Article written by Tony Prayel

At the start of June I found myself with a few personal problems so I jumped at the chance to visit Danny Halliday again at Letourneau lakes near Limoges in France for a complete break and a chance to relax. Letourneau is a complex of three lakes, owned by Danny, and is situated in 50 acres of mature woodland. The main lake had been stocked and was ready for fishing but French bureaucracy being its usual self has meant a long delay in planning permissions for the accommodation. Finally, with planning permission granted, Danny has the lodge up and all the services connected. I have to say that the wait was worth it. The lodge is an all pine construction and looks and 'feels' superb. It blends in with the surroundings and looks as if it should always have been there. There are two toilets and two showers, the best pressure I have experienced in France.....wonderful.

I only fished the main lake during my stay, fished, had my arms pulled off! I have never caught so many hard fighting fish. At L'etourneau the carp really pull your string and long hard fought battles were had with even the smallest of the stock. The fishing can never be classed as hard, but you are on holiday and catching fish is the point is it not? I fished around 6-8 hours a day, during the day, simply because I had caught enough in that period! On average I was catching 6 fish a day to upper 30's, there are 40lb+ fish in L'etourneau I have had fish to mid 40's in past visits. During the two weeks or so I was at the lake, I landed 80+ fish, averaging around 25lb, fishing two rods only. Some times the action can be hectic, eight times I was playing one fish and the other rod screamed off, the best of which resulted in a brace of mirrors of 35lb and 31lb. I didn't stay in one swim but moved around most days. No one swim seemed any better that the other, I kept my tactics the same, 12lb line, simple running set up on 3oz leads, 20lb amnesia, knotless knot with a strong size 6 hook. Bait was Nash's monster pursuit or B2 and I was putting out about 150 18mm baits on each rod and waited for the fish to start to feed. This was topped up after each capture. There is no need for a marker set up as the fish are crashing and rolling so you know were they are and there are no real long casts. One afternoon I did set up a float rod and plopped it in the margins of the lodge swim with a few pouches of chick peas. After about an hour I landed a small 17lber and then spent 20 minutes with a very fit 31lb mirror, which was a personal best carp on the float.

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot fault the fishing which was superb. All the swims are grassed, comfortable and there are double swims if that's your thing and even one treble which is separated with the odd tree. If like me, you are not keen to sit in the sun all day then many of the 17 swims do offer areas of shade which can be a real bonus during the late afternoon. All of the swims can be easily accessed by car, another bonus, cars thereafter must then be placed in the car park. However if you do fancy a move you can bring your car round or Danny will move you in the truck.

You can either drive out to L'etourneau which takes around 7 hours from Calais and pay a little extra for food or fly out from Stanstead to Limoges and Danny will pick you up from the airport which is 35 minutes from the lake. This package includes rods, bivvies, bed chairs, landing nets, unhooking mats, bank sticks, and scales. These are all top name makes Nash, JRC, Wychwood etc.

 

www.carpfishinginfrance.co.uk

Haute Vienne, France