Splash Baits consultant Mark Lane has just returned from his first ever trip to France’s Abbey Lakes, where he enjoyed a trip to remember…
I had pre planned my trip to Abbey Lakes in Northern France some months ago, and had specifically chosen this venue for a number of reasons. I have been concentrating my angling at home on a challenging syndicate water that offers up stunning carp to the angler who puts in the effort and is confident in fishing into the weed. After two successful seasons on Velocity's Silverwood lake, I had decided that if a France trip was on the cards, I would like to fish a water that offered a similar challenge with conditions comparable to what I had honed my skills on.

Abbey's Heron lake looked to fit the bill perfectly being a 35 acre gin clear pit, weedy and inhabited with stunning dark carp averaging 30lb+ with a good head of 50's, 60's and even a 80 known as the mighty "Shoulders".

After booking the week long trip for the first week in September, the time had finally come to sort the gear, pick up my bait order from Simon at Splashbaits and get on the road to this famous French venue. To say I was excited was an understatement and the thought of a week doing what I love the most on such a special water was mouth watering. I was to be joined by a a couple of friends for the trip and after a good overnight drive in convoy we finally arrived at 7.00am on the Saturday morning, well in time to scope the water before the booking in at 8.00am. With preferred swims picked, I settled into a game plan for the week ahead.
To cut a long story short, after three nights in one peg, and tactics explored, enough was enough and a move was in order.

Although reports indicated that the whole lake was fishing very hard, a few fish had been caught from the top end of the lake where there was less pressure so I upped sticks, balanced the boat on the roof of my trusty saloon and headed up to a swim that had caught my eye on the original walk round. My pals had decided enough was enough on Heron and moved on to Attila, another stunning water but classed as more prolific so after exchanges of good luck we parted company.
My heart and head was still firmly on Heron and the chunks that resided in her, so with new found enthusiasm and sticking to my original plan I was off following the fish.

Swim 12 had been classed as "only for the brave!" and following three days of bleak conditions and open water I was definitely feeling brave.
Added to this was that 12 offered all of the features, weed and challenges I was used to back home and so I felt much more at home in this environment. With a shallow bay of 4-7ft of water, loads of weed beds and tricky spots to find I was in my element. Added to this, I was clearly on the fish, with the neighbouring anglers reporting some success. Happy days!

The rods had been out no longer than three hours on the Tuesday
Afternoon when the middle rod, fished in a 7ft sandy hole rattled off.

All hell broke loose as the fish charged from one weed bed to the other but after wading out, up to my arm pits I soon had the fish in close proximity and reached for the net. I had seen the fish and it was a chunk, a conservative 40+ with a mouth coughing up water that would have easily accommodated a tangerine let alone my KD presented
18mm Snowman/white pop up presentation!

I held my nerve as the line pinged off its dorsal a few times as it turned in front of me.... then, disaster as the hook pulled and with one flick of its huge tail, gone!

Now, with my resolve under serious pressure, but with the continued confidence that I was still on the fish, the rod was quickly dispatched back onto the spot and no longer than 20 minutes later it screamed off again. This time, no risks were taken and the fish was quickly netted. A quick phone call to my friend and the pretty 28-14lb Mirror was photographed and retuned... Result, first fish under the belt!

I went on to catch a 31lb mirror just after dark, which did a Houdini and escaped the retaining sling before I could get help with the pictures and lost another after a cut off over a mussel bed. The rest of the night was quiet but I was buzzing with the action that I had had for my efforts.

The next afternoon saw me bank a very pretty Mirror of just over 24lb coming off the same deep hole as my other fish.

Following this, it became clear that the fish had upped and gone. I had been advised by Hans the Bailiff that all was not lost and that the larger resident fish of the area had been known to come in on baits in this situation, so the decision was to stay put in the hope that I would bank a bigger fish.
Come Friday afternoon, my last full day on the venue, It became apparent that this tactic had had enough soak time and the only answer was to move again! I excitedly decided that a move back to original position in 21 could be a good tactic as the fish had reportedly moved in to the area with the ease of pressure. I realised that in effect I had pre baited this area and could drop straight in on it for the remaining night. Good plan! Gear was packed up and the boat precariously balanced again on the roof and I was off, back to where I had started.

With minimal kit unloaded, the decision was made to get the rods back on to the spots ASAP and sleep under the stars. Fish were showing in the area and I was convinced I was set for at least another bite once I had re found my spots.
Unfortunately this was not to be the case and on hearing the nights had been quiet and the few bites that had resulted from this area had come in the day, It appeared I was 24 hours too late.

Although disappointed,I was happy I had grafted and done everything I could to maximise my first time on this epic water. Every moment offered the chance of that once in a lifetime run, and I enjoyed seven days of edge of the seat anticipation, as well as three very welcome Heron residents for my efforts. The trip went without a hitch and I had 100% confidence in tackle and the trusty Spashbait as well as testing my angling skills against this first class French venue. As well as fishing and taking photographs,
I would highly recommend a visit to fish any of their stunning waters but It will be Heron that I will return to in the Spring.... with a score to settle in search of one of the big girls!