Getting Ready for the New Season

It has been a month or two now since my last blog, so I thought I'd do a little update as there's been lots going on, with much of it being the less glamorous side of fishery management. I know a lot of you are interested in that kind of stuff, so here's what's been going on.

The Artisan Carp Farm France project has been a real ball breaker. The development of ponds, planting iris, landscaping, water quality, aeration, feed; everything was done from scratch, so I had a lot to do. Last week I hopped in the mini digger again to do some final tidying up and also repair and fill the huge Coypu networks through the bank.

All winter I've let the dogs excevate these networks with the plan to fill them all in properly with rock and clay before they became a problem.

Like all of these things a bit of mess has to be made in the short term. But if you've been following me over the years you'll know that it doesn't take long at all for nature to take over and repair the mess I've made!

Once that was all done it was time to start the new track. Those that know me will understand that I really like to keep things "as real" as possible. Natural, proper carp fishing, which is why so many of you love visiting the lake. I'm not one for making the place look and feel like a country estate. Its something I really feel is missing in so many lakes these days, it all feels so sanitised.

Lac Solace and our other lake Lac Du Coron are definitely natural. Of course I make sure there are basic but comfortable facilities to ensure anglers aren't genuinely roughing it. But WiFi and electric in the swims, gravel everywhere really isn't my thing.

The track though did need some work, like everything things need to be maintained and improved.

So 6 truck loads later, 2 sunken lorries, 2 trips to the farm across the road to ask for a tow from the Massey Ferguson, a few hours in the mini digger and a good few blisters from the rake and eventually I am pretty happy with a new, solid and tidy 300m track from the gates to the cabin. I also added a turning circle at the top, so however wet it gets you can still get in and out comfortably.

I also started working on moving Mac's swim slightly. It is a seriously under fished area of the lake and I wanted to make the swim more appealing. So a new privacy fence has gone in, trees been cleaned and a new spot at the front has been added.

It's also a great time of year to just be down at the lakes and to be pottering about. The aerators for the lakes and stock ponds have all been serviced and tested.

We've had a few warmer days, the big girls are waking up and clearly eating the pellet and Pro Liver GLM that they are getting fed every other day. Today an absolute unit sloshed out in the afternoon sun. I saw it from 300 yards away which is an obvious sign that it was a proper one.

The fish in the stock ponds are also well on the munch and enjoying the spring sunshine.

So it's been a busy month since my last update.

Next time I will take a more in depth look at the carp farm, which I know a lot of you are interested in.

Nic #solacevibe #artisancarpfarmfrance