weight of the net was deducted the fish was just over 16 pounds, a giant of a zander in any anglers eyes! I doubt we will ever see a bigger zander in our lives, but now we know where it lives we shall return later in the season.
Fantastic as usual Steve!! Always a pleasure to see youve posted and it’s nice to read about your adventures mate. Tres bien mon amis
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Another fabulous report & photos Steve - seems like you & Alistair had a great session.
The photo of that Zander doesn't convey the 16Lb weight! Nice catch!
The photo of that Zander doesn't convey the 16Lb weight! Nice catch!
- Joined
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Great catches, piccys & write up well done.
Steve Arnold
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It's always difficult with Alistair to get a decent trophy shot. He will not touch the fish if he can possibly help it. Far to precious of his good, English gentleman's pheasant shooting clothes.Another fabulous report & photos Steve - seems like you & Alistair had a great session.
The photo of that Zander doesn't convey the 16Lb weight! Nice catch!
Madden's me often as he comes from a "Colonial" background and thinks his "Sherpa/punka-walla whatever" will do the messy work for him!
He is a decent guy in many ways, but sure he thinks I am his bitch when we fish together!
Hope you are reading this Alistair
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Welcome to the Madhouse Vialli!Wonderful stuff Pel...Steve. May there be much much more to come!
Vialli
New member
Thanks, sitting in Thailand dreaming of fishing in France (and Spain) again...I kid you notWelcome to the Madhouse Vialli!
Enjoying this thread a lot 
mole trapper
Active member
This is such a great entertaining thread, seriously hope it continues.
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Im guessing the Zander was heavily in spawn so will probably be down in weight if you catch it again later in the yearYesterday I talked Alistair into following up on a recent days exploration I had taken further down the river. I had spotted one swim where his 4x4 could back down a short track and we could fish out of the back of the car into deep water with a nice flow.
When we arrived there was already a car parked down the track and a family was having a picnic. Well. it is "le Week-End" as they actually do say here and we are now close to the large town of Cahors. I guess I half expected this!
So we walked down the stretch, the banks are rather steep. After spraining my ankle two years ago and then developing a thrombosis I am in no mood to take risks. Alistair is a year older than me at 72 and I would not expect him to tackle the loose stone bank either! But I was viewing the opposite bank of this wide stretch, I spotted a swim that looked perfect with access steps to a landing stage. I noted there was shade and that was useful for us on this bright day, that is often where the fish chose to lie when the sun is fierce.
It meant a drive into Cahors and across the river there, but it only took a 20 minute drive so soon we were at the perfect spot.
View attachment 62289
There was a good flow and a back eddy towards the lock entrance. Alistair took the landing stage and fished the back eddy and I was happy to fish the main river. For four hours I baited the swim hoping to draw some fish in, apart from little, sharp tugs there was nothing to show. Alistair had not bothered bringing groundbait and was catching zilch, not even these little bites!
After trying all of the several boilies I had with me, large, small, different flavours and colours I had concluded the little bites were just little fish. So I decided to have my lunch and a beer. The bread roll was a little too stuffed and had some smoked salmon in with salad stuff, hmmmm!
I would sacrifice almost anything for a fish just now, so the sacrifice was made!
View attachment 62290
I chuckled, laughing at myself over such low tactics, as I cast out. The feeder settled on the river bed and seconds later the rod was nearly pulled out of my hands, FISH-ON!
View attachment 62291
Next cast the same experience and a 4.2 lb chub was the result.....
View attachment 62292
Three more barbel quickly followed, all around the 4 lb mark. My fishing was then interrupted by a shout from Alistair, he had hooked into something that was not moving. So I reeled in and walked to his swim, just as the something started moving slowly into the main flow.
After a peculiar fight Alistair drew it slowly towards us, I could just make out the shape of a zander. But a very big and swollen bellied zander it turned out to be!
View attachment 62293
It was taken on a small boilie to a size 12 hook and 10 lb line. It’s the spawning season for zander and after quickly weighing in the net it was returned to the river.
After the weight of the net was deducted the fish was just over 16 pounds, a giant of a zander in any anglers eyes! I doubt we will ever see a bigger zander in our lives, but now we know where it lives we shall return later in the season.
Steve Arnold
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2020
- Messages
- 97
- Reaction score
- 808
- Points
- 83
- Location
- Cahors, France
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
Absolutely! But it would probably put up a better fight then, this time it just lumped about and kited this way and and that.Im guessing the Zander was heavily in spawn so will probably be down in weight if you catch it again later in the year
I think the barbel and chub were stacked up downstream of where the zander were spawning. That's why the addition of the smoked salmon to my boilie had them taking the bait so eagerly.
That zander taking the boilie is probably as they are territorial of their spawning area, it probably annoyed it as it was passing.
Steve Arnold
Active member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2020
- Messages
- 97
- Reaction score
- 808
- Points
- 83
- Location
- Cahors, France
- Favourite Fishing
- Shore
As usual the summer fishing has been difficult. I had several nice barbel whilst camping at Cajarc, that was about the last time there was a reasonable flow to the river.......
A good carp of 24lb from a difficult swim, again whilst there was still some flow........
I had a very good chub and a nice barbel that day as well.
On camping trip downriver I had a "funny" carp close to 20 lb from a very high banked swim. I caught an almost identical odd looking "goldfish" carp just 100 metres downstream last year. Either they share the same genes or something funny is going on! .....
During the following weeks flow dropped to nothing. August it is more like lake fishing and..... I have to put up with tourists! I have still found a few more barbel but they are generally small.
On a more positive note the big carp are being caught, just not by me!
I have a new neighbour, now a friend, who has started a carp fishing boat business. David has fished for carp in public waters in France for years, now he has set up Carp Pirate adventures. Here is a recent Youtube video......
Although I have had many carp now from this river I have also lost plenty. For the 40lb and upwards fish a boat or inflatable offers huge advantages to finding, playing and landing these tough creatures.
and his page on Facebook......https://www.facebook.com/carppiratesadventures
I have no financial interest in this business. David is a good angler with lots of energy, his boat is superb!
I wish him luck with his enterprise!
A good carp of 24lb from a difficult swim, again whilst there was still some flow........
I had a very good chub and a nice barbel that day as well.
On camping trip downriver I had a "funny" carp close to 20 lb from a very high banked swim. I caught an almost identical odd looking "goldfish" carp just 100 metres downstream last year. Either they share the same genes or something funny is going on! .....
During the following weeks flow dropped to nothing. August it is more like lake fishing and..... I have to put up with tourists! I have still found a few more barbel but they are generally small.
On a more positive note the big carp are being caught, just not by me!
I have a new neighbour, now a friend, who has started a carp fishing boat business. David has fished for carp in public waters in France for years, now he has set up Carp Pirate adventures. Here is a recent Youtube video......
Although I have had many carp now from this river I have also lost plenty. For the 40lb and upwards fish a boat or inflatable offers huge advantages to finding, playing and landing these tough creatures.
and his page on Facebook......https://www.facebook.com/carppiratesadventures
I have no financial interest in this business. David is a good angler with lots of energy, his boat is superb!
I wish him luck with his enterprise!
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