The Fat Lady - Dead

[dean in devon]

Don't think it makes any difference even if the top 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% of the biggest Carp all died. The real giants are only fished for by a small number of anglers who clock up these whackers. For most it makes no difference how many of these giants are swimming about. You can always afford to loose the whackers and the tiddlers, most of us will be fishing for those in the middle range of weights. So for me if all the 30's 40's and 50's went it would have no impact on my fishing.

thats just it dales it would matter, these fish are like money bringers, think about this, why do we go to france to fish? to catch the biggest one? ofcourse he/she would be the bonus whilst catching high lb's of fish too, we bring money to france due to thier size of fish, so in return we should think of it as money to our country, not direct to us but nevertheless money from other countrys, so it's not just about us fishing for 10lb 20lb 30lb or higher, it's for other people comming to us too.

[gozzer]

depends on the size of lake size of fish added, how much fish are in the lake in the first place how old the new fish are, and the old fish, then depends on the water quality too. i think theres a 1,000' more questions to your question to answer bud, but i don't know anywhere that would just stick 1,000 carp into a lake unless fry-smalls.

 

If you read back through my posts, you will see a description of the water Dean.

 

It was a 15 acre (ish), established gravel pit, with a good head of all species, roach, tench, perch, bream, carp, pike etc. The water held an estimated 100-150 carp, from a few pounds up to mid 20s, similar size with pike. There were good shoals of roach, with fish of 1lb + coming out fairly regularly, perch to 2lb+, tench and bream to about 6-7lb, a good healthy mixed stock, with a choice of species and methods for for the angler. The club that ran the water had two stockings of carp, one of 700, and the next of 300, in a one year period. The sizes (I was told) ranged up to low doubles.

 

Now anyone that believes that this would not have a detrimental effect on the native stock, is (in Dens words) "talking s***".

 

This was not an isolated incident, it has happened on many other established waters I know of, as well as the many new 'hole in the ground' so called fisheries.

Another thing that surprises me, is that anglers are content to accept that anglers baits should be considered as a 'natural' food source for any water, instead of an additional extra. I makes me wonder what happens in the case of access being denied for any length of time, as in the foot and mouth break outs we get. If the stock is too high to exist/thrive on the food provided naturally by the water, then it is over stocked.

Same with the need to aerate waters in any other than extreme conditions.

 

These waters are like having fish in an aquarium, need to feed, aerate, filter etc, to try and keep the mass of fish healthy. A much better, cheaper and healthier method is to reduce stocks to a self sustainable level. Sure the fishing would be a bit harder, but at least it wouldn't be so artificial, and would at least bear some semblance to a natural water.

 

John.

[Dales]

thats just it dales it would matter, these fish are like money bringers, think about this, why do we go to france to fish? to catch the biggest one? ofcourse he/she would be the bonus whilst catching high lb's of fish too, we bring money to france due to thier size of fish, so in return we should think of it as money to our country, not direct to us but nevertheless money from other countrys, so it's not just about us fishing for 10lb 20lb 30lb or higher, it's for other people comming to us too.

 

The rest of the world are never going to come to the UK for it's Carp fishing. There are much better destinations to go too. The reason trips to Europe are so popular is because they have better weather and more big fish and it's a holiday. What could be better then enjoying some fishing while soaking up some different culture If you want a giant lump you may have a better chance abroad probably not as easy as some expect but there are more of them then in the UK.

 

The big British Carp are never going to compete with the European ones as a draw and to me they just fill a niche market for some Carp Anglers who are willing to put the time, money and effort in to trying to catch them.

 

The only way the UK could compete with main land Europe in the big Carp stakes would be to go down the import route and I don't think that would be a good idea. I doubt many people travel to the UK to go Carp fishing, I may be wrong but it just does not sound right. If our fish ever got to the sizes of mainland europe, then maybe they would but I think it will take a number of containers coming through the ports before we had the numbers of huge fish that Europe has and we don't want that happening.

 

I guess it is nice to have a few homebred monsters swimming about but it's not much of a blow if they were not around. Even the "Carp Machine" don't realy like that term but even that does not need the whackers. There bread and butter is the average angler going about his fishing and catching the relatively lower end fish.

 

The only blow to fishing when a giant Carp dies is to that particular fishery. Oddly the death of said fish may even benefit the anglers that fish it as it's hard to justify high ticket prices if you only have standard size fish in your waters. So it might lead to a price drop (doubtful) but maybe a price freeze which is always nice as everything seems to be going up these days.

[Phone]

Dales,

 

While the "thread subject" has long ago been lost I have a comment.

 

No carp angler is "complete" in my judgment without fishing in England (maybe more than once). Perhaps not for the fish but certainly for the fishermen and the "how to". If you ever need your battery "re-charged" for carp fishing GO TO ENGLAND.

 

You, England, more that compete, you set the standard by which all but the Asian Rim adhear.

 

Many of "those standards" I disagree with and yet without England defining "carp sportfishing" we are just fishing for "catch anything" and the occasional damned old carp.

 

Phone

[Dales]

Yes I guess in the world scheme of things the UK is important on the carp scene but still not sure many would want to come here for Carping. Maybe to fish the great lochs in Scotland and its Salmon rivers or the chalk streams of England. But Carp not so sure, but we do have some nice estate lakes etc.

[Worms]

Yes I guess in the world scheme of things the UK is important on the carp scene but still not sure many would want to come here for Carping. Maybe to fish the great lochs in Scotland and its Salmon rivers or the chalk streams of England. But Carp not so sure, but we do have some nice estate lakes etc.

And some of those estate lakes still contain the older (Leney?) strain fish that the English carp scene started on, not these overfed wheelbarrow sized things...I fish such an estate lake occasionally...

[Dales]

And some of those estate lakes still contain the older (Leney?) strain fish that the English carp scene started on, not these overfed wheelbarrow sized things...I fish such an estate lake occasionally...

 

That's the part of Carp fishing to be proud of.

[Phone]

Worms,

 

How is it I can agree with you? Just as a matter of taste based, I suppose, on my historical background I am not a fan of "guppy shaped mirror carp". I know, even the more natural fish of the Leney lineage are your prized captures. For some reason, I prefer the long slinder fully scaled commons. For me, they are a more attractive fish.

 

I would not like to be associated with a 92 lb carp - just isn't me. That doesn't make them a "bad" thing. It just means someone has encouraged a fish to it's genetic potential slightly beyond what nature intended. They are still just fish. Reminds me of the TV news story about the 60 stone guy that was trapped in his own house and died.

 

Actually Dales, I prefer the "everymans" British carp puddle. The "uppity" lakes made me nervous for fear I'd do something as the "ugly American". I wouldn't like for one minute to "look down" on the overall and everyday passion for carp angling in England. Certainly, the "outside 1%" can be goofballs but I sincerely love to fish with them also. And, don't sell them short. They read and understand the fishwraps and every new idea presented. They can usually be sussed out by their watercraft skills. What they don't understand is why I like a 2 hour session freelining a kernel of corn.

 

Phone

[Dales]

Phone

 

I am a big supporter of commercials and the "carp machine" and often get caught up in debates on AN about it. I'm a huge fan of choice and if people want to catch certain fish at certain venues then I believe they are entitled to do so. Don't do much of it myself but I try not to knock it as obviously people get a lot of enjoyment from it. But there is a lot of negative things about the "scene" and for me I would rather catch a more natural looking Carp and would rather the rest of the world saw the good side of British Angling and not some geeza holding up some gut bucket. Because despite the way some fisheries have gone in this country there are still some amazing places to fish and top wild specimens to be caught. I would be dissapointed if over seas visitors just saw our commercial Carp scene and missed out on all the other stuff we have to offer.

Edited August 4, 2011 by Dales

[gozzer]

I am a big supporter of commercials. I'm a huge fan of choice

 

Ain't that what's called an oxymoron, Stephen?

 

John.

Edited August 4, 2011 by gozzer