British records increasing .

[gozzer]

Yes, the crays have had an effect without a doubt. I would class that as 'natural food' though (even though they're not native). It's strange, on some rivers there is a huge lack of smaller fish coming through, which I agree is a major concern. Locally, the Cherwell is a good example. Lots of crays, a few big fish, very few smaller ones. However, on others, this hasn't happened. The Thames here isn't that much bigger than the Cherwell, and is even more riddled with crays, but it's teeming with small fish of all species. So it's clearly not just the presence of crays that creates this 'big fish or none at all' situation. There's something else going on.

 

I think that while I see the crays as the main factor, there are of course others such as water quality, ( I keep saying clearer doesn't necessary mean cleaner), I would love to see a complete break down of the composition of waters in our rivers, and the possible effects on wildlife, The effects of steroids passed through the sewage system, is just one.

 

John.

[Steve Walker]

I agree Steve, it will sort itself out, but will we like the end results?

 

Look what happened in Jurrasic Park, it came back to bite them on more than the backside.

 

John.

 

John.

 

Genie is out of the bottle where the alien species are concerned - we won't get exactly the same assemblage we had before, but left alone we will get a self-sustaining population with a normal age structure. Like the situation with barbel and zander in the Severn, I suppose.

[Guest 1lastcast]

Anderloo reckons that the intoduction of HNV baits in small Rivers is not the major factor as to why barbel are bigger, and that anyway the barbel that were in the Ouse (Adams Mill) I guess, were already big before the Barbel anglers started to feed them.

 

Sure, that's why we see those big fat lazy carp with a huge girth then I suppose, nowt to do with anglers and the feed, just crayfish and life style is it?

 

Remarkable

 

You learn something new everyday..

[Anderoo]

I don't think you understood my point.

 

Are those big bloated carp record sized, or even approaching record sized?

[Guest 1lastcast]

I think that while I see the crays as the main factor, there are of course others such as water quality, ( I keep saying clearer doesn't necessary mean cleaner), I would love to see a complete break down of the composition of waters in our rivers, and the possible effects on wildlife, The effects of steroids passed through the sewage system, is just one.

 

John.

I agree, whilst we have strived for cleaner rivers (and why not?) the downside fish like Roach have suffered, the dirty old Rivers I used to fish in the past thew up some clonking Roach, not anymore they don't.

 

Watched a video on River Carp fishing on the Cam, and the Angler fishes below a sewage pipe that enters the river, the Carp are to be found many times around the pipe feeding, and the peg is a Carp hot spot in more ways than one.

[Guest 1lastcast]

I don't think you understood my point.

 

Are those big bloated carp record sized, or even approaching record sized?

Oh come off it Andrew, you cant post up something like you think HNV baits is a minor factor with fish size, forget the carp thing, it's not worth debating anyway, beyond that, it's a fact.

[Anderoo]

Oh come off it Andrew, you cant post up something like you think HNV baits is a minor factor with fish size, forget the carp thing, it's not worth debating anyway, beyond that, it's a fact.

 

I didn't forget about carp. If you think it's a fact, consider this - there are 2 gravel pits right next to each other. One is constantly carp fished by competent anglers and sees lots of quality bait regularly going in, and has done for years. The other has never been carp fished, and sees so little bait it may as well be none.

 

Which one holds the biggest carp?

[Dales]

I don't buy the HNV baits theory either, as it is often the venues that do not receive them in quantity that have produced these huge near record sized fish which points to other factors being important. Plus as Dave mentioned in his opening post, How does HNV baits explain Perch size?

[Anderoo]

Budgie fished Conningbrook - Budgie, do you reckon the record grew that size because of boilies?

[Steve Walker]

It would be interesting to compare the net nutritional value of HNV baits fed by specimen anglers with that of traditional baits like maggots and casters chucked in by match anglers back in the heyday of river match fishing. How many pegs on an open on a big river like the Severn, and maybe a gallon of maggots or hemp and caster each? Maggots are pretty nutritious things. I wouldn't be surprised if the net nutritional input from anglers these days is considerably lower than when they were regularly match fished.