Oakview Lake Reviews

All of these 5 stars are for real - you'll find the exact same hand-written versions on the bookshelf in the lodge.

Absolutely Fabulous Venue
By Victor and Kevin Priest on 28 September 2018

We have visited Oakview several times in the past few years and plan to continue in the next few. Why you say? Because Oakview is an absolutely fabulous venue, loads of large carp in pristine condition (my personal best so far was 44lb 8oz and my son's weighed 40lb 4oz.

The accommodation is very clean, tidy and comfortable and nothing is too much trouble for our hosts Shirley and Martin to help make our vacation an enjoyable success. Long may they continue, and long may we continue to share the results of the excellent fishing and services which they provide.

Fishing and Tactics: Used the usual baits and tactics at Oakview but the carp just switched off this week, with only the odd grass carp feeding.
Brilliant Venue
By Andy Faith on 21 September 2018

Brilliant venue with everything you could ever need to enjoy a nice relaxing week of fishing. Lodge is clean and very well looked after. The fishing was brilliant - between us we caught 18/19 fish up to 46lb, with three people smashing their PBs. Martin and Shirley are excellent hosts who couldn't have looked after us any better and provide everything we could ever need. We are already planning our Oakview return and CANNOT wait to be back. Thank you so much.

Fishing Tactics: Cell, Monster Tigernut boilies and Complex T all caught fish.

Catch: 3 x 40s, 6 x 30s, 7 x 20s and 2 under 20 (including a grass).
Always Great
By Phil English and Brian Latheron on 14 September 2018

Our holiday at Oakview Lake has flown by. Once again Martin and Shirley have been perfect hosts. The fishing has been a little tricky due to weather conditions, but we still managed three 40lb+ fish (2 late at night, so no photos of those). The accommodation is excellent, especially for the non anglers! Always great to be here and looking forward to next year.
Lake Reserved For Family Holiday
By Paul & Janice on 7 September 2018

Paul and Janice fished Oakview this week. Catch: 7 x 30s, 8 x 20s, 1 x 18 and 1 x 19lb.
Fantastic Fortnight
By Bob and Viv Osborne-Carey on 24 August 2018

Once again we've had a fantastic fortnight. Bob has enjoyed himself immensely & I have more than recharged my batteries ready for work. Best fishing session Bob has ever had, and he's had a few!

Fishing Tactics: Manilla pop ups caught the most.

Catch: 40 fish - 8 x 40s, 17 x 30s, 10 x 20s and 5 under 20lb (including 2 grass carp).
Awesome and Outstanding
By Terri and Waine Morgan on 17 August 2018

Awesome and outstanding. Oakview is everything we remembered and more. The weather was perfect and we were lucky enough to watch the netting, which was great to see. The fishing has been out of this world - lots of big fish caught and the occasional little ones. Terri very excited to catch her PB 41lb mirror. Martin and Shirley are the perfect hosts and great friends and we look forward to our next holiday here.

Netting: Oakview Lake was netted at the start of Terri and Waine's 2 week stay. You can watch the netting video here: Oakview Lake Netting August 2018

Fishing Tactics: The carp came on the feed 2 days after the lake was netted. The main tactic was to go after showing fish. As soon as one spot dried up, new spots could be established very quickly. The catches came during a 10 day period between the 8th and the 17th August.

Total catch: 40 fish - 4 x 40s, 19 x 30s, 8 x 20s, 5 under 20, 3 grass carp and a pike.
Lovely Jubbly
By Jessie, Jeanette and Dave Callow on 3 August 2018

Another superb and chilled out family holiday, which included a lovely day out at the beautiful sea side resort of St Malo. Perfect venue, perfect hosts and thank you for looking after us so well. See you next year.

Fishing tactics: Fished Cell over particle to known spots.

Catch: 3 x 40s, 2 x 30s, 5 x 20s and 2 grass carp (12 and 13lb).
Absolutely Fabulous
By Peter, Sharon and Ellie Lang on 27 July 2018

Absolutely fabulous return for our annual visit to Oakview. Grounds so peaceful and the lodge so well equipped. It was lovely to catch up with wonderful hosts Shirley and Martin. Thank you guys for making our visits so relaxing and stress free. With the 2017 drought over it was great to see the lake looking so natural with the water level fully restored. Lodge is immaculately clean and comfortable. 51 weeks and counting for our 4th visit.

Fishing & Tactics: Weather was fiercely hot and the fish all came out at the dead of night. Snowman presentation over crushed boilies and particles, with hardened hook baits to beat the fry.

Catch: 3 x 30s, 1 x 20 and 2 x grass carp to 20lb 12 oz.
Outstanding!
By Gaz Armes and Mick Lucas on 20 July 2018

We arrived at the lake to a very warm welcome from Martin and Shirley. They gave us a tour of the lake, pointing out the swims and the layout. We had an absolutely brilliant week's fishing, which was made even better by the picturesque venue and the weather. All in all a great venue - Outstanding!

Fishing Tactics: Cell bottom baits over particle and pellet.

Catch: 15 fish and PBs broken 8 times - 1 x 40, 6 x 30s, 3 x 20s and 5 grass carp to 19lb.
Fantastic Time as Always
By Tim and Gemma on 12 July 2018

Despite the carp not playing we had a fantastic time as always at Oakview. Was great to catch up with Martin & Shirley as always and enjoy the fantastic lodge and surroundings.

Fishing: Difficult week weather wise (hot, high pressure) and the fish just were not feeding - managed to get one out (26lb linear) to avoid the blank!

Thanks again and see you soon x
22nd Visit
By Osborne-Careys and Greens on 29 June 2018

22nd visit to Oakview Lake.

Fishing Tactics: Complex T boilies. Most productive spot this time was the near left bank (from the home swim).

Catch: 1 x 47lb-9oz (PB), 4 x 30s, 2 x 20s, 2 x upper teens and a grass carp.
Another Beautiful Week
By Neil and Paula Middleditch on 22 June 2018

Another beautiful week spent at Oakview. A very enjoyable week's fishing in very warm conditions. Shirley and Martin are fantastic hosts and nothing is a problem. Also Debbie and Pete (Thurs to Sat caretaker hosts x). Already booked for 2019 and 2020. See you soon and many thanks. xx

Fishing and tactics: Very hot weather and some of the smaller fish were still active. Caught 1 x 30, 2 x 20s 1 x 13lb common and a 14lb grass carp on a mix of different boilies and particle.
Everything About The Place First Class
By Jason Rainbow on 15 June 2018

Everything about the place is first class. The lake is gorgeous, the fish are hard fighting and the lodge is clean and comfortable. Martin and Shirley are exceptional hosts with nothing being too much trouble. We will definitely be back as soon as possible and return year after year, because after much searching, We have finally found our little French fishing heaven!

Fishing tactics: Unusual feeding patterns this week - carp were caught all around the lake except the bowl and 9 out of the 14 carp caught were commons. Most fish came from the right side of the lake on Cell, Roach Pit and Choc Orange boilies over particle beds.

Catch: 1 x 47lb 11oz (PB), 5 x 30s, 5 x 20s, 3 under 20lb and a 15lb grass carp.
Another Excellent Week
By Barbara, Tim and Hugh Strange on 10 June 2018

Another excellent week at Oakview. Unfortunately the fishing was very tough - the fish weren't feeding all week! However, the excellent hosts Shirley and Martin, lovely location, comfortable cabin and the 6 fish we did manage more than made up for it! Many thanks and see you again!

Fishing Tactics: The fish were caught on both fish meal and fruity boilies.

Catch: 45lb mirror, 39lb 2oz common, 35lb 2oz mirror, 22lb common, 14lb 2oz common and a 4lb pike.
What More To Say After 20 Visits?
By Bob Carey and Ray Green on 3 June 2018

What more can we say that hasn't already been said in my 20 previous visits to Oakview Lake. The fish are all in perfect condition and we have watched them grow over the years. Once again Martin and Shirley are great hosts and friends. They will help you with any difficult moments you have and nothing is too much trouble for them.

Fishing Tactics: Fishing under the trees to the left produced a few fish, but most fish caught were in mid water on both sides of the lake. I used a new bait (Complex T), which was a winner this year.

Catch: 1 x 40, 5 x 30s, 8 x 20s (including a new lake record grass carp) and 2 under 20lb (ghost commons).
Yet Another Fantastic Week
By Phil and Janet Calladine on 26 May 2018

Yet another fantastic week at Oakview. Shirley and Martin are fantastic hosts and everything is first class as always. Accommodation is spot on with everything you could ever need. Booked twice for 2019 and twice for 2020 - you can't have enough of a good thing!!

Fishing tactics: All fish came from the home swim to margins on the island. Bottom baits using Urban Nutcracker boilies worked best.

Catch: 1 x 47lb 3oz, 3 x 30s, 4 x 20s and a 13lb grass carp.
Roll On Next Year
By Derek Morris on 19 May 2018

Philip Moore - Roll on next year. We had a great time. Good stay and perfect hosts!!! After a slow start, just picking off the odd fish under the bushes, James had the big common at 48lb 12oz. By Tuesday/Wednesday we started to see signs of fish, so we increased the feed. I fished the home swim to the left of the island and caught in the middle and bushes to the left. I smashed my PB 3 times and we clocked up 2 lake records.

Fishing tactics: James fished the far bank, getting his fish from under the tree line to his right. Derek fished the left middle swim. Smokey Jack snowman worked best.

Catch: 4 x 40s (including a lake record common at 48lb 12oz.), 6 x 30s, 3 x 20s and a lake record grass carp at 20lb (no photo).
Amazing Place
By Gibbos Fishers Were With Gemma-Lou on 12 May 2018

Anglers Against Cancer in memory of Gemma-Lou

Amazing Place. Best time had by all of us. Fish spawned, but weather changed on Friday and fish have turned back on now. Martin and Shirley were brilliant hosts and we will be back. Loved the whole week and thanks from Steve, Danny, Jeff and Cranky. Been coming to France for 10 years and this is by far the best venue I have been to - Jeff.

This week is dedicated to the memory of Gemma-Lou and is in aid of Anglers Against Cancer. Click the link above to find out how you can indulge your passion and help others.

Fishing tactics: Blakes Baits Krinella. Snowman worked best. 3 PBs.

Catch: carp - 47lb 6oz, 44lb, 40lb 4oz, 40lb 6oz, 30lb 12oz and 3 x 20s. Grass carp - 1 x 17lb lake record.
Fantastic Venue
By Paul Shaw and Jenny Meider on 6 May 2018

Our 10th visit to this fantastic venue. As usual our hosts, accommodation and fishing were 5 star all the way. The ever changing weather conditions affected the fishing a little and bites were hard to come by. But when the bites did come - WOW! PBs smashed and smashed again - happy days. Same again next year please.

Fishing Tactics: Bottom baits to open water spots left and right of the island (from home swim).

Catch: 6 x 40s, 1 x 30 and a grass carp:

49lb 1oz, 47lb 15oz, 44lb 12oz, 43lb 9oz, 41lb 9oz, 40lb, 30lb 10oz and 1 x 11lb (grass).
A Truly Lovely Lake
By Terry Leggatt on 29 April 2018

A truly lovely lake combined with the best accommodation we have stayed in. Martin and Shirley have been excellent hosts and all have enjoyed the whole package. Cannot wait to return in the future for another great fishing holiday.

Fishing and tactics: Unsettled weather produced short feeding spells, when boilies worked best. All fish came from the island just under the canopy on the left hand side about half way up.

Catch: 1 x 45lb 8oz (PB), 1 x 47lb (PB), 1 x 35lb and 1 x 25lb (all mirror carp).