Jan 2026

A review from Stuart Atkins at The Tackle Company, 27th Jan

# TRIP REVIEW #
An honest review from Stuart Atkins at The Tackle Company, who fished Jonchery in September 2025:

We returned yesterday from our trip to Jonchery Lake this is our full review of everything.

First of all the fishing (most important), this was an absolutely fantastic week with 156 carp landed and one sturgeon with 8 anglers exclusive booking. The group had 9 over 50 to 59.2 and not a clue on 40s but around 25-30 to 49.14. The fish are absolutely stunning and to be fair hence why we rebooked, you will catch a mirror and go wow at 30lb plus, which to be fair when you fish in France it is normally bland fish and you are going for the bigger residents (not here)!!

The lake is 30 acres in size but we normally leave the whole bottom end, so in reality we fish around 25 acres. Obviously if the fish move into that area we would, but on a normal week that would have 1-2 anglers in.

The fishing then, all done by casting using boilies only!! No bait boats, no particles or pellets - particles would help on this lake just to pre-occupy the other creatures that live in the lake. (away from your rigs)

The swims - all excellent, large and fit two anglers in, be warned the ground is very hard.

Mark (Bailiff) is an excellent host along side his wife Anita the chef. Mark will help you if you need him to but our group like to crack on - learn a lake - and be FISHERMAN.

Two swims we don’t fish are 1 and 3 basically either end of the lake these two more singles than doubles we can cover much of there water (casting) from the other swims.

Facilities - on the lake we have a building with kitchen, shower and toilet which is very tidy and clean only bad point the door to the shower did not close, we had a lady on one of the other lakes so don’t know if it made her feel uncomfortable.

The other lakes - so we booked the main lake holds up to 12 anglers, plus 2 other lakes that all use this facility so could be 16 in total. I never actually asked if they can use the kitchen as half our group cooked It would be a lot of waiting around if two different lakes fancied a roast dinner 😂.

The all inclusive food was used by 6 anglers that week and all said very good food except marks night 😂 (joking he stepped in well when wifey was ill).

One of the other lakes do drive down twice a day - other uses bikes which would be better for both of the further lakes.

The part from earlier about creatures you don’t want near your rigs - Muscrats and Crays - the big rats goggle them live in the water and will pull your hookbaits off and we think small Crays nipping the baits but the rats the big issue as I spoke with Mark he said they are territorial. So maybe move your spots, use artificial or wrap / harden baits. We found the more fish feeding in your area also kept them away more but not completely.

The Conclusion - This is an excellent lake in my eyes for a group or as individuals bookings. I would say medium difficulty or just under. 

We have been twice now and would go back again, so that should tell you everything, if you follow where we fish 🐟

Hosts / team excellent- if your interested in booking its done through Angling Lines - Carp Fishing in France (also very good to deal with)

There will be a full write up on our website next few days www.thetacklecompany.co.uk

The End.