When faced with the long drive north into Normandy to collect bait for the coming season, my dislike for the driving was offset by the knowledge that i would be able to drop a line in the lake i was heading towards. The lake was Lakes Escapes ‘Lake PB’, and i knew that there was agood chance of a fish or two.

Arriving in the late afternoon sunshine, the lake was indeed a sight to behold. I had seen the venue a number of times before in my Dad’s pictures, though the focus of these was usually split between the wide and deep fish filling the frame, or the equally large smile occupying my Dad’s face.

I had gained the impression that the fishing was mostly conducted at great range, and that the lake was most productive for those who could cast furthest. This was something of a concern, but my old mate Paul soon allayed these fears when he pulled out a brand spanking new Anatec bait boat from his trailer. I was also relieved to see swims on the opposite bank - for some reason i thought the lake was only fishable from one side.

After chatting to the other English anglers on his tour, and finding out that a couple of thirties had already been caught on their first night, i couldn’t wait to get a rod in the water. Paul had kindly given up his swim for the night to let me fish, and i had every intention of making the most of this gesture. I boated out the left had rod without supervision, but as i set off with the right hand rod, i was guided expertly to a ’special spot’ that i was assured would bag me a fish or two.

One rod was fished with homemade GLM and Garlic boilies and the other with a unusually small halibut pellet Paul had given to me to try (with the words ‘Don’t tell your Dad about these!’). Both were accompanied in the boat by a good handful of trout pellets and a few freebies.

It was now dark, and with both rods out i sat and had a good old chat about the lake, our lakes and fishing in general. As ever there was plenty of piss-taking to be handed around, as i realised when handed a suspiciously light mug of tea - turns out Paul had taken my request for ‘just the one sugar’ quite literally - sod!

Before long the special spot produced a fast take, and i lifted into a decent fish. I was fishing well beyond where i could usually cast to, and much of the fight was being absorbed by the 15lb sensor and the prevailing wind blowing across my swim. It was only when under the rod tip that i could feel this was a good fish, and sure enough a broad-framed mirror slipped over the cord and into the net. Weighing in at 24lb 14oz, it made a fantastic start to the evening and after a brief lesson on handling fish for photographs and a few snaps she was away into the deep.

This had made my trip worthwhile, and I was delighted. Throughout the evening that same rod continued to produce fish, and after two mid double Carp i was wondering just how much sleep i would get before the drive back tomorrow. The answer came before i even had chance to get back into my bag, in the form of a wriggly Catfish that brough a smile to my face despite it’s relatively small size - the first of the season!

Fed up of boating the bait out and in need of some shut-eye i cast the rod as far as i could manage and settled in for the night. It wasn’t until the very early morning that i received a wobbly, up and down take that resulted in a hook pull from what was undoubtedly a Catfish. Without re-casting i crawled back to bed only to be woken an hour or so later by the friendly Jack Russel, ‘Angel’ who had accompanied lake baliff Kelvin on his morning rounds and decided to make a home of my bedchair! Realising i only had a few hours left before the journey back i re-boated the rods out and enjoyed the sunrise and a cup of tea.

Two small Catfish later, and i was beginning to see why no-one could keep three rods in the water on this lake, the takes were coming thick and fast. The next resulted in a different fight, more reminiscent of the twenty the night before except that this fish went much harder, and took a good 15 minutes to tame. As is coasted into the waiting net i could see the belly on it was huge! Despite it’s short length the lovely Mirror pulled the scales round to 21lb 12oz and posed nicely for a quick trophy shot before returning to the lake. Two twenties, what a result!

Before the time came to reel in and pack up i had a drop-back that resulted in a snagged fish. Shame, as it felt like a decent one too, but such are the pitfalls of fishing mono at range. All in all though, it was a great session, and even though baitboats aren’t my preferred method, every fish bar one came to a boated-out bait. Kelvin rounded off the trip with a tour of the fabulous estate beyond the fishable section of the lake and gave me lots of useful pointers on breeding fish through stock ponds. I was sad to leave feeding fish and good friends behind, but at least i had something to smile about…all the way home.

Stumble it!