Oakview Lake Rated Amongst Top Carp Fishing Venues in France
In the world of carp fishing, Paul Cooper has a reputation for brutal honesty. So how did Oakview stand up to his critical analysis?
You have to be very confident about your venue before you give an angler like Paul Cooper the chance to scrutinise it in every detail. Long time friend he may be, but that doesn't mean he'll tell you (and everyone else) what you want to hear. Paul gets to fish the lake and then see the lake netted. Here's what he had to say.
An Analysis of Oakview Lake and its Fish by Paul Cooper
I have known Martin and Shirley for years and I have visited their venue a number of times without having had the chance to fish their lake. This year Paul Brooks and I were invited to witness the lake netting and to get a spot of fishing in. Martin has filmed many of my carp fishing trips all over France, but on this occasion he just asked me to write about what I did and what I saw.
Arrival at Oakview Lake
Paul and I arrived at Oakview on Sunday morning the 23rd October and we received a warm welcome from our hosts. The weather forecast was for high pressure, low cloud or fog with temperatures ranging from 10c to 13C. Cold for the time of year so any fish would be a reward. We headed down to the lake to lead and plumb the water prior to getting down to the fishing. Martin joined us to give us a guided tour of the venue. He mentioned that the water levels were exceptionally low (down by half a meter) owing to a severe drought during the summer. He was delighted when we were able to confirm that there was still ample water in every area of the lake. The depths ranged from just under a meter to over two metres.
Martin left us to our own devices so we decided to start our short campaign on the home swim. Paul fished the left hand side of the lake and I opted for the right. Having marked up all the lines on our fishing, marker and Spomb rods we were ready to go. However, it was time for dinner so we decided to get an early night so that we would be ready to cast our lines first thing on Monday morning.
The Fishing at Oakview Lake
I was the first one by the lakeside on the Monday morning at around 6.30 am, casting all 3 rods just to the right of the front of the island to my pre-baited swim. Within 30 minutes I was into my first carp at 33lb 8oz. What a brilliant start and the carp was immaculate.
We sat on our hands for the rest of the day as I watched the odd carp showing at the top end of the lake. A long cast from the home swim, but just a short chuck from the top end of the lake. It did not take me long before I had all my gear on the barrow and was marching off to set up camp near to the showing fish. Paul remained in the home swim with the luxury of the 5 star fishing facilities and we settled down for a few days. Our plans were to fish one night then to use the comfort of the lodge for the rest of the week.
By Wednesday dinner time, 7pm, I had landed 6 immaculately conditioned carp to 46lb. Paul was struggling and could not locate the fish. On Thursday we had a raw cold Easterly pushing across the lake and the surface of the lake filled with leaves, making presentation by casting very difficult. Consequently nothing was caught and that would be the end of the fishing for the week as Friday was the day of the netting.
Oakview Lake Netting
Well this was going to be an experience that I have never witnessed before in France. The Bigot netting team turned up mid-morning armed with nets, boat and a tractor. I was expecting a team of at least 6 people. I was surprised that all that was needed was 2 people on the nets and the tractor driver. They took the nets to the top of the lake about half way up the right hand-bank. One of the netsmen stepped into the water in the margins then made his way towards the back of the island with the other in the boat feeding the net out.
Once at the back of the island they walked the net to the island and along the right hand margins of the island, following the island around the left side until the net met the other part of the net at the back of the island. They continued dropping the net until they were half way down the left hand bank.
Where the deeper water was in the bowl area they used a floating platform, with one of the netsman sitting on it, guiding the net along the margins. Now came the turn of the tractor. Slowly they drew the net down the right hand side to the home swim, then to the other end of the net drew in the left hand side.
This took well over an hour until the ends of the net met. More net was drawn in until there was an area of around 20 square yards surface area left. They then fitted on what was called a pursenet. This would be the holding net for the whole population of the lake. After another hour the only net in the water was the pursenet and it was bursting with fish. Carp, roach and pike. The sides of the net were raised so that any fish trying to jump the net would fail. All staked out the netsman joined Laurent and Michel Bigot for lunch with Martin and Shirley.
The idea of the break is to allow the fish to calm down in the net before the smaller unwanted fish are removed. With lunch finished it was time to empty the pursenet. The containers with oxygenated tanks had arrived for the silver fish and a separate net was set up for the pike. Within an hour it was all over. All the carp and pike had been returned safely to the lake and the silver fish had been removed.
I was amazed and astonished by how many big carp were in the net. I would put the average weight of the carp I saw at over 33lb, with lots of upper thirties and at least a dozen forties. All the fish were in pristine condition and fighting fit.
My Verdict on Oakview Lake and its Fish
Oakview is now one of the top venues in France that provide accommodation and big carp fishing. The food package is exceptional value for money, lots of it and top quality with lots of variety. The fish are impressive to say the least, and having seen nearly every inhabitant of the lake at close quarters, I was truly impressed. The accommodation is 5 star and only yards from the lake. It's a lovely place Martin and Shirley and it's a big YES from me.
Paul Cooper. 28 October 2016.