How did the competition go for you?
David and I hadn't fished together since the days of the AFCPL (long before the FFPS). This is my second MFC. Last year, I wasn't able to prefish, but this year Lake Vassivière is only 4 hours from my home. So this year I've been able to take the time to prepare properly.
But during the prefishing, I quickly realize that the task is going to be difficult because, apart from the small unmeshed pike-perch, it's very hard to catch fish due to the fishing pressure over the last few weeks.
All the predators are generally stuck to the bottom and difficult to spot with a live probe. So we decided to focus our prefishing on perch. We found the right technique, the Carolina rig, and identified some interesting spots, which were stony breaks dotted with stumps.
We also caught several pikes using Humminbird side imaging.
Several fish are caught in prefishing, perch up to 37 cm, zander up to 60 cm and pike up to 85 cm.
The strategy was correct and we were aiming for a top 10 finish for this MFC 2.
Round 1:
We start the first two hours by stalking pike with the side imaging. Unfortunately, we didn't find many fish in the areas we had initially targeted.
We still managed to get a touch, but the fish didn't bite.
We finish the day at our perch stations. We catch several unmeshed perch and end the day with a cut of a meshed pike and two 25 and 27 cm perch. The top 10 is out of reach and we're a little disappointed, as we're provisionally 41st.
Round 2: aiming for "damage limitation
For this second round, the same strategy, starting with pike, but with no result. So we switched to perch. Lots of hits again, with a cut of mesh pike, pike-perch and non-mesh pike, and finally 3 mesh perch between 25 and 32 cm.
We finished in 29th place out of 103 teams. We're in the top third, which isn't too bad after all.
What are the difficulties encountered during the MFC in terms of fishing?
MFC's difficulties are as follows:
- 3 species to fish, which multiplies the number of techniques and equipment required.
- No quota, a perch angler can compete with a pike angler.
- A point-counting system that requires consistency over the two heats if you hope to place well.
- Over 100 teams entered = 1 chance in 100 of winning.
- French Championship held over a single weekend = no room for error.
I think it's the toughest competition in France for carnivores.
The good things about your participation in MFC?
The FFPS, Mercury, the volunteers, the infrastructure and the production were all very well organized. It was very fluid and well thought-out. I saw the live shows, and the three presenters were really good.
What's more, a number of brands came out to support the competitors, which was really top-notch!
The rules were applied rigorously, which is essential to maintain sporting fairness.
Is there anything you'd like to see improved in the way MFC is run or organized?
Lots of bugs in the application for recording takes. This is an important point to improve next year.
Changes to the regulations in the last few weeks, seen at the briefing on Saturday morning, are quite stressful.
Will you be back for the Mercury Fishing Cup?
Competition has always been my priority in fishing for over 15 years, and particularly in catfish fishing. The aim has never been simply to try and win, but above all to take part in order to give the best of myself and thus progress more rapidly.
I hope to be able to take part next year, as the competition is getting more and more expensive, and I'd like to thank my partners who have been helping me for several years:
ZECK Fishing, Navicom, Mercury, BassBoatEurope, Fish&Furious.
