Julian

Hi Mate, Happy to say all images are UK waters and fish Think the ones with the four rods are Birch Grove, just outside Shrewsbury Cheers... J

Good topic, where’s Bruno when you need him!? I would think the more you breed any strain the less stable it will become and the more susceptible it will be to mortality. You only have to look to other animals for examples. My mum used to be well into breeding German Shepard dogs for showing - proper pedigree stuff at no small amount of money - but you only had to look at the peak of the breed to see that they were susceptible to health problems (Shepard’s in particular suffered from heart problems) and thus those with the best lineage often had a reduced life expectancy over your average mongrel. Most other breeds that had been bred and bred were the same, many pedigree Old English Sheepdogs suffered with blindness for example. I would hazard a guess that the same think happens in fish breeding. I assume the way to get bigger and bigger fish is to take the biggest offspring from each batch and use them as the brood stock for then next lot, and then pick the biggest offspring from those and repeat the process ad infinitum. The problem with this inbreeding is that any genetic traits (good or bad) will often be passed down from generation to generation, and if you take the example of the pedigree dogs having problems when inbreeding occurs, then I can only assume the same thing would happen if the same was done with fish? I think Rob has hit the nail on the head with regard to mortality. I know of a few waters that have had simmo’s where they have not faired as well as they could have, but stocking density may well have been a factor. Stu, I think the rib problems you mention might be some form of cysts – I’ve seen this on a number of simmos but in many different places and often away from the rib cage. As for setting ourselves up for a fall, I think it’s down to individual fishery managers/owners to decide which is the best strain for their particular situation. I’m currently involved with a syndicate lake where we spent nearly three months debating which strain to stock, and the last thing on our minds was how quick they would become 30’s. We eventually settled on what might be a slower growing strain when compared to some, but I’m quite confident they will be among the nicest looking carp in the country even if it takes them a few years to get ‘big’. They will only be going in at between 5lb and 7lb and will be the only carp in the water, but we filled all the syndicate places within a week and the waiting list in operation could fill it five times over already, so I’m happy to say that there are still those anglers out there to whom size is not everything. I guess the key to long term breeding is to keep mixing the strain to ensure longevity; after all, we wouldn’t want them to end up looking like the royal family!

Gaz, I’m in the same boat with regard to time on the bank. My wife gave birth to our first a few months ago and it’s been really difficult to get out much since then, and before, as I spent months getting renovations finished of the house prior to the new arrival. I used to do overnighters on some decent specimen carp waters but I knew as far back as last year that time was going to be a real problem this year. I decided that if I tried to get out on my specimen waters and failed, I would get really down hearted, so instead I came up with a plan for the year that would see me getting out a bit whenever I had an hour or two. Basically I looked at all the waters within a ten minute drive of home, and then did reccys to see which looked the most fun. I picked a proper little runs water right on my doorstep, which had I fished in the normal manner would soon have got boring, so instead I gave myself the challenge of only fishing off the top. Time is still my biggest problem, so I decided to start doing a few early morning sessions in the week before work. If I get up at 4am I can be at the water by quarter past and get a couple of hours fishing in before I have to leave for work. I’ve also been doing a bit on the local canal where I’ve set myself the challenge of catching a carp, irrespective of size. I’ve even broken the old coarse rod out in pursuit of some decent perch! If I’m totally honest I’d rather be targeting specimens, but I have to say that I’ve not has as much fun in ages, it’s brought a breath of fresh air to my pursuits and I’m sure it will only strengthen my game when I’m able to get back on the case with the biggies once Izaak is a little older. I guess fishing, like anything, is what you make it - so don’t sell the gear mate – just try and find a different way to use it!

Hi Martin, You may find a few tips here: http://www.askanglers.co.uk/index.php?news=250 Spodding is quite easy with a little practice and is a great way of applying feedbait at any distance. J

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, How can I confirm first edition status of a copy of ‘A Carp Water’ (Wood Pool), by BB? I hope to sell this book, which is a great copy, with an unclipped d/w.1958. Any suggestions appreciated! Chris --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello, I am looking to get back into river/lake fishing after a 20 year break, I live in the Chester area and I would like to know where to start, i.e. licences, permits, costs, best places to go. I am looking for feeder/ledger and a bit of float fishing, not really into the whole pole lark, I'm currently looking to buy some good second-hand gear to make a start. Many thanks, Stu. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, Can somebody tell me how to make groundbait up for carp and what the best things to put in it are? Many Thanks, Perry --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting this, as I’ve been doing a bit on the canals myself recently. I started off by targeting two different stretches, one of about six miles and one of about 9 miles. The first thing I did was to walk the stretches and ask around – sounds daft but you need to be sure they are in there – you get loads of he-said-she-said stuff and ‘my mate said, etc, etc’ – but try and find actual evidence before you start spending time on a section that might have few, if any, carp. Then I started walking the stretches regularly (reconnaissance, not fishing), mainly the areas where I had heard of carp being seen or caught. It can be very difficult spotting carp in canals so I find the best way is to concentrate on a length at a time. My method was to walk a two or three mile stretch chucking in dog biscuits at any kind of feature that looked carpy – don’t be shy – chuck plenty in as the local wildlife will also have their fill. Then, when you have done a few miles, walk back to where you started looking for signs of carp taking the mixers. I started doing this every other day back in June on my targeted stretch and it took nearly four weeks before I spotted my first carp! So depending on density it can be hard going but persistence will pay off. From reliable accounts of carp sightings/captures in the stretches I had targeted, I then plotted them all on an OS Map, and having studied the results, found that they might not be moving about as much as people had suggested. I reckon the amount they travel will depend on traffic in the vicinity, locks they would have to navigate and how easy it is to find food in the immediate area. I found one spot that ticked the boxes on all three and you’d be amazed at how many sightings and captures came from just one stretch, no more than three miles in length, and most captures that I’d tracked down form different people (mainly coarse anglers) came from a one mile stretch within the three mile stretch, if you know what I mean - and hence that’s the bit I’m targeting. I found a lovely little location near the area where I spotted my first fish (which was almost halfway along the mile in question – coincidence?) that had three wide bends where the boat traffic hugged the near bank to go past, leaving the far bank completely untouched. One one of these bends the water on the far side has shallowed to leave a lovely shelf now completely lined with marginal bushes, weed, and a few odd pads. There are loads of other fishy spots right along the stretch, but thinking in terms of; security, shelter and food – this one just seemed to be the best and I was sure they would at least be visiting it on a regular basis. My guess was that when dealing with carp that may be nomadic, pre-baiting was going to be the better method to get them coming back to my intended spots on a regular basis. Typically, I’ve only had the chance to fish my spot about four times since the season started, but I’ve been pre-baiting it at least twice, if not three times a week, whenever I’m passing. The last few times I’ve been doing it on my way back from another venue and I’ve seen carp three times over the last four weeks – each time right over my baited spot – too regular to be coincidence I think? The time of day that you fish it may also have an effect. It may just be coincidence but each time I’ve seen carp around my baited areas it’s been between 6am – 9am – however this might differ from water to water, but again my plan has been to try and fish when there is no boat traffic. Nights are not allowed on my stretch so I’ve been doing 4am-9am. I’ve been pre-baiting now for nearly eight weeks, little and often, and I’m quite confident that when I get back on properly (hopefully in the next few weeks) that the fish won’t be too far away. They are not massive in my stretch, but it’s the challenge that I’m after and I’m hoping all the hard work will pay off!

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi anglers, I’m Mark (15) and I’m looking for carp tips. I’d like to find out the best ways to fish a pool with a reedy bed I’ve tried popping up a boilie but it does not seem to work? Thanks, Mark Jones --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi! Could anyone tell me how to attach hollow core carp bungee on a margin pole as I have been told that it is quite difficult? Thanks, Kev --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nice one Den, Absolutely stunning – sounds like a great session!

"...The oldest is ‘Hanako’, a female fish living in a pond in Higashi Shira-kawa, in Japan’s Gifu Prefecture. In 1974, she was aged at 228 years!"

Just interested to know what species of fish grows to be the oldest? Take a look at this news piece I’ve just added, where they estimate the fish to be 120 years old! http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/A_Very_La...geon_Story.html Does anybody know of anything older? Cheers… Julian

Hi Norrie, It certainly is one of the top rallies; I’ve been up there many times and I rank it as the best tarmac event in the country – but it’s not for the faint hearted - too many big drops into the sea! I think you can get a standard set of pace notes from the organisers, but I notice the official site is down at the moment, try emailing Mark Goossens at mark@goossens.uk.net as I’m sure he would be able to help. You could also get him to look at the www.BritishRally.co.uk forum – there is a massive Mull contingent on there. He could also have a look at our fan site at: www.TourOfMull.co.uk Cheers… Julian

The postman knocked on the door to give me my copy this morning – can’t wait to get stuck in! Just wondered if anybody else has read it yet? More at: http://www.carpbooks.com/

Went back to Deep Hayes last night for a few hours surface fishing. I went in the evening as a friend has joined but he’s not as keen on the early morning sessions as me so we went down after work! Straight away I noticed a massive difference in the behaviour of the fish. Although they were about in numbers like normal, they were much more on edge and were much harder to get going – no doubt because for most of the day they had been subjected to all manner of ‘approaches’ from the local school kids, who now on summer holidays, were occupying quite a few swims, though in fairness, the main competition between them seemed to be who could shout the loudest! – better that than stuck at home on the Play station though, I suppose. Either way it was a good hour before I managed to connect with my first fish, a little mirror of around 7lb. As the fish neared netting I could clearly see the dog biscuit just inside its mouth, but once netted and up on the mat I was amazed that the hook and biscuit had now moved deep into its mouth. I always carry some long nosed pliers but even with those it was a job to reach the hook and get it out. The only thing I can put it down to is the barbless hook (which unfortunately the club insists upon) as it must have dislodged immediately upon netting before the fish tried to take it further back. Another example of how they can end up doing more harm than good, in my opinion. Shortly after the sun dipped below the trees behind me I moved around the other side of the lake to fish areas that were still in sun allowing me to spot the fish, but the remainder of the session proved extremely frustrating. I was hooking them but just could not bank them – I think I lost around seven fish on the bounce. I don’t think any of them were particularly big, but once hooked they went hell for leather to reach a huge set of sedges and as I tightened down on the run each one would become the eventual victor. I managed to bank one at the death, a nice plump mirror of around 9lb, but I can’t say I was overly pleased with the evenings events and I might just have to concede that it’s best to stay away from that swim. The odd thing is that the other week I banked about nine fish of the same swim within two hours without one fish trying to make it to the sedges – I was able to play all in open water. The only difference being that it was on one of my early morning sessions – food for thought?

Thanks Guys...

Yeah, thanks for that, have been trying that one for a while but it just cuts of with a call back later message!

Hi, Does anybody have a phone number for Wychwood Tackle? Many Thanks... Julian

Hi All, John’s having a little trouble posting at the moment, hence Elton’s thread, but John’s informed me why he needs shorter rods; Hi Julian, I have had a stroke so one side of my body is weaker than the other and the place I fish is my old clay pit it was once used for getting clay for tiles long before I moved there. It is only a small lake that is stocked with carp and tench and the usual roach and rudd and is surrounded by trees and you would have to be so good at casting to miss them! My friend says he will always cast for me especially if he is over the other side it must be a pain for him always having to reel in his rod and walk round to cast mine. The thing is, I can cast my light abu garcia enticer feeder rod that is 10ft perfectly and it is good fun with 5 or 6lb carp but it is a struggle with anything bigger. So now you know the full story about my disability Many Thanks, from john brown

Yup, I do mine. Had a little lay off for a while but back on the case now. When you go into the Blogs you can sort by 'last entry', which displays them by most recent entry at the top, that way you can quickly see/read those who are updating on a regular basis. Cheers… J

Did another early morning session today – first time on another new water! I’m getting about a bit lately! Lovely lake of about three acres with more features, bays, points, snags, pads and back waters than you could shake a stick at. I went up with Izaak for a quick reccy at the weekend but he started balling ten minutes into the job so I had to come home, but saw enough to know it was worth a stab (couple of good doubles and one perhaps a scraper twenty). Got there at dawn with the intention of fishing off the top, and quickly found some stunning mirrors in the margins – only problem was that I could not get their heads up! They were up and down the margin every five minutes but proper tails-up and heads down – not interested in surface baits whatsoever, even though it was only about a foot deep? Just happened to have some particle mix in the car so went back, changed tack and used a bit of maize from the mix as hookbait. For the next two hours they mopped up big time, inches from the bank, but could not get a pick up. Very frustrating – If I’d have had a worm I reckon I could have nailed one in a matter of minutes. Some you lose, eh? Plenty learned though, and some stunning fish spotted, a group of three mirrors kept coming back time and time again. Two were about 14-15lb and the third was about 19lb – a lovely lightly scaled mirror with a very long body. A couple of coarse anglers turned up at about 7am, set up right opposite, and started hammering in poles of every description for about twenty minutes. That was the last I saw of the fish. Decided to pull off early as I was only getting more wound up the longer I stayed so stopped off at Deep Hayes on the way back, and snuck a nice 13lb mirror off the top. There were a few kids on with it being the holidays so I had an audience for the duration – just glad it stayed on! Right, were did I put those worm rigs…

Hi Polly, Some great advice above. You might also find this article I've just added of use: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/Carp-Fishing-A...ng_in_Weed.html Cheers... Julian

More here: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/News/CASTAWAY_BBC_TV.html Cheers... Julian

Hi all, Can anybody help with this visitors question to the forum? The Visitor has been directed to this thread so could any answers / help be posted below. Cheers, Julian. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, I have only been fishing 6 months and have just bought my first browning carp pole whip. Has anybody got any diagrams showing how to set it up as I do not have a clue!? Many thanks, Martin --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------