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In reply to Post #148
Thank you for that reply George. At the end of the day we are all losers from this Covid problem so lets hope it is soon behind us. Tight lines, Jim.
My fishery is Le Moulin du Mee.
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In reply to Post #145
Full respect for that reply, it’s got my goat up with some fishery owners that they’re being hard done by, the ones that have been in France 20+ years with full order books and have ****ed loyal customers over with this scenario saying they’re skint and it’s the angler that’s loses out with no remorse (Moorlands).
You’re reply regarding costs and the upkeep to your property, the fish and the fact you’re treating your customers fairly goes a long way with me.
What fishery do you have?
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In reply to Post #146
Well Wooly, last year I got turned over by a carpenter that I had paid good money to. I put it down to experience but based on your philosophy I should now never trust a carpenter again. Of course individuals can quote bad or good experiences but to believe that your experience encompasses the whole industry is wrong. What I find refreshing is that at a time when thousands of anglers and hundreds of venue's are having a torrid time financially that the bad experiences seem to be by far in the minority. I imagine that of the many anglers on this forum that have been affected by recent issues most are happy enough with the way things have been handled. Keep safe lad and I am sure you will be back in France before long.
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Being a keen angler who visits France once or twice per year I've read this thread with interest since it began.
If I could, I'd like to address this post to all the fishery owners.
Last year I had 2 trips planned, both with same company. 10 weeks before the final payment for the first, the country went into lockdown, I contacted the owner and asked what he might be able to offer in the event we couldn't go. He replied nothing, claim it back off your insurance. No negotiation, just no. We cancelled and lost our deposit (£100).
The country started to open up by the second trip and all looked good at 10 weeks out. I contacted the owner by email and he said if the same situation occurred he would allow us to move the trip to a different date.
Just a few weeks before our departure everything went pear shaped again and it became obvious we wouldn't be able to go.
I spoke to the owner and his initial reply was sorry, can't help. I reminded him about the email saying he would offer a different date, he said sorry he'd forgot about that and then grudgingly offered a date in November.
Unfortunately everything was still in lockdown so we had to cancel that.
I'm now over £500 out of pocket, £400+ to the fishery and £100 on Eurotunnel.
My question is simple, why the hell should I trust any fishery with my money ever again?
I absolutely sympathise with their situation, but I expected a bit more understanding of mine, a bit of give and take. With the country, the world even, still in this Covid nightmare I haven't made any plans for fishing this year in France, I thought about asking if the fishery would move the date to later this year on the off chance that we might be able to go, after all I paid full price for the second trip, maybe if I agreed to pay a small extra towards it they might be forthcoming. But with so much uncertainty and the responses we got to last years issues, I've written it off as a bad loss.
Perhaps some owners should remember it's us, the paying public who pay them money and maybe work with us. So, for me no trip this year and none planned for next year either. The first time in more than 20 years I have no plans to go abroad and no deposit on any lake, usually I have deposits on lakes for the next 2 years.
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In reply to Post #144
Do you really think that costs can be reduced because anglers are not at a fishery ? The carp need feeding, in fact more so if anglers are not putting bait in, maintenance of land and facilities are always ongoing. For example in the last few weeks we have spent over 1000 euro's on tree surgeon to have 7 poplars downed. I am awaiting delivery of over 1400 euro' worth of oak planking and posts for swim renewal and have 20 ton of limestone chippings and gravel at a cost of around 850 euro's delivered. We spend 150 euro's per week on maize in the winter months and have ordered 2 ton of pellet for spring feeding program r at a cost of almost 2000 euro's although admittedly that will last well into the summer. Add to that the cost of machinery maintenance and vehicle upkeep we find that expenditure is constant unless we just want to sit back and let the place go to pot. Always consider also that France is one of the most highly taxed countries in Europe with around 45% of all income going in taxes of one sort or another. That is why in the bad old days so many fisheries operated under the radar over here. Don't get me wrong, we love the life and in a normal year have a comfortable and good quality of life so in no way do I intend to plead poverty nor that we are hard done by as fishery owners . Having said that I do know of several venue's that financially will not be able to see the year out. My issue is with the keyboard warriors that try and imply that all fishery owners are wealthy money grabbers sucking all the cash they can from the poor old anglers. The truth is that we are all struggling in this climate of Covid and dare I say it, Brexit, and from all that I have been told most venue's are being open, honest and fair with their clients. In our case we have a great set of regulars on both lakes and not once have we had a problem or bad feeling going either way in the present climate. In fact, the way we have and are supported by our anglers has been a major factor in cheering us up in the dark days of winter and for that I am most grateful.
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In reply to Post #143
What costs does a fishery have that can’t be reduced whilst anglers aren’t there that other businesses don’t have?
Fisheries can’t have their pie and eat it whilst it’s good, lots of businesses have been decimated!
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In reply to Post #142
Quite right Andy, we can agree on that sentiment however if you look at the detail of the Government help you will see that it is limited and although very helpful can never make up for the loss of all income. Unlike many business's that can reduce costs to virtually nil when on shutdown we as lake owners have much the same running costs as we do when full of anglers with the only difference being that we do not have the income.
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There is extensive financial help from the French Govornment.
Any help of will no doubt be based on previous taxable declarations ( sounds very similar to the help for self employed in the UK ) so some fisheries will get a better level of support, this will be due to the businesses strong ethics, honesty and integrity.
It's incredibly important to the French Govornment support these busnesses as small operations account for a significant part of their GDP. 
I'm sure all anglers would like to think that they are spending their hard earned money on a fishing trip where the owners have integrity and are open and honest with it's customers.
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In reply to Post #138
On your bandwagon again I see Andy. The fact is that any support for lakes in France is very limited and in no way even covers the running costs of a fishery. I feel it is about time that you and others of a similar mindset, realise that the current situation makes losers of us all with fisheries in France perhaps the biggest losers of all. It is probable that a years income will have been lost before anglers are fishing again in France and running costs don't diminish because anglers are not coming. Tell me of any business that can flourish after being closed for a year ? Whether you are a plumber, a carpenter or a fishery owner the statistics are the same fellah. We all lose so stop trying to score points-
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In reply to Post #139
Absolutely, there are always those that don't qualify. The usual standard is that your business is trading within the "system", you have been trading for a qualifying period and, as owner, the income from the business forms the major part of your income.
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In reply to Post #138
Depends if you qualify for help. Not all fisheries do.
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How's it going with bookings for early 2021 that look like they'll be cancelled due to border closures and travel restrictions both in france and the UK?
I have one that was moved from oct last year to March 21... I wonder if my booking will be moved or the fishery will just pocket my money....
The French government is financially supporting businesses including fishing that have been impacted by the Covid restrictions with handouts and they also have a furlough scheme. So the businesses/fisheries are being supported.
https://www.completefrance.com/living-in-france/working-in-france/increased-financial-aid-for-small-businesses-in-france-during-lockdown-1-6947546
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In reply to Post #136
That is discrimination! 
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In reply to Post #132
There is a English owned lake near me, he always has people from the Netherlands and France fishing on it, but not at the same price as advertised on his website.
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In reply to Post #133
Bounty Lakes encourages young local carpers to fish their lakes in the off season by offereing very reasonably priced day tickets. This keeps the bait going in and also keeps sweet the loacl entent cordiale
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Venues (Foreign)