BTW Revealed: ‘Home of Legends’ AKA Cavagnac – The Carp Specialist

KWO EDITORIALDecember 18, 2021 at 10:00 a.m

We can now crown Barry Jansen as a true 'payment water inspector'. He wanted to go one more time this fall and came across a body of water nicknamed 'Home of Legends'. He was immediately triggered, so contact was made with The Carp Specialist ! Below you can read his findings about Cavagnac.

‘Home of Legends’

Barry speaking: I'm surfing the site of The Carp Specialist, because I would like to go fishing one more time in the autumn. My eye falls on a water with the one-liner: 'Home of Legends'. That sounds pretty impressive and I'm concerned if this pertains to the carp swimming around or the people who come to fish? You could say that during a fishing holiday I am quite “laying” on my stretcher. I'm quite sure I'm not a “legend” ;-).

I scroll through the texts, reviews and videos and quickly draw the conclusion that this must be a mighty water. Heavy carp, few incidents of bycatch and a beautiful environment in the south of France. The water is located northwest of Montpellier, about 300 kilometers from the Spanish border. So you will pass quite a few carp if you book a holiday here… If you read on, you will come to the conclusion that this is a body of water that is definitely worth a visit!

Arrival in late autumn

When I leave it will be November and the holidays are already over. No traffic on the roads, so I arrive at my destination without too much delay. The Cavagnac team , consisting of David, Arny and Mike, are already enthusiastically waiting for me and I am invited for a cup of coffee in the restaurant. David starts to explain to me in perfect English what the team stands for.

They are very proud of the water and its inhabitants, but also of the rules that apply there. Before being taken to the swim I am provided with countless useful tips on fishing on Lac de Cavagnac.

Useful information

I'm quite tired from the trip and try to save everything on my hard drive as best as possible. The rules and important matters are also explained in a laminated folder that you get to your swim. After such a long journey you get a lot of new information and then it is useful if you can read it later. By the way, there are not so many rules that you will not like, they are all created for the good of the carp. I am advised to use Cavagnac boilies. They are fed regularly this winter period and of course many people will also fish with this, however I have committed myself to the team of Grain Baits and want to do my utmost to prove that these are also good boilies.

I also believe that there are no magic balls where you have to put the lid on the bucket before nightfall, otherwise the carp will come and steal the boilies from your bucket…. But, there is indeed a difference in quality and freshness and that can make a difference between catching and whites during such a week.

Let’s go!

The cuttings have been given names instead of numbers. I don't find that very practical myself, because if you don't know the names yet it is difficult to determine what a certain anecdote or information refers to. When David tells me about a certain place, I always have to look at the map. I must admit that giving names sounds more romantic than simply giving the cuttings a number ;-). This week I'm fishing for 'Sanctuary', which means 'refuge' and that's swim 10 on The Carp Specialist's site.

Later in the holiday I can possibly move to swim 8, the Chateau. Bailiff Mike takes me to the swim with all my belongings. He is a native Englishman who knows everything about the water and gives me a lot of tips. In addition, he himself is a carp angler in heart and soul and has given his whole life to Cavagnac and its powerful inhabitants. He leaves you completely free in the choices you make, but if you wish, he will even personally place your rigs on the hotpots.

It was an icy cold week!

I try to absorb as much useful information as possible, but plan to fish only the next morning. It is already getting dark when Mike sails back, I first want to make sure that my stuff is dry in the tent and that I can at least sleep tonight. It's going to freeze four to five degrees next night and I'm glad I brought a gas heater.

Misty morning

When I get up the next morning I look out over the calm, dark surface of the water covered with cool wisps of mist. When the first rays of the sun shine through this mist, it creates an almost mythical image. Can't wait to start fishing. Mike gave me a number of hotspots and decided for once not to be stubborn but just follow his advice.

It is absolutely no punishment to wake up with such a view.

I notice that I have healthy tension when sailing out the rods. Every run can mean a PB here and I want to do my utmost to realize this.

The water

The days that follow pass like crazy. The weather is lovely during the day and the temperature is just below 20 degrees during the day. During the day I sit in my bare chest with a cold beer enjoying the sun. As it is later in the year, the nights are long and really, really cold. At night, despite my new addition called 'gas heater', I lie on my stretcher shivering from the cold and then think of my family at home. I know they'll manage without me, but I still get wistful thinking about them. I also declare myself crazy at times like that by sitting here alone and away from my family… To get a carp on the mat!

In your bed at home you are warmer, but you can't catch carp there ;-).

I don't understand myself either, but after a while at home a kind of restlessness grows in me that can only be extinguished by getting carp on the mat. Nature, the tranquility and the excitement of fishing bring me back to an inner state of well-being that belongs to me completely. It's something that has been going on my whole life and that I have no influence on. You probably recognize it :-).

During the day it was perfectly warm compared to the long, cold nights around freezing.

Environment

The pool is 25 hectares in size and consists of a central part with three elongated arms. The bottom consists of a silty layer and the water is dotted with beautiful lily fields that form a natural separation between the cuttings. The water is already fantastically beautiful, what must it be like in the spring when the lilies are in bloom... Around the water are hills where horses and cows graze. You will not be bothered by noises from traffic or surrounding cities. There are countless birds flying their rounds that are so used to the fishermen that they literally come to steal the food from the bucket!

A mighty water where beautiful fish live."

The water is in the far south of France and so it can be quite hot here in the summer. In order to continue to provide the water with sufficient oxygen, pumps have been installed to ensure a constant supply of oxygen.

No complicated tricks with outward-turning, elastic rigs that glow green at full moon.

According to Mike, the fishing is actually very simple. No complicated tricks with outward-turning, elastic rigs that glow green at full moon. Just a size four hook, a good 20cm braided hooklength and a drop-off lead system!

Barry is immediately pleased with the varying stock on Cavagnac.

New start

In terms of catches, it is quite disappointing for me on Sanctuary. No matter what I try, I can't catch anything. Mike comes by a number of times to give me advice and I can see the desperation in his eyes growing with each new visit. For Mike, the week is not successful until it has been successful for me. I feel a bit of a schmuck because the week before was caught well at this swim. The reason Mark gives is that the carp are simply not in my zone. At night I hear carp splashing out of the water to my right and halfway through my holiday I decide to move to the 'Chateau'.

Barry moves out hoping for some action to save the holidays.

I call Mike early in the morning and ask if he can sail me there. That is no problem for him and he asks what time he should be with me. For Mike, the customer is clearly king. I start packing stuff and placing it on the wooden dock. Then disaster strikes, when I lift my stretcher out of the tent, it shoots into my back. That had also happened once before my vacation, but I thought it had healed nicely. So nothing is less true. “You're getting older dear daddy!”, my son Stijn would say.

Not a bad view of Cavagnac.

First blood!

When I arrive at the swim a little later, I take more Ibuprofen than is probably good for me. I must and will start fishing the next morning! Deep in the night I wake up from the jumping carp. Fortunately, the pain has subsided somewhat and seems to be not too bad. When the sun rises I start to put out the fishing rods again. Usually I fish with three rods, but this time I deliberately leave one rod aside for a while. I know they are active in this bay and want to wait until I see them jump so I can put a fishing rod in with a handful of food.

The new tactic worked surprisingly well.

I don't have to wait long, because a carp jumps immediately. I row carefully to that spot and place my rig very precisely there. This turns out to be a golden formula, because after a few hours my fishing rod ends. I have a number of spots for the night and they eventually bring in fish too. Fortunately, I still catch my carp this holiday. I can't get the lake record on the side, but I don't have to. I am having a great time catching some carp and enjoying the view of the castle and the surrounding hills. Despite the lesser start I have a great holiday!

Environment – ​​9.5

The surroundings are simply beautiful. The water is situated in a hilly area and here the busy business life has not yet left its mark on its design. When you cruise on the water, each bay has its own characteristic appearance. When the water lilies are in bloom in spring, Cavagnac is at its most beautiful. Even in the autumn when the fog moves over the water, you have wonderful views!

Facilities – 8.5

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't place much value on the facilities. I come to fish and not for a hot shower or meal. If you do value this, you have come to the right place at Cavagnac. Breakfast and dinner is made for you on request and delivered to your spot. The toilets and showers are very neat and well maintained. There is a canteen where you can relax during the week and exchange strategies with fellow anglers.

Guidance – 10

Normally I don't mention the guidance separately, but in this case I do bailiff Mike very short. I've been fishing on pay waters for a very long time, but I've rarely met anyone who cares so much about the guests who fish there. I say 'guests' on purpose, because Mike sees you as a guest on his water and will do everything he can to make sure you have a good time and especially to catch fish! Besides Mike, David and Arny are also working full time to make sure you have a great week!

Inventory – 9.5

The file is finger licking good. The carp will probably not swim into your net and you will certainly have to do something to get a picture with them. Cavagnac considers the carp stock as the most important thing they have and they are very careful with their inhabitants.

Swims– 8

If you look at the card with the Swims distribution, there are relatively many Swims on it. Personally, I find it important that I can switch between possible places at my swim. I also find it annoying when other fishermen come close to where I am fishing. However, the planning always takes into account the number of fishermen who have booked that week. The swims are never all occupied so that you can still switch during your holiday and certainly have enough space to "do your own thing"!

With an average of 9.1, that is a very high score for Cavagnac!

Team Cavagnac you are doing a great job! Keep up the good performance and hope to meet you soon again!