It was a relief to be back on the bank, albeit this was a different bank, in a different country and an entirely different proposition. Having arrived in France on Monday evening to take up my new role as manager of Exclusive Angling Holidays, I was finally, 5 days later, able to put the weeks of planning and preparation, and the hectic last few days of settling in and beginning a new job behind me. Arriving at first light on a misty, wet French morning the comforting sense of purpose surrounded me like an insulating blanket; keeping the chaos out and letting only fishy thoughts in.

The lake was Etangs Des Papillon Vert, one of a series of pools cascading through a valley that had been plundered for its natural deposits in the 1960’s during the construction of several major roads. At roughly an acre and a half, Vert is the smallest of the three lakes in the valley that are under the control of our business. The lake is heavily stocked with some beautiful Carp up into the 30lb bracket, and is usually a good bet for a bite or two whatever the time of year.

Despite my urge to branch out, and find some unknown French public water to fish, I had found the urge to wet a line too strong after a long drive through the country on a lake-spotting mission. That drive had not only turned up two waters that demanded further exploration, but it had fired my appetite to get out on the bank and fishing.

So Vert it was, an old friend of mine; despite its small size I’ve always loved fishing this lake. Often underestimated in lieu of its larger neighbours Bleu and Rouge and their more weighty inhabitants, Vert is a special venue for me. It was here that I was first introduced to Carping abroad, and here that I banked my first 20lb fish, and here that despite my repeated best efforts I have failed to bank the larger residents I have heard discussed over cold summer beers in the nearby bar.

Halfway down the tree lined drive I cut the engine and coasted to the water’s edge, lest I disturb the tranquility of the lake. Unpacking the rods and the absolute minimum of kit from the car I was struck by the quietness, and above that, the seclusion of the lakes: a far cry from the public park St James’ back in the UK. I knew from experience that the fish would be holed up in two places: around the small island and amongst the snaggy, overhanging trees that nestled to my immediate right.

Opting to fish the deeper water to my right amongst the snags I quickly made up a PVA bag of mixed pellets, topped off with the highly visual pop-up fake corn on the hair. It was only a short underarm swing to a spot I knew to be close enough to the cover to tempt a bit, yet not so close as to create problems removing fish from the snags. My other rod was baited with boilie tipped with fake corn and swung out into open water with a 3 bait stringer. I had already seen two fish throw themselves clear of the water, and reasoned that they must be quite active and likely to feed in the deeper water in front of me.

Easing back into my chair, sat inches from my rods I waited impatiently for that first run: I knew it had to happen because everything looked so perfect. It was a surprise when after an hour or so I had seen no action on my rods, and instead watched lump after lump roll, leap and ’shoulder’ around the island. Just as I was beginning to question my choice of swim, two beeps on my right hand rod indicated I was in! With the baitrunner locked up I lifted into the fish and out of my chair simultaneously.

The fish came cleanly from the snags, and up out of the 10ft of water in which it had fed on my bait. Before it had even broken the surface it was clear that I had hooked one of the few juvenile Carp in the lake. This was confirmed as I slid the net under a pretty Mirror of about 3lbs. Typically one of the smallest fish in the lake, but a healthy young thing that would someday reach much greater weights.

My duck broken, I had another two fish on the rod to the snags. The first frustratingly slipped the hook as it rolled on the surface, while the second proved to be a stunning Common of around 10lbs: another fish that seemed destined for greater things. After a quick picture it was time to think about getting my second rod catching. Fished with a free running rig and a super-slack line, I moved it to another spot near the snags, but far enough away from my first line to avoid problems. Again, I attached a small stringer of boilies.

After a lengthy spell of inactivity, the slack line tightened quickly and I lifted into a heavier fish. Guiding it clear of the snags, into the open water in front of me it was clear that this was no young pretender - I had hooked one of the original stock! A short but dogged scrap ended with me drawing a deep, grey mirror over the net. Weighing in at 21lbs 12oz this was a fine specimen - and one that I had never seen on the bank before.

Unfortunately what energy it had lacked in the water it regained on the mat, and after a couple of botched attempts it finally held still long enough for a fairly ropey picture. Pictures never take priority over the welfare of the fish, and she was straight back into the lake; maybe to become some young angler’s first twenty this year.

Another take on the right hand rod followed about an hour later, and resulted in another lean common, and just before dark the same rod produced another take. This fish was a fine bronze common in excess of 10lb that fought hard all the way to the net. With light failing I decided not to worry about a picture and slipped her back thinking it was a fitting end to a fine day’s fishing in January. 6 runs and 5 fish was a result I could be very happy with - the twenty was a real bonus and had made my day.

As I was packing the rod away, darkness had crept in quickly; it was a surprise then that my left hand rod barked for my attention once more as the slack line pulled tight under some unexpected force. This savage take resulted in another hard fighting fish, a mirror this time, weighing in at roughly 13lb and beautifully scaled. I slipped her back into the inky water thinking again - wow, what a day!

Stumble it!