Rainbow Lake/Gravier
2005 I arranged a trip to Lac de Curton near Bordeux, and one for Gravier near Dijon. It happened in a collaboration with Peter Lichenberg, and the tackle-shop “Sport Dres” addressed in Copenhagen. The 2 most famuos carp-waters in Europe these days, and they set the world-records recent years.
Most difficult lake to access was Gravier. Lichenberg had provided me with a phone-number, a date and time of day to do this call.
It was the only chance if, as an outsider, you wanted to book a week the following season.
A call to the owner of Gravier was made as agreed. 55 long minutes, the mobile is on redial but it’s constantly busy! Slowly I lose faith, and find it hard to believe when Luke Moffat finally picked it up. After my short presentation his first word is “good work Martin! I still have a few weeks available”.
One week in early December 2006 were booked for 4 persons.
First trip: February 2006 the first team of Danish anglers, drove south to Lac de Curton. The means of transport became an overly old auto-camper, which during a closer inspection, had left me in strong doubt as to whether it could handle the task. Arriving at the finish line, a cracked radiator-hose had been the only problem along the way. It could luckily be fixed at the roadside.
This week’s fishing was a very dried-out affair. Klaus Hjort and Janick Brockdorf had some activity in their swim. Klaus caught a single 19kg mirror.
Lichenberg and I, looked back on a freezing cold week, with no fish in the camp. Kim Christensen and Mikael, also fought a hopeless battle against treacherous carps and cold wheater. The atmosphere at Rainbow Lake exudes big fish. Between the many islands, unrealistically large monsters, hide in the depths. When sleeping at lake side, seeds for big dreams are planted in the soil.
Cancellation: Before it was time for Gravier, live had taken a new turn. I had pushed on for years. Family and finances, paid the price for my excessive absence.
There was a need to straightened out all threads. The national “Travel & Guarantee Fund” informed me in a letter, that my travel agency should deposit “250.000kr/33.000euro” if it were to continue operations. It became the finale of that adventure! My hunger for fishing, had to step aside.
After some heavy thinking, I opted out of the December-trip. Kim Frederiksen stepped in, and bought my ticket to Luke Moffat’s legendary Gravier.
Unfortunately, this trip didn’t show up to be the big bang either. The 4 participants Peder Lichenberg, Kim Frederiksen, Jørgen and Mikael, had to be content with a couple of modest 12-13kg carps. But the connection was established, and future predicted much larger individuals on the bank.
New base: Motorcycles always had my interest. A void left from fishing, got filled with a Harley Davidson, and the community concerning these machines.
Railway became my work-place for years to come. At late age, I got educated and added “Track-Technician” to the cv. This special industry, offered plenty work-hours and a sensible pay.
An old cottage nearby “Lake Hakkemosen” was bought in 2013. When savings had grown to a suitable size, I demolished the house almost to the ground. It would take a year and a half, before it was completed in 2019.
Since 2006, there only been occasional trips with the rods. Over time, gloving fish-fever had burst in to bright light. At end of the construction project, my car got started and the course was set for France.
Martin Stormly 2020.
