Oakview by Linda Latham;

We were lucky enough to be able to stop at Oakview for a few days whilst making one of our usual trips to some of our venues in France. On this trip most of our visits to the lakes were grouped in an area where we could stop in one place and circle out each day to view the venues.

When we arrived at Oakview in the evening Shirley and Martin made us most welcome at their home with a nice hot cuppa. From their house we could just see the lake through the trees in the distance as the sun was going down.

We discussed their plans and then the talk got around to the actual fishing something I love to do! (I always travel with my rods in the roof of the van) Martin could see I was chomping at the bit and offered to show me around the lake – if I wanted to fish… If !! – we were down the stairs and half way across the field before his feet touched the ground.

As we walked around the lake Martin told me all about the work they had done – including de-silting the lake and putting in a deeper channel along the left side of the lake (looking from the cabin) He also showed me the hotspots where successful anglers had fished before.

Oakview

When I went to collect my tackle I had a quick look inside the lakeside cabin the girls were going to use and was amazed as it feels bigger inside than it looks from the outside, a great deal of thought had gone into getting it set up as there was just about everything you could need. Bridget and Fran would have a comfortable room each, the shelves were stacked with books, games etc in the lounge area and the kitchen are had everything you would need to cook a meal for 6. Was I really giving up all this luxury for the bivvy? Well of course I was

No big baiting campaigns here as I didn’t have much time before dark to get set up.

I decided to fish on the left bank half way down putting my 1st rod at the end of the island and another rod in close to where the entrance to the channel was and with my 3rd rod in the bay to the left of the island.

I just had time to get all my tackle on the bank side and rods baited with Quest Rahja spice and Special Crab boilies, I did a simple 15mm boilie with a pop up sweetcorn in a pva bag with matching Quest Action Pellets and a few broken boilies just for safe measure.

One cast for each rod to get the distance and clip my line then out with the pva bags and the last of the daylight was gone. I could relax now, but needed to find my head light with the torch and set up my umbrella (I had not packed my bivvy) there is just enough space under the brolly to get my bed chair in with an all weather cover (it had just started to rain, only a fine mist but the sort that gets you very wet).

My Tackle box was just big enough to use as a table squeezed in the side and offered a bit of shelter from the side as the wind was now getting up. The weather was not going to be kind butI really wanted to fish.

The accommodation at Oakview

As the rain got heavier I thought about the cabin (only for a second) Bivvy fishing is so peaceful and closer to nature it’s the part of fishing I always look forward too.

Snug in my little den listening to the wind in the trees and hoping there wasn’t going to be any unexpected night life coming to visit. Waiting for the alarms to go off the wind kept moving my lines just enough to keep me on edge.

Not a splash on the lake, all was quiet, I know Martin had said they were finishing the stocking of the lake in Sept/Oct and had been looking at the fish they could stock with and was only half stocked so far.

The wind and rain got harder and at one point I was lying in my bed chair and holding on to the brolly (this is the life !! must be mad) This thought put a smile on my face as I was still full of anticipation for the first catch. It was not to be, however, I watched the dawn come and it was time to get moving as we had another hectic day visiting lakes. With the chance of fishing later the next evening I left my tackle at the side of the lake tucked away.

As often happens just when your leaving the fish start to jump and show themselves, “just you wait, I’ll catch you later” I muttered!

That night when we arrived back in the rain Martin told me my brolly had blown inside out and they had rescued it from the hedge and put it in the store room which is also used by the anglers for drying out etc complete with WC. I decided to get a good night sleep and try to catch a couple of hours in the early morning.

As I crept out of the cabin around 6.30 am, it was just getting light, I saw a small deer just strolling along the far bank of the lake through the mist. The weather promised a beautiful day… sadly for me I had only just over an hour to catch!

I decided to take my rods onto the right hand side of the lake, as I was walking up the path a carp splashed in the bay just behind me and then another in the margins of the island.

Keeping an eye on these spots I set up my 1st rod rest and cast to where it had shown, just a single Quest special crab boilies with pop up sweet corn, tightened the line and set my alarm.

Damn I had lost my catapult, so that boilie would have to do it on its own!! I then got out my 2nd rod and cast just up to the end of the island. The opposite side to where I had fished yesterday. The 3rd rod went out just where I had seen another carp show itself in the bay just in front of the cabin.

I was just putting this rod on the rest when my first rod bleeped in the silence, aha! Another short bleep then it was off on a run! Heart pounding I picked it up quick and I was in, desperate not to lose him I gently kept the line tight and eased him in towards the bank.

A slight panic ensued as I realised my net was over by the other rods so I had to edge him down the margins before I was able to attempt to net. He spooked at the net in the water and took off again on a powerful run but I soon had him back under control and slid the net neatly under. Phew!!
A quick call to Bridget in the cabin, ‘sorry but can you get up and come and take a photo?’ At first she thought I was joking!

Less than 10 minutes in and Quest Special Crab did the job. What a nice long common just over 15lb with such a large mouth. A couple of quick photo’s and back he went. My day had got off to a great start, just time now for a quick coffee and then I had to pack up and go for the days visits.

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