I thought that I'd do a quick write-up of the week I spent at Bounty Lakes (9-16 Apr) with my 14yo son (he's a keen and experienced angler). I booked Bounty based on recommendations on here.
- We fished B2, Swim 7. I'd fish that swim again; it gave access to a good range of features - marginal bushes, island margin, and open water. That said, every swim that was occupied produced a lot of fish.
- We took 5kg of boilies each (Me: Monster Tiger Nut + Red Amo. Ewan: 5 Star Baits Fish Mix). 5kg each was plenty, because each rig went out with a scoop of particle and a handful of crushed boilies. It was very much fishing for a bite at at time. This was a great way to calibrate the feed to the activity; more bites equaled more boatloads of bait, and vice versa.
- Rigs: really straightforward. I started out with Ronnie rigs and was almost certainly overthinking it. I ended the week fishing really basic snowman/KD rigs on lead-clip and tubing set ups, and caught perfectly well. The advice about longer than usual hooklengths due to silt was good; I was fishing 12-14" rigs, and they worked very well.
- The advice was that a bait boat was necessary. I'm not sure that was true, but everyone was using them and it certainly helped with the accuracy and efficiency of our fishing. That said, one of Ewan's most productive spots was fished by me casting a lead over to the bank where the relevant bush was, followed by Ewan attaching a rig and dropping it in the edge. I think that the same effect could have been achieved with clipping up and very accurate casting, but the 'bite at a time' baiting pattern was definitely helped by using a bait boat.
- Catfish: I scoffed a bit when Burt the bailiff said that I couldn't land the bigger cats using my spod rod and 50lb braid. I was wrong, and paid for it by being smashed by a big cat when I targeted them specifically. Next time, I'll be going out with proper kit and 100lb braid.
- Overall? A fantastic venue for a first French trip - and indeed for the more experienced anglers. A few of the fish had slightly damaged mouths, but the bailiffs are as stringent as they can be on good mats, good landing and unhooking practice and the use of carp care products. The facilities are excellent - the bait freezer in the same room as the numerous charging points, the clean and hot showers, and a really, really good food package. Given the size of the breakfast and dinner, we didn't need any lunch beyond snacks. Burt and Liam work very hard to keep the venue looking good and to look after the anglers. Their presentation of a Bounty 'best angler; T-shirt to Ewan at the end of the week was a really nice touch.
Bottom line: the day I got back, I booked another week in October half term. I think that says it all.
- We fished B2, Swim 7. I'd fish that swim again; it gave access to a good range of features - marginal bushes, island margin, and open water. That said, every swim that was occupied produced a lot of fish.
- We took 5kg of boilies each (Me: Monster Tiger Nut + Red Amo. Ewan: 5 Star Baits Fish Mix). 5kg each was plenty, because each rig went out with a scoop of particle and a handful of crushed boilies. It was very much fishing for a bite at at time. This was a great way to calibrate the feed to the activity; more bites equaled more boatloads of bait, and vice versa.
- Rigs: really straightforward. I started out with Ronnie rigs and was almost certainly overthinking it. I ended the week fishing really basic snowman/KD rigs on lead-clip and tubing set ups, and caught perfectly well. The advice about longer than usual hooklengths due to silt was good; I was fishing 12-14" rigs, and they worked very well.
- The advice was that a bait boat was necessary. I'm not sure that was true, but everyone was using them and it certainly helped with the accuracy and efficiency of our fishing. That said, one of Ewan's most productive spots was fished by me casting a lead over to the bank where the relevant bush was, followed by Ewan attaching a rig and dropping it in the edge. I think that the same effect could have been achieved with clipping up and very accurate casting, but the 'bite at a time' baiting pattern was definitely helped by using a bait boat.
- Catfish: I scoffed a bit when Burt the bailiff said that I couldn't land the bigger cats using my spod rod and 50lb braid. I was wrong, and paid for it by being smashed by a big cat when I targeted them specifically. Next time, I'll be going out with proper kit and 100lb braid.
- Overall? A fantastic venue for a first French trip - and indeed for the more experienced anglers. A few of the fish had slightly damaged mouths, but the bailiffs are as stringent as they can be on good mats, good landing and unhooking practice and the use of carp care products. The facilities are excellent - the bait freezer in the same room as the numerous charging points, the clean and hot showers, and a really, really good food package. Given the size of the breakfast and dinner, we didn't need any lunch beyond snacks. Burt and Liam work very hard to keep the venue looking good and to look after the anglers. Their presentation of a Bounty 'best angler; T-shirt to Ewan at the end of the week was a really nice touch.
Bottom line: the day I got back, I booked another week in October half term. I think that says it all.
In reply to Post #1
Bottom line: the day I got back, I booked another week in October half term. I think that says it all.
Nuff said. I cannot recommend Bounty highly enough.
Bottom line: the day I got back, I booked another week in October half term. I think that says it all.
Nuff said. I cannot recommend Bounty highly enough.
In reply to Post #2
👍👍👍👍 don't need to say anymore.
Roll on next week 😊😊
👍👍👍👍 don't need to say anymore.
Roll on next week 😊😊
In reply to Post #1
See how my son gets in later this year and if he is still interested in fishing in a few years this place is definitely top of my list to take him on the dads and lads deal. The place sounds ideal
See how my son gets in later this year and if he is still interested in fishing in a few years this place is definitely top of my list to take him on the dads and lads deal. The place sounds ideal
In reply to Post #1
Good wright up that mate , roll on next week 👍
Good wright up that mate , roll on next week 👍
In reply to Post #1
Brilliant write up, excellent place to have a dabble. Can't wait till we're out there Ralph, might have to get 100lb braid for the spod rod then 🙃
Brilliant write up, excellent place to have a dabble. Can't wait till we're out there Ralph, might have to get 100lb braid for the spod rod then 🙃