Nick Dodge 46lb
MATT WRIGHT – VISITED LAKE W/C 9th July 2011
Just arrived back from another fantastic week at Island lake. This is our 4th year here and it never fails to disappoint. There are not many venues you can visit with the stamp of fish, great facilities and the surroundings that you have at Island Lake. We were greeted on the first morning by both Micks with our Hertford Mix at the ready. As usual they were very helpful to all anglers helping us gain an understanding of each swim and putting us onto spots within each one. Mick Hall was our bailiff for the week and he was available to help at any point and really went out of his way to make sure we were all fishing the correct spots. For me personally it was a dream session. Up to now the most fish I’d landed in a week was 2 but this year I had 8 runs for 8 fish, 2 fifties in 24 hours including a 55lb Common, 4 forties and 2 thirties. In total our party of 7 anglers landed 34 fish and we all caught. The work done to all the swims over the close season has made the fishing even more comfortable. The pontoons make it easier for landing fish and releasing them. The weigh stations are a sensible addition and the new rules are all sensible and more importantly there for the fish safety. The weed was thick in places, but that’s fishing, all 34 fish were landed from the bank so its not an issue at all. All in all another enjoyable week and cant wait to return next year! Thanks to both Micks for a great trip!
Matt Wright
MALCOLM HALL – VISITED LAKE W/C 2nd July 2011
Having spent more years than I wish to remember going out to France fishing I would like to say what a pleasure it was to fish at The Island Lake. The lake is not what I would class as an easy lake but it does seem to reward those anglers that put the effort in and the quality and size of the fish is second to none. The fishery is run by two absolute diamonds in the two Mick’s, Mick Bowman and Mick Hall, the rules are very sensible, run by anglers for anglers. I would like to thank Mick Bowman who was the Bailiff the week we there, His sound advise helped me to 3 fish and 1 lost during my week stay, culminating in a 51lb fish on the last night( always a good way to leave a lake). Thanks once again for a great holiday and I hope to come back very soon.
Malcolm Hall
GARY WALKER – VISITED LAKE W/C 2nd July 2011
Second trip to this interesting French venue. First trip was a big learning curve. Managed a 54lb leather and dropped one. This latest trip saw me venturing alone from the lake district. Arrived Friday evening and stay beside the river seine at the bottom of the track. Arrived for the draw and came out 1st for the single swims. I hoped to fish either 12 or 13 wasn’t to bothered. So 13 it was!! Started applying a liberal amount of the Hartford and unfortunately lost a fish second day. Did not dump the lead. Mick Bowman was bailiff for the week and was very kind to give me a packet of mcf lead clips. This was the turning point of my week as by Monday morning and after Sundays 5kgs offering of the Hartford they were greazing in my area. The runs started to come as the week passed. I lost a few to hook pulls so a few little tweaks to the rigs soon sorted the problem. By Friday night the scores read. 7 fish between 37.8 and 50.2 and 5 losses. Which was a massive improvement from June 2010. I was finally getting my head round this interesting and pleasurable lake. Saturday morning saw me packing for the 11 hour drive back to the lakes. The fish as normal were back infront and had one last suprise in store. 8.30am and the right hander was away. 48.8 mirror. Thank you Island Lake for a extremely enjoyable trip. All so big thank you to Mick Bowman for being my personal photographer. Plus his pep talk on the Sunday was all the inspiration I needed to get the old carp catching instincts flowing again. Had a great week. Mick H and Mick B have really made this a truely awesome venue. Work hard and stay out of the pub and the rewards are there to be had!!!
Gary Walker
JOHN GREENFIELD – VISITED W/C 28th May 2011
Hi Mick, just wanted to say a huge thanks for all the advise and guidance for last week. The brummy crew first visited The Island Lake is Sept 2010. My expectations then where hopefully to just catch one fish and with Mick B’s help I managed to catch 4 superb specimens and better my PB’s on both Common and Mirror. I simply can’t explain how happy I was to do it again with 8 captures and two 50’s, this is a life time ambition for me. You have managed to create a fantastic fishery which is going from strength to strength. This is complimented by you and the teams commitment and drive to help and support every one, nothing was to much trouble.
See you all in September thanks again John G (AKA John Cleese Ha Ha !!)
John Greenfield
NATHAN ROPER - VISITED W/C 28th May 2011
I would just like to say a big thank you – what a place to fish!!!!!! It really is a lovely lake I was blown away by the place. To be honest I had an amazing week, cannot fault one thing. There is everything you need and more, the swims are great and the fish are stunning. I would like to say a great big thank you to Mick Bowman really made me feel welcome and gave me great advice, could not do enough to help really. Tthanks lads great place hope to get back soon.
Nathan Roper
i visited opening week… well impressed. great lake fantastic facilities..mick very helpful..i was lucky enough to have the first fish.. 1 53 and followed it up with 3 fourties to 48..
cant wait to get back but looks like 2012 all booked already shows how good the place is. showers good n hot and clean mains electric what a novelty and freezer, was great for icecream and keeping me sausages frozen.. had personal tour of Cedars with mick when he needed a hand with the mower, looks well nice there too,
this visit has changed my carping career for ever and thank you for that.. brilliant thanks john[stot] geaves// ps all fish landed from bank in swim 2
very good french fishing lake with very good clean big fish,5 star good lake to go to for a few big fish,had 58lb common on last night and 2 mid 30;s,will go back soon
Just got back from a trip to Island lake! What a place , excellent facilities , super balliffs , great weighing equipment , I especially liked the Cotswold matts as I’m used to Carp damaging Carp cradles!
We had a relaxing week with the legend Mick Bowman , a nice man and a great angler . Don’t know about your Rattlers but I will investigate as soon as I can get my hands on one. We also managed to catch some nice fish , 17 in Total with 4×60 . Three coming to my rods on three consecutive nights , I thought I was dreaming so I pinched myself so hard I’ve left a bruise. What will this lake be like in two or three years time! Give some more I’m addicted.
Thanks Mick for the BBQ.
Back at the Island lake for the fourth time. As ever the Island Lake lived unto full expectations and i cannot envisage fishing anywhere else in France. The facilities are superb and help is always then when you need it from the 2 Micks. The fish are absolutely stunning and lucky fingers in the draw bag gave me the 1st choice of swim. This was rewarded on the Sunday morning when i landed an absolutely cracking common of 59.0lb from peg 13. Once again a stunning week on the lake and cannot wait to get back in September.
This was the Brummy crews fourth visit to the Island lake and to be honest our expectations where to just put one fish each on the bank due to the weather conditions. We sour a 12 deg temperature change over just one day and rain, well it was bouncing two foot off the ground so not the best of conditions. Everyone got there string pulled though but some got away that’s fishing ha, but wow did we do well not in numbers but the fish court were stunning, including 5X50Lb two of which were only just short of 60Lb and Chris had one of the real big ones at 67Lb a truly superb fish in every way (Mick he talked about it all the way home). We have fished a lot in France over the years and sampled some great venues but this has to be one of the top waters available. The bailiffs on site Mick H and Mick B are the best I have encountered, there advise patients and knowledge is excellent and they always take the time to make your stay the very best. Guy’s another PB for me I cant tell you how much I appreciate your advice and help thanks again for a brilliant week John G
[...] Your Comments [...]
This was my second time on Island Lake, Mick Hall was great, with plenty of tips and advice, ‘patience’ being a key word!
This trip for me gave me my personal best of first a 63lb. mirror, then one at 49lb and a third at 41lb, all on Hartford.
Our team have booked each year till 2015, and can’t wait to get back next year!
The picture in my previous entry is of the biggest fish, the 63lb. mirror caught on Hartford.
September was our fifth visit to the lake and for me personally was the best result with 8 fish caught. 2 fifties, both of them pb mirrors at 58lbs and 55.12. 4 forties to 49. and 2 thirties. Mick Hall was in charge for our week and as ever was more than helpful. Many thanks again mate. Cannot see us fishing anwhere else. Think I will hibermate until May when once agin we will pit our wits against the superb Island Lake carp. All the best to both Micks for Xmas and the New Year.
Baz