This is a picture gallery from my very long 125 night session at the most famous carp fishing lake there is….Lac de St.Cassien. If you would like to read the full story it is published in two parts in Carpworlds International Carper nos 217/218 or if your German it is in the Sept 08′ copy of German publication Carp Mirror.
I managed to land 69 carp. 17 of which were over 20kg!! Three of these were over the magic 25kg mark.
Jake Langely-Hobbs
My first Cassien sunrise.
My first Cassien carp 13.8kg
22.8kg and my second carp over 20kg!
An old warrior
This is my fave fish of the session!
My second fish was rather big! 25kg
A great looking common
Thanks Marcus!!!
It was time for the big guns!!
I am sure we have met already 26 days before!
oh yes!! a sixty pounder!
The second time we meet in 10 weeks! well it was 25.6kg! I really wanted a 20kg common
His tail is very sad, but 21kg is his weight!
How the half & half looks in the water.
Well it was 21.5kg actually!
The fish went nuts!!
My dogs...i know!!
My favourite Cassien method
Such a great picture!
!_1)
Have you been fed by Jake?
For guests you know!
One long old common
Elite boilies
Another 50!
Rabbit!
He thinks i can't see him!
Just stunning, fish and the dropback!
Ray mears!!
Torpedo common!
Smile please!
Big hookbaits on the way!
Air drying in a sling!
All tied up.
They keep coming!
Gorgeous!
A night self take 40
The boat was needed!
Another lump at night!
Curry night!
Catch a big one!
My beautiful craft!
Bit more tlc required!
Early days!!
My 17th over 20kg..22.9!
Tags: 20kg, 25kg, 27.5kg, blog, carp, carp mirror, Carpworld, cassien, france, jake langley-hobbs, lac de st.cassien
February 12, 2009 at 11:59 pm |
wow!!!!!!! thats all i can say about that! can u night fish the place? i’ve been told u can’t so just wondered how u managed to stay so long there? i need to go but looks daunting to go on your own esp wen you need a boat and help when netting fish etc. would be very gratefull if you emailed back
steve
November 10, 2009 at 1:10 pm |
Hi Jake ,
Greetings from Artur Jakimowicz (one, two, three) and Przemek Sydor.
We are going on Cassien (end November) and I have a few questions for you.
Whether these are beavers time for the carp catching on Cassien?
Whether as the expert you will suggest us something (places) and perhaps what balls you are recommending.
We are going into two persons (I and Artur) for two weeks angling.
Great thanks
Peter Janus
November 11, 2009 at 4:39 pm |
One two three!! Hi Artur, hi Peter.
The end of November should be a great time at Cassien. I am sure the carp will be eating like mad still and it just depends on the weather I guess. The temperatures must still be warmer down there, and this will be the most important aspect I suppose. Apparently the water level is very low at the moment and this could cause you problems. Maybe have a look in the North arm where it is deeper, or take the risk and fish around American beach where it is relatively shallow. I was catching carp in 1/3 metres from the edges in december last year when it was really cold and there always seem to be carp in this area as it is near the reserves.
A good quality fishmeal boilie always works well at Cassien. The bream do like them too, but thgis will only attract the carp into your swim. Make sure your baits are hard and at least 20mm and maybe try a snowman with a bright pop-up. Orange and pink worked well for me. Just a handful of bait is enough and I would not use any pellet or particle. Just boilies.
Good luck…I will keep my fingers crossed for you both.
November 11, 2009 at 8:32 pm |
Hi Big Hunter
I thanking for your very helpful answer. After return I will write to you , what results were. Great Thanks
December 13, 2009 at 7:53 pm |
Hi Jake,
The water level was very low how you wrote. We catching in the north part at depth from 15 up to 25 metres. We caught the carp 14,500 and 25,250 kg. In next days water fast to raise the level and carps stop biting.
Greetings from Artur
Peter
March 25, 2010 at 5:44 pm |
Hi I was thinking of fishing this lake and can find some company’s offering trips etc. My question is do you need a permit to fish this lake or is it the same as all lakes in france anyone can fish them and do i need a rod licence as in the uk.
Many Thanks
March 25, 2010 at 7:36 pm |
In France you need a regional Carte Peche (fishing license) to fish on all public lakes and rivers. Cassien is a public lake. 65 Euros is the cost. Any company offering trips should be able to advise you.
Cheers
Jake
April 7, 2010 at 3:50 pm |
Hi I am going Cassien for two weeks at the end of July. I understand that no night fishing is allowed at this time of year. Didyou take many of your fish at night or will I be in with a chance during day sesseions. Also could you advise me on the depths I should be loking to fish in as I understand it can be very deep in places.
Thanks
Dan
April 7, 2010 at 5:50 pm |
Hi Dan.
I never fished at that time of year really mate. It does however fish well in the day as the temperatures are high and as more people are fishing days only (apparently!) the fish do seem to respond to the bait that is introduced during the daytime.
I think as a rule the smaller fish are certainly more active and hungry during this period but never rule out the chance of a biggie being around. Depth wise it all depends on the water levels to be honest. If the water is high I would fish the shallow depths, margins. If the water is very low then fish the deeper parts. I never fished past 28-30ft and had most of my fish in depths from 13 -21 ft. I particularly like fishing gradual slopes or the bottoms of these features. Steve Briggs always targets a depth of around 25ft, so everyone is different and I think you have to find out what works for you. All the best and have a great trip.
Cheers
Jake and the dogs!!
May 17, 2010 at 7:00 pm |
Hi Jake,
Thanks for your reply cant wait to get down there and give it a good go. I have been following your fishing adventures on the net and in carp world and wish you all the best in Italy. Keep catching those monster carp
Cheers
Dan
November 24, 2010 at 11:40 am |
nice fish jake …any changes to the rules for 2010
November 24, 2010 at 7:08 pm |
2010 or 2011…I don’t know John as I have not fished there since May 2009. My Cassien days are over for a few years I reckon!! I do miss the place though….
March 30, 2012 at 2:30 pm |
Well seems i have stumbled onto the right place to ask the following questions then.
1) Suggested tent camping locals with facilities?
2) Where would I get the fishing permit, from a local town hall or such perhpas or do they sell them at bait shops like back in the USA?
Many thanks never fished France before if it works out should be a blast as the two of us hope to catch carp and wels catfish if possible.
April 1, 2012 at 10:26 am |
If you are fishing in August then you are allowed to stay at the lake, but you are not supposed to fish. i.e. daytime hours for fishing, usually half an hour before dawn and half an hour after dusk. Providing it is not a whole herd, then you can bivvy up, and sleep at the lake. There are campsites but none are actually by the lake. There is a large one about 15km away. Permits/Carte de Peche can be bought from the restaurants usually, or there is a tackle shop in Montauroux. I hope your trip is successful and the levels are at a healthy level. One other thing – watch out for thieves. They work the lake in the summer ,especially at night, and if you look like a victim, you will be robbed.
Jake
June 1, 2012 at 6:38 pm |
Hello. I wanted to camp at Lac de Saint Cassien but can’t find any campsites there. I won’t have a car so wanted to camp right at the lake. Your website is the only one I’ve found showing someone doing that. Looks like a great trip too!
Did you just turn up and pitch a tent somewhere? Is that allowed?
I’d love to know.
Thanks Adam
June 1, 2012 at 7:03 pm |
Camping at the lake is forbidden due to fire risks. They are very strict about this. I was fishing, and therefore staying at the lake was allowed. This has also been stopped now – no night fishing, no camping. Nearest campsite is about 15km away.
Cheers
June 1, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Ok thanks. I’ll try sort something out.
June 2, 2012 at 12:29 pm |
Hello Jake
What a delight your blog is. I have been dreaming of going to cassien for over 20 years. I remember fishing Darenth and Dartford when the news of Kevin ellis 76 pounder came to life. Since that day i have thought about it alot.Then i got married had kids ect ect, When my son was 10 i took him to Castle lakes in france for his first trip abroad, we have been fishing that lake up to three times a year for a week or a fortnight at a time.The stories Ron wells who runs the lake told us from the catches he has had at cassien was gob smacking. Each time we visited he would show us pictures and dvds of his winter trips to cassien.He had a brace of 50s WOW. Any way the reason for this entry to your blog is simple my son jamie is now 16, I have got all the gear together over the last three years for my first visit to Cassien that has been an obsession of mine for so many years i am 42 now i think i was 16 when mr ellis had that wacker out.Any way October the 19th i travel down for 2 weeks and we both cant wait. Any help you can give us regarding bait were a good place to start bait etc would be of great help. I have contacted a fellow down there called Matt that has sorted parking my car and a bit of guiding out for us when we arrive. This trip means the world to me to finally go there and put a bait in the lake. I know the lake is hard dont get me wrong but dreams can come true and to see my jamie holding a Cassien monster would be my number one thing to do before i die.
Jake thank you for taking the time to read my message tight lines were ever your destiny takes you.
Kind Regards
Clive
June 2, 2012 at 2:52 pm |
I think Matt has established himself as a reliable guide at Cassien, and he seems to get his clients on the fish. I would take his advice Clive as it’s a long time since I was at Cassien, and it will all depend on water levels, weather, anglers present, swims available, and whether you can do nights or you have to do days only.
As for bait, I always had success at Cassien with a fish meal bait. You do get nuisance species so either fish two 20mm bottom baits(or even bigger), or ensure your hook baits are very hard. I often fished a snowman with a 20mm pop-up, 20mm bottom bait, or sometimes two 20mm pop-ups. I had very good results using massive hookbaits – talking 30-35mm. At Cassien with regards freebies – I would always advise the little and often approach, and if you still have a hook bait on your hair, when the carp arrive, then you stand a good chance of catching. Cassien isn’t as difficult as people think, but many overbait right from the off and that’s where they go wrong. Location (Matt) and follow my advice regards hookbaits, and you won’t go wrong.
Good luck to you and your son.
Jake Langley-Hobbs
(Essential Baits B5 or Black Snail will be a good choice for Cassien in my eyes – talk to Mike Willmott)
June 5, 2012 at 1:01 am
Thank you Jake for your advise
Best Regards
Clive