Seen a thread on Insta the other day and its was basically a fundraiser to otter fence Burghfield to protect stock, which is a syndicate water plus a 10 year waiting list if that is right and basically all you are doing is donating to fence a water to keep an elite few happy!! where 99.9% of us will never fish is it, whats peoples thoughts on this? I don't mind Just giving pages for good causes but if the owners of the lake were that bothered why not get a loan or increase ticket prices to cover it?

In reply to Post #1
I agree, if true then someone is taking the piss.

In reply to Post #1
Yeah I saw that... can't be serious

In reply to Post #1
That's going to be an expensive fence.
It's down to the fishery owner surely.

In reply to Post #1
Save money, buy an air pistol

Seriously, very poor situation but we are going to have to accept that **** happens

In reply to Post #1
Fair play to the guy....but. It's gonna cost north of £50k I would have thought.

Let the members pay for the privilege ****ers

In reply to Post #1
Sure I saw something along lines of highest bidder gets to fish with a few of the named anglers on blue and gold for a weekend and gets a guided walk around burghfield By said anglers

In reply to Post #1
Bloody hell, that's a mega job, how you manage that with all those twists and turns would be interesting.......

In reply to Post #8
So you donate a big whack and in return you get to fish the mighty Burghfield! (Small print : blue pool for 48 hrs)

In reply to Post #1
That's gonna be one long fence !

Are they sure they can fence the whole lake? I thought some of the frontage was private property?

JustGiving says the target is £100.000, currently on £290

In reply to Post #10
O no,,, you also get to fish alongside some carping ‘celebrities'

This is genius. I'd like a fcuk off massive house. Will you lot all fund it for me if I promise to put a pond in the back garden with a couple of fish in it, I will let you look at them every five years for twenty minutes on a Tuesday in March.

Now run along and sign up before someone else does.

In reply to Post #13
I would have thought that's a reason not to give.

In reply to Post #14
So many people and good causes have been helped via Just Giving and then you get scum like this using it solely for commercial gain.

In reply to Post #1
Saw something on FB other day about this , I'm sure the angler trying to catch the BF common is the one organising it

In reply to Post #16
That's a bit harsh isn't it?

There are actually two pages one looking to raise 100k and another for 40k

In reply to Post #18
If a commercial business has enough front to do this then I'm dam sure my comment will be water off a ducks back, I wont be losing any sleep

In reply to Post #20
The guy who has arranged this, Greg Ellis, has no commercial interest in it whatsoever. I don't personally see that it will work on a number of levels, but to call him scum! That's bang out of order.

Agreed with general consensus and I for one won't be "donating" a single penny. I'll probably never in my lifetime have the privilege to step foot on the lake let alone fish it.... I'm sure if the owners/syndicate members were that worried, they'd find the means somehow...

In reply to Post #21
I doubt he's losing any sleep.

As it happens my comment was more the company/people in general than any one individual, still doesn't get over the fact that this is all about a commercial company in business for personal gain.
Based on the few posts on here alone anyone with an ounce of sense can see it's not a very good idea, perhaps you can pass that on to your mate?

In reply to Post #23
Probably not. Let's leave it at that.

In reply to Post #24

In reply to Post #23
Lol, I've never met the bloke btw!

uh huh. Greg Ellis. Tells you all you need to know.

I've got this sorted. The answer is so obvious. Get Danny to buy the lake. Embryo will definitely fence it. Then they can fill it full of 15lb scaley bangers and run it as a noddy circus. I'm sure if mr Ellis puts his name down and stumps up the three hundred quid he can then continue his quest for the common. It's a win win. And with all the extra bait (insert latest mainline offering) going into the lake the common will almost certainly achieve record weight, just before it bloats up and dies on someones uncooked 15kg of tigers they spodded in for a weekend.

This literally can't fail. Give me problems I will give you solutions. Don't all thank me at once.

In reply to Post #28
Brilliant!!!!

This campaign was started a couple of weeks ago and I'm surprised it's taken so long to make its way onto its own thread.
The BC and the lake it lives in are both very special but this was never going to go down well with everyone. Doing a lap of the big lake with Sharp, Stokes, Peck or Jonny Mac might actually be quite interesting imo but the fact remains that on paper they're basically asking the general public to pay for their syndi to be fenced in return for a session on the day ticket lakes that are available to all anyway.
Even if it works and they sell the places for a fortune (which I have no doubt they will having seen the types you get on FB) they can't hope to make a fraction of what it would cost to fence that place imo.

I'll give them credit for trying but agree with many below that it's cheeky as ****.

£100'000 What they going to do fence half off it, our little syndicate of just over two acres cost £10'000 the material was over £5'000 which we supplied and the contractor's element was nearly the same, you can have a go yourselves if you've got the time granted but you'll never do it as well as a proper fencing contractor.

In reply to Post #31
Used to fish it back in the 90's....there was a private house and garden opposite Searles point, the boat club, a road on one bank and a few few other areas that had private bank....maybe all changed now but if you could get everyone to agree it would be a mammoth project and probably at least 100k plus to do it properly....just have to hope the otters stay in the river next to it......

In reply to Post #30
My thoughts exactly when I saw it, if they were serious about it they could at least let the highest bidder do a session on the Main Lake to see where their money's going, or better still give them a ticket, what a joke

In reply to Post #33
Exactly

If it was masterminded by 'Cell Lad', he's hardly the sharpest knife in the draw, may have run out of numbers after 100,000.

In reply to Post #35
He is just one of loads of guys that are trying to save the place. By all means slate the initiative but why make it personal? If you have a problem with him take it up with him rather than publish insults on a faceless forum.

In reply to Post #36
The guy who owns the Theale day tikcet lake did a fine job of fencing the lake at his own cost and by his own hand. Does he own Burghfield?

You're a miserable lot. I can only imagine the threads of R.I.P. BC if the thing was caught by an otter and there are hundreds down there so it is possible. Cheer up and sling them a few bucks. If nothing else it will help the economy.

In reply to Post #37
i dont think they are a miserable lot , i think there very right, they want it fenced they can pay themselfs, theres better things people can give money too than a big fish, theres people starving and need medical help, homeless etc, not a water for the select few, and while we might say rip if it was eaten or died that has no part in it, i was unhappy when misses davies died who owns the corner shop, should i have paid for her medical care,so it doesnt mean i couldnt say rip

In reply to Post #37
I can only imagine the threads of R.I.P. BC if the thing was caught by an otter

This is very true mate but it is not up to others to dig them out of what is a very sad situation.

I am currently fishing for a very old, very big fish that is at risk from otters and has no hope of being protected by those that should be doing it.

It is far from a unique situation unfortunately

In reply to Post #37
I'd imagine when it gets eaten by an otter the overwhelming sentiment will be why did the new owners not allow for fencing when they bought it

In reply to Post #37
I'd like to understand how donating towards an otter fence for a lake I'll never fish will help the economy?

anyway, ive seen local lakes with very big carp now totaly empty , from polish poaching, so theres always other risks ,and these people can climb a otter fence and creep about

100k can't be a years ticket money? On the plus side if they don't protect it and it gets slaughtered they can invest in over stocking and ram it full of swims on day ticket.

What the hell have they been doing for the past 12-14 years? While everybody else in the UK has been charging around like lunatics throwing fences up to protect the fishing, working on installing it for weeks even months on end, paying for it out of their own pockets.

I presume they have been fishing it having a great time, ignoring the problem, and now it's on their doorstep panic has stepped in!

In reply to Post #44
Agree 100%

In reply to Post #44
Exactly. The problem is that once the BC goes...and let's face it, it's an old fish anyway, they are left with a bunch of Largely very uninspiring grey Simmos.

I do feel for them and whilst I don't applaud the sentiment, fair play to the guy for trying,

I won't contribute, don't see the need to. None of my waters are fenced and all of them are suffering. The whole thing is a ticking time bomb, not just Burghfield. I also wonder what will happen to the money that's raised once it becomes clear that they don't have enough to fence the lake, can't get planning permission etc....do they then pay it back?

Anyway, I hope they get the money and fence the lake. I really do and I strongly disapprove of the personal digs...but I'd rather fund the fencing of lakes which I can actually fish!

Strikes me as a very arrogant attitude. They are basically saying, we are a very special group of anglers, we would like our water fenced but we don't have the money. Because of the one big fish in our lake, a lake none of you will ever fish, we feel you should be enough in awe of the fish and us as super star anglers to cough up to protect our fishing. If you are really lucky we might let you walk round the lake with Darrel Peck.

Well guess what, he's paid to attend shows by Korda, so if for some bizarre reason you simply must speak to him, pay ten quid to get in and go to the korda stand.

I've never heard anything so ****ing stupid in all my life. Could these people be anymore up their own arses.


Embryo - fencing Club waters for free out of Danny's own pocket. Waters he will never have a ticket for or ever set foot on. Fencing for the benefit of others. Basically the complete opposite of what they are trying to do here, getting a water fenced for their own benefit.

My god the worlds gone mad.

In reply to Post #47
This is evolution, mark my words the "Corporate" water is coming.

A lake that is full of big big fish where a ticket starts at £5k a year and is only open to the employees of tackle or bait companies and their guests, the big companies paying for the ticket's, tax deductible of course.

Tackle open days and pay to enter competitions just so Joe Bloggs can tread the hallowed turf, celebrities my arse.

In reply to Post #48
The Old salesman's trick, make something very exclusive and charge the earth for it will make people feel they have something only the select few can have.
They don't actually want it but it makes them feel good about themselves.
That's not for me thanks, would rather be just a member of my local club waters, at least the club don't rip me off. £100 a year to fish quite a few decent waters does me just fine.

In reply to Post #48
is it really 5k a year?,

In reply to Post #1
I can't believe that a group of successful, top of their game, carp anglers, probably with sponsorship deals, links to major companies or even their own businesses can't, between them, raise the money, but have to beg. Very sad.

On a side note I have just paid £3,000 to fence a bit of land alongside my pond at home, it's not an otter fence but if any of you want to make donations of anywhere between £10 and £5,000 (ok with £5,000 I'll be in profit but it's worth a go), I promise that I will give the largest donor a guided tour of my pond and a option to carve their initials in a fence post of their choice, I can't say fairer than that..

Anyone interested in donating please pm me.

In reply to Post #51
You missed a fundamental point. All these big name anglers aren't stupid enough to put their own money into the fence, cos they all know the second the common is dead you won't see any of them for dust again.

I'm very interested in the guided tour of your pond, can I bring my pet otter, he loves water.

In reply to Post #52
Yes you can bring your pet otter, does he like playing with German Shepherd dogs?

In reply to Post #50
No.

In reply to Post #48
Must be cheaper for corporate carp to buy in replacement Burghfield Commons.
Celebrities my arse

In reply to Post #52
Well said, you would have thought all the payed anglers sponsors would have chipped in.

In reply to Post #56
they certainly live in some special, made up world... why on earth would anyone think that "ordinary" anglers would pay for them to be able to fish it is beyond me...

In reply to Post #57
Take a lot of steel to fence that place

Strike a deal with embryo?

In reply to Post #37
Hi Justin.. No, David who owns Theale has nothing to do with Burghfield. The fencing he has done there and on T1 is superb.

In reply to Post #59
Agreed. Safe as houses.

In reply to Post #47
I thought that behind the scenes, Embryo took over the 'freeholds' of some ottered club waters they helped out, keeping the public facing club to carry on as normal.

By doing so, they secure the land/site for the future. And obviously, is an increasing asset to use/borrow against with financial help from Grants/banks, for more future purchases.

Correct me if I am wrong

I wouldnt part with my hard earned to fish somewhere I've no interest in as it's far to far away to be practicable. Fair play to those asking for some lolly to fence the place, and the same goes to those chasing around The Common. Not that I endorse any not it.

As for that Elis bloke: he's not doing it for commercial reasons? Pull the other one. He's whoring out Avids tatt. It's in Elis's interest to keep The Common alive for self serving interest's. It's just about cudos and bragging rights, oh and a mighty big ego the size of a planet to stroke. Just another headhunter. I do wonder if these types actually enjoy fishing?

I've often thought that myself do they actually enjoy going fishing or they feel they have to be there .
So much pressure on wanting to be well known in the carp fishing world, sad really.

In reply to Post #63
1/ They have the money to pursue it for the own enjoyment

2/ Probably because the sponsors tell them to...or the company have bought their burghfield ticket

3/ They want their bait or tackle to land one of the UK's most desirable big commons.

In reply to Post #1
It gets even more embarrassing.

In reply to Post #61
Correct me if I am wrong

Tell you what I think. I think they are a bunch of ****s

Oh, yeah, flowery nice stuff. They have self promoted themselves beyond belive and changed the face of carp fishing as I knew it with all their over hyped bollox to sell tackle and now they think they are going to win people back, yeah, we're doing the right thing, what a bunch of ****s

And BTW as you may have noticed. I do t want to be part of anybody's arse licking gang, what a bunch of s

That's not pointed at you at all Scaley

It's a sad state of affairs, Carpworld eh, where the **** did that go, same as everything else that was good about the pastime

In reply to Post #66
What a load of b*ll*cks, I can think of more than one venue on their portfolio that became nothing more than a hole in the ground before they took the reigns and fenced and stocked the pits. Proof that you cant do right for doing wrong in some peoples eyes. Good on them I say

In reply to Post #67
Yeah, good on them £

The company with the K has now saved the world, what a bunch of ****ers

Yeah, their portfolio

In reply to Post #66
If i was that Pimp id take that post down, so embarrassing.

In reply to Post #69
Why, because your wearing a Rolex too, or are you using wide gapes?

In reply to Post #70
Yep, Submariner.

Wide gapes? You've got me confused with a ****ing noddy mate.

Anyway, there's a magnificent common that needs a home before it gets eaten

In reply to Post #72
you reap what you sow.

In reply to Post #73
Agree.

Still laugh to myself when somebody recently posted they were fishing near said “superstar” yeah suprised me how quite and humble he was really in real life

No surprise to me because it's like fake news ain't it, if you were a mouthy **** in real life you would get a good hiding wouldn't you, you see, all this piss and wind advertising hype sets home when they actually go fishing, and the good news is that they are embarrassed themselves because they know the reality, even though they promote it, they know its embarrassing and then the copy cats do it because they think that , its the norm!!!

In reply to Post #69
Why would I be embarrassed
Just info mate 👍

In reply to Post #75
Wow, Long time....

Still got the extended wrap?

I'm embarrassed

In reply to Post #76
Lol ...... yeah mate

In reply to Post #77
That is amazing mate

I can remember when the profile picture changed for that MASSIVE fish

In reply to Post #74
Just had a look at this Greg Ellis FB etc, **** me if that's the sum total of his life to date no thanks.

Carp angling these days scrapes so hard on the bottom of humanities barrel that the likes of Greg can even con-tinplate the idea in the first place and people actually put into print that a none entity like Lewis Read are superstars, a group of nobodies within a very small arena where social media has inflated the ego's and bull **** beyond belief.

I'll tell you who are superstars, the nurses and doctors working tonight, the ambulance drivers and paramedics, the police and our boys in Afghanistan, this industry is becoming a disgusting ces pit. of greed.

In reply to Post #79
Mate I don't really think at that depth
I enjoy me fishing and ignore all that

All the best anyway 👍

In reply to Post #79
It's a cyber world mate. Everybody knows who catches them and who more importantly has caught them for a long time

That's the difference for me, the men that have done if for a long time regardless of what they show or say, the real anglers, come back and tell me in 20 years and show me what you have caught, it's a life long passion for those that REALLY do it, not just another flash in the pan

In reply to Post #80

In reply to Post #66
Totally understand what you are saying Scozza


Burghfield has gone from a perfectly working family man affordable ticket open to all under Leisure Sport / RMC / Cemex, to a expensive syndicate ticket now only affordable, or At best, get on the waiting list option, to a select few it seems

That old chestnut of Who you are sponsored by, who you are / know probably helps get you on, or plain Lady Luck !

Carp fishing was a hobby for all, but has become so commercial, fame and money driven nowadays.

In reply to Post #1
.........so how is the fundraiser going??

Just curious....

In reply to Post #84
Even if the fund raiser managed to raise the estimated, whole amount of money for putting an otter fence in, do they have the consent and permissions, from the council, land owners / adjoining land owners to install it around the whole lake perimeter ???

It would be a waste of time, effort and money otherwise TBH
As I seem to remember, various land / property owners around it, made previously open fishing areas become no fishing zones after it was sold off by Cemex.

Anyway that was all very interesting, but would any of you lovely lot like to donate to my lake fund? I promise that the money will be used wisely and and that once my target figure has been reached I'll pick a name out of the hat to get a free season ticket.
I'm proper excited now.

In reply to Post #86
Where do we stop though? I'm going down the pub later, I could do with a beer fund. Who ever donates can sit next to me.

In reply to Post #85
I think that's the whole point. I can just not see this happening.

Save the burghfield common.......

Perhaps they can increase the ticket and pay for it themselves......cheeky as **** TBH......

Just out of interest, how much is the ticket and how many members just to work out how much revenue comes in.

Maybe you might know the outgoings?

In reply to Post #80
But would you still be enjoying your fishing when knobs like Ellis spill the beans on a water you've been fishing only to have it spewed all over the internet just to further their own ends?

In reply to Post #91
Was 50 @£500 might have changed tho

In reply to Post #92
Pretty reasonable by today's standards.

In reply to Post #90
Surely with the money for a ticket (£500ish each isn't it), the money from the tickets for the burghfield river (£250 each). The money from renting out Gold lake and Blus pool, Advanced Angling who own the lake (well most of it I think). Can afford to fence it themselves.

In reply to Post #94
John Mould owns the majority of the lake except for the Rawlings bank which is owned by Pullen the guy with the big house opposite Barnets point !! Advanced own Blue pool & Gold lake !!

In reply to Post #90
£750 35 members according to a lad I know who's fishing it at the moment

In reply to Post #96
Well there's one problem, surely they could be charging twice that at least

In reply to Post #97
The current members say thanks

They could open up part of the lake to day ticket for a short period to help raise funds but let's be honest, they don't want most to fish it. Just want us to pay for it

In reply to Post #99
my no publicity syndi needs a fence , sounds like a great idea , you spod out your hard earned for a lake you'll never fish... ......

In reply to Post #98

In reply to Post #66
This is the best and most honest post in this thread, the fundraising idea is something that if someone told you this in a pub you would swear the were off their head on some gear and tell them to f*** off.

Too many people on tiptoes nowadays, and ar5e kissing. All the hype is caused by the drive for massive profit by companies who want you to by the next “best ever” hook,bait,hooklink, horizon casting rod and enormous reel.

Give a break, they want it fenced that badly they can find the money themselves and not from anybody sad enough to donate and never see the lake let alone fish it.

They aren't celebrities either, normal blokes like you neighbour who get to fish more than you... big deal.

If the Syndicate members and owners cant protect their fishery , so be it let the Otters have it

In reply to Post #103
Completely agree

I fancy a new Aston, so if the rest of you could have a collection for me please and in recompense i will allow you to look at me as I drive past

In reply to Post #105
If the owners, don't want to invest in there business why should I... I don't get any return on the investment

In reply to Post #106
Are the owners investing anything?

In reply to Post #107
I'll be honest mate, I don't know.

Drawing the assumption that if there is a need to start a funding campaign, then they don't have the capital to invest.

In reply to Post #107
Yes, barefaced cheek by the truck load.

In reply to Post #109
That's what you get as a result of vanishing up your own arse

Just checking in after the weekend. Is it saved yet? Cos I was gonna suggest if they are really serious about saving it then maybe they should just move it to a water that's already fenced. One of my syndicates is fenced. I guess we could take it off of their hands if they agree to paying for a bit of food for it now and again. Obviously we can't let them actually fish for it anymore but I will let them walk round the place with me as long as they don't ask me for an autograph or pictures. I charge for those.

In reply to Post #111

In reply to Post #111
Perfect😁

In reply to Post #111
Like it

One of my goldfish has died. Can't say for sure it was an otter but the tank wasn't fenced.

I only have one left.

If you are happy to chip in with donations to provide some lego and satsuma mesh bags then I will do the bulk of the work and actually build the fence.

You are welcome to come and walk round afterwards of course but please take your shoes off and watch out for the telly as you head round the right side of the tank.

If it goes well they can put that common in there too I guess.

In reply to Post #115
How much has the bellend raised so far?

They should email Trump, he knows a thing or two about building walls.

My pond is otter proof - may be able to squeeze it in there if it is in immediate danger?

Oh hell, I've finally come to my senses, I'll donate some cheese from my helmet, where do I send it?

The rest of you can suck a tailpipe for all I care. Tight gits!!!

In reply to Post #116
Neither of the just giving pages have much raised I don't think

In reply to Post #118

I've had another cracking idea. Instead of trying to fund the whole fence. Why don't they do a sponsor a fence panel scheme. It works for guide dogs. You could get pictures of your panel being made in the factory. And regular updates on its progress as a fence. Perhaps you get a cuddly fence panel toy complete with a smear of anti climb paint.

I don't know what you lot are on or thinking!!! It's a no brainer, surely?

I've just donated to the fund..

I think it's really important to protect the future of these “tight arse wannabe famous Carp anglers”.. Where would we be without them? What they put back into the sport could be lost for ever..

The loss of bait deals alone could be catastrophic! It's really worrying..

I hate to think of the walk rounds and tackle deals and personal appearances that might not happen should we all not put into their privileged underfunded pot..

Please think about it. Every little helps guys

In reply to Post #121
In reply to Post #121

Another option why don't the “names” park their VW vans to form a barrier and then play some drum and bass whilst doing it that should keep any sane otter away. And on their numerous laps of the lakes they could keep an eye out for furry trespassers.😀

Uncle Jim is there on a covert mission now so don't worry, couple days and he will have in the river.

In reply to Post #122

In reply to Post #124
It would be like the Alamo!

I thought I'd pull Greg up about costings etc. Apparently the owners are contributing most of the money and the total cost will be 130k plus

In reply to Post #128
£130,000 A nice long term job for a company in these unique covid-19 times.
Protecting his future asset/s

Realistically all the people trying to raise these superstar funds how many are in it for the long term?

By that I mean, once current Burghfield angler X has caught that Big common they won't be sitting it out to see the fence completed, will they....

In reply to Post #95
excactly mate John Mould is a multi millionaire ....with a million pound plus steam engine collection perhaps he could sell a couple to pay for his fence

In reply to Post #129
Exactly. As soon as they have the big'un, they'll be off on their toes to try and catch the latest 'must catch'. Pretty machiavellian stuff.

If you see these types floating around your pool, keep your lips sealed and don't tell um a single thing. You want these types around as much as you want cancer. "Oh, the big'un mate?' yeah, saw it in the edge a few weeks ago dead" seeeeee yaaaaah. Tutt-tarr.

Cant believe we are still debating it. Surely one of the big tackle companies in the UK who are doing so much for the good and future of carpfishing would have stepped in and helped them out since this is one of the finest fish in the country

In reply to Post #132
It's just a 50 common. Apart from the fact of how challenging the place is to fish. There's plenty of 50 commons out there. Is it even the biggest one in the country? I don't get all the fuss personally.

Obviously I don't want it ottered. But I don't want any fish ottered to be honest. They all mean something to someone.

In reply to Post #133
Whatever we think about the initiative, it's probably the finest carp in the country imo.

It's got everything, size, looks, history.... the lot.

It's also a 60 at the right time of year.

The waterside day ticket common has gone 50 this week and that's already fenced.

Heres a thought, how about putting a bounty on its head. The next 4 captures if by a sponsored angler should pay £25,000 to the fishery towards the fence. The sponsor companies will al be profiting from the captures in pictures and caught on such as such, on this rig or line! So let them pay for it

In reply to Post #134
It's got everything, size, looks, history.... the lot.

Exactly that

In reply to Post #134
Got to ask the same old question if that's the case - what have they been doing for the last 12-14 years???????

In reply to Post #138
From a post below:

excactly mate John Mould is a multi millionaire ....with a million pound plus steam engine collection perhaps he could sell a couple to pay for his fence

Buying steam engineers by the sounds of it

In reply to Post #134
Woodcarving at spitfire?

In reply to Post #140
It's the Wood Common, not the Woodcarving. It has the size and looks but not the history.

The BC is the last of the well known history fish imo. One of a kind.

In reply to Post #138
Fortunate enough to fish a syndicate that has an otter fence
As anglers we do need to do more
The otter debate has now been going on for 6-7 years.
When you look at how much we all spend on gear -if we had a 5% charge and it went to a fighting fund to help fence all lakes - the most vulnerable first until all done
Over 5-6 years we could be a far way through it now
I know you could argue that it's the owners problem but without the lakes the sport will go into decline and will in turn mean less dealers, less bait distributors and more anglers for less waters which will mean more costs to all
Just because the lake I am on today has one doesn't mean the lake I want to fish tomorrow will have
The otters are not going away and apart from us all moaning about it we haven't done a great deal
I don't agree with embryo - too many lakes one owner - but at least it's helping grow the sport and protecting lakes
They are not stupid - tax incentives to reinvest in their industry and growing a portfolio investments that benefit themselves - they are not fools
It is all of our problem and we all need to help
I'm not fussed about a special fish but I am about a lake that growing / supporting our sport
I started carp fishing on a park lake that had some lovely fish in it - now between the otters and Eastern European's I've watched it go into serious decline - I did the same as everyone else - complained - now it's gone - wish I'd done more

In reply to Post #141
No doubt it's an epic fish simply due to it being a male. Wouldn't have thought there's many that size that are male. Goes like a loon when hooked.

It's no easy task for a number of reasons, one of them being highly competitive and competent anglers.

In reply to Post #143
The BC or the Wood?
The BC defo aint male. Just look at the pre/post spawn capture weights, all over the place.
But the wood isn't known to fight at all?

In reply to Post #141
Totally agree, possibly the last of its kind, it's an amazing fish, has never been fluked and is the absolute top of the tree. Hope to God it never gets ottered but it's unlikely it will they might get this fence and that fish seems to be able to evade everything! Tbh those boys on Burghfield don't understand how bad the otter situation is in the rest of the country, there have barely been any losses on Burghfield. I have fished waters which have been TOTALLY wiped out.

In reply to Post #144
Could have sworn I've heard the likes of Hearn mentioning that the Burghfield Common is male? Maybe I'm wrong. As for fighting, I was on about the Burghfield Common, don't know too much about Spitfires Common other than its huge and very well proportioned, oh, and it's about a gazillion £'s to fish for it.

In reply to Post #146
They used to think it was male but I think 62 lb in April and 53 lb in July put paid to that lol.

@midlandman; top of the tree mate, spot on.

In reply to Post #138
Fair point.

If there's an otter issue then it could have been taken over the last few years... why the fundraising initiative now?

I think it's fair to say that nobody wants a historic fish lost by any means. In this instance it looks like a very poorly judged bit of PR ...

In reply to Post #148
In this instance it looks like a very poorly judged bit of PR ...

Agreed, and the just giving pages (for some reason two of them) have such little information on it really hasnt worked out how they hoped. They have tried to use the fish's prominence in the carp world to get the extra they need for fencing such large lake, the headline of "Save the Burghfield Common" shows what they were trying to prey on.

Maybe if they said the owners & members have raised xxxx and they need xxxx more to complete it and all permissions are in place, etc. it would've gone down a bit better in general. Might have more chance of getting large firms to contribute too that way. I'm sure all the sponsored anglers can get their sponsors to stump up a bit of cash.

In reply to Post #141
Just to clarify things, what do you mean by "history?"

I'd be surprised if Mouldy is willing to contribute to a fence as he'd rather backfill it being the owner of a reclamation company

In reply to Post #150
history

noun

the whole series of past events connected with a particular person or thing.

In reply to Post #152
But isn't that all a bit ambiguous and rather subjective? Like I mentioned before, the Spitfire common, hasn't that got history? How long does this "history" have to be to be deemed more worthy?

For some, catching the last remaining of the original stocking at Redmire would surpass the common at Burghfield, you only have to read the posts on the Traditional Angler with them cry w**king about it. Maybe for you and others like you, catching a possible 60lb common is like so *the one*, though, as I've alluded to, it's all very much subjective and open to interpretation, is it not?

In reply to Post #142
When you look at how much we all spend on gear -if we had a 5% charge and it went to a fighting fund to help fence all lakes - the most vulnerable first until all done.

1, you would get more takers if they paid their money (Say £50-100) towards the fund, and the anglers would get say X days or nights fishing on any lake that they help to fence it securely, bigger the donation, the more fishing they would be allowed to have..

2, Put £1 -5 on the cost of a rod licence and put that into a fencing fund/pool, same again anyone can fish it who has a valid rod licence.

obviously the rivers and canals would miss out logistically impossible to fence and secure.

In reply to Post #154
Good idea mate.

There are pitfalls of course, like the upkeep of fence's etc, though I do agree with your sentiments.

In reply to Post #151
Back filling could be a long term plan if not financially viable or the yearly income becomes diminishing to upkeep costs....who knows for sure.

Only that one freak of nature, the common, is the main attraction for most who has a ticket, or want one.
Would they still pay that money to fish it, without that common being in there, I doubt it

In reply to Post #153
it's all very much subjective and open to interpretation, is it not?

It certainly is. You can fish for milky white mud sucking stock fish or you can fish for the survivors of an era, king of the pond naturally, not artificially. The choice is yours. That's a debate in itself isn't it, try the search button

In reply to Post #157
Think you might have me confused with someone who fishes The Rise?

In reply to Post #146
It was actually Terry's capture which showed that the fish was a female. Most thought it was male until then.

In reply to Post #153
Agreed, all ambiguous and subjective....that's the whole point!

If it was all down to pounds and ounces then it would be a different conversation altogether. Just look at the captors of the Burghfield common, there some proper, proper anglers on that list....not necessarily big names, but quality anglers.

Make one of the main lakes bays exclusive booking like the blue pool. Based on the same rates as blue pool they would have their 100k in just over a year 👍🏻

Or is the thought of a unknown angler catching the BC worse than it getting killed by otters 😂

In reply to Post #146
The spitfire common doesn't have any history though does it?

In reply to Post #162
If the BC means that much to everyone why not move it to somewhere safe after its next capture and let it see out its retirement in peace rather than being chased around for the rest of its days....must be about 45 - 50 years old now so probably not got that long left...

In reply to Post #162
You lot keep banging on about muh "history". Just an arbitrary notion.

Of course the Spitfire common has a history. It's not like it went from 0 to 50lb+ over the course of this conversation and has never been caught, is it?

In reply to Post #164
OK let's look at the history shall we.

The Wood Common.
Stocked into an un-fished, hand-fed 1 acre pond by RW and left 100% free from angling pressure until it reached nearly 50 lb. RW then caught it before opening the pond up to anglers 10 years ago.

The BC.
I don't even know when it was stocked or by whom but it swam with some of the finest genuine Leneys in the country, in a 90 acre pit that was pioneered by the likes of Kenny Hodder. It was caught back in the 1980's at mid twenties but it was in the 1990's that those in the know began to take notice. Even then, it wasn't until the late 90's/early 00's when it hit 40+ that it became big news. By the mid 00's it had grown to a massive 57 lb, the biggest proper English common carp the country had ever seen. All these years later the fish remains so with a biggest weight of 62 odd.

Now they are both absolutely class fish, and both very, very hard to catch by all accounts. But if we're talking about history (which I agree is subjective), for me, there is just no comparison at all.

In reply to Post #165
That sums it up rather nicely Yonny!

In reply to Post #165
Burghfield stockings, besides Donald Leney, it may have been stocked by Leisure sport Angling, or opportunistic ‘drop in stockings' by various people perhaps, bit like Wraysbury. Who knows for sure.

A rarity these days, a 60 common that got so big by natural diet, in a big pit, Just adds to the mystery of it.

In reply to Post #151
Mouldy always wanted to backfill would have made him another few millions...cant remember the exact time but probably the 90's when he sold his company to RMC or ARC ? for 5 million with the understanding he was not allowed to operate any company in the area for 5 yrs ..soon as the 5yrs were up he started his buisness again and most of his old staff jumped ship and went back to work for him like he had never been away ...i was on hire to him for awhile and got to go to his house and aircraft hanger where he kept his steam engine collection which was pretty amazing but the truly amazing thing was the man had made millions and could barely read or write ....so for him to stick his hand in his pocket and spend money on something that will not make him money is never going to happen

In reply to Post #165
Sure, I'm aware of what these fish are about and your points regarding the two fish are sound.

In respect of history, one fish that I can think of which I fished for when it was 11lb before it took a road trip (if still alive) - I won't divulge it's whereabouts simply as there may well be anglers trying to catch it and blow it for the them) has been around the same time as the Burghfield fish (is a common too) and is possibly bigger, to me is more of an epic capture, not only due to its size, but also the implications of actually fishing for it. I could say similar of another fish (mirror) in a similar scenario which is just as mental trying to catch it.

You see, this is why these things are subjective; they mean different things for different people. I've never been fussed about the Burghfield fish as it means very little to me. I hardly raise an eyebrow whenever it gets caught...so what. On the other hand, just the two fish I mentioned, now catching either of those two,.like wow, that's some fishing that.

In reply to Post #169
I fished for when it was 11lb before it took a road trip (if still alive)

So a fish that may or may not exist is better than the BC?

Ok.

As you say, subjective

In reply to Post #28
Post of the week winner. Trophy is in the post

In reply to Post #1
" if the owners of the lake were that bothered why not get a loan or increase ticket prices to cover it?"


Or you've another option, if there's a 10 year waiting list as you say there's clearly the numbers to form a club, and/or affiliate to one. If the present set up can't look after the waters financially it's the sensible thing to do, must be a few clubs that way big enough.

In reply to Post #170
It's a reasonable thing to say considering I'm not fishing for it. From one week to the next I don't know if the big'un where I'm fishing has rolled up dead somewhere.

I'm sure there are others on this board and elsewhere that know of very large carp that are worthy of the crown you've placed on the Burghfield Common's noggin. It's like until the Black Mirror got publicised, people didn't have a clue it existed, you know?

In reply to Post #173
I agree with you that there are under-the-radar kippers of similar merit, but if we refer to my post 141 which started this discussion I said it was the last of the well known history fish and hence one of a kind. I think that rings true?
Anyway, I'm not even sure where this discussion is going any more. This thread is about the BC lol.

In reply to Post #174
It's gone in a better direction than some blokes sluagging off some other blokes who are trying to raise money for an otter fence!

In reply to Post #175
True dat.

Edit: @Apples, if you are who I think you are, you might be able to shed some light on the stocking/early history of the BC? It would certainly keep the thread on track with regards to history.

In reply to Post #174
Furry muff

In reply to Post #177
Not sure of the exact stocking history but 90/91 the BC was mid thirty along with another common, shorter and more stocky, about the same weight. Then there was cut-off (or cut tail) again mid thirty....I think they were the largest 3 in lake at the time.....a few more low thirties and mid to upper 20's and the majority of the rest mid double commons.
Never heard of what happened to the other mid thirty common....cracking fish though.
Even back then the BC was the least caught fish in the lake, quite often spotted in the back bays and on the shallows.
Happy days and a beautiful place to fish......sounds a shame it has ended up where it is now...

In reply to Post #164
My point was it must have been stocked in Spitfire quiet big to get to 50lb, that's a hell of a lot of hand feeding over to years.

The Burghfield common has stacked of history and captures throughout its life and weights, without the common in Burghfield there wouldn't be a waiting list so the owners have to play this safe, if think it's pretty sad when fishery's rely on a single fish.

In reply to Post #179
Plenty of jealousy running through this thread - Burghfield isn't just about the common, some of the back up fish are fast approaching the 50 mark and its a magical place to angle. Simple really, If you don't want to donate on any of the auctions running, scroll on, if you want to start dropping insults on some of the blokes - jump into your motor and drive to reading and tell them, most of them are down after after putting in a weeks graft on a normal job. Can't see what the problem is to be honest, they are only running an auction on the chance to fish with some decent anglers on the complex (gold) have a few beers, chew the fat on angling stuff and then have a mooch around Burghfield.

In reply to Post #180
No jealousy on my part. Burghfield is Burghfield take it or leave it. One huge fish trophy 🏆 and nice back up fish.

what baffles me is the current members have to try to raise funds to fence someone else's property to benefit them, when the owner is a millionaire

In reply to Post #180
Lol. Oh behave yourself.

In reply to Post #180
"Jealousy"

The most useless trump card ever dropped during a conversation about fishing. I've never got why people get jealous of people on minimum wage living in a tent for 4 nights a week, many of whom haven't seen any 'flaps' apart from the one on their brolly.

In reply to Post #180
Absolutely no jealousy from me, I was just stating the facts!

If the Burghfield common suddenly died due to a otter the waiting list would go down considerably so fencing it is in the best interest, would I donate, no I wouldn't as I would rather help a local club lake out that anyone can fish.

In reply to Post #183
"flaps" kek.

In reply to Post #183
Who are these full timers on Burghfield you are on about living in a tent. Majority of blokes on there mainly fish weekends and hold down jobs, mainly tradesmen. since this covid crap has been going guys have been stringing days together. To other poster, read some of the drivel being punched by keyboard warriors - like I said, got a problem and want to slate someone, pop down to Burghfield and tell them, ain't rocket science is it.

Few blokes trying to raise a few quid getting rinsed by halfwits on here, sums it all up really.

S&D - think you'll find a few quid has been stumped already.

In reply to Post #186
Seems to me like you're in someway insinuating violence, is that right?

In reply to Post #186
Pretty rich coming on here and complaining about keyboard warriors when you've not even signed up using your own name.

I'm wayne griffin by the way. You'll find that in my profile. Along with my actual address.

And you'll find me on Instagram at @griffinheating

In reply to Post #187
Your the main mouthpiece on here so take what you will from it.

In reply to Post #186
Good luck to all with the fencing.
My point being The owner could have paid outright for a fence ages ago., especially with his business and machinery contacts he could dig the fence channels out before, making it even cheaper to fence.

In reply to Post #186
I find it embarrassing that these people are asking other anglers to pay for fencing their private lake because they don't want to pay for it themselves. And if anyone dare suggest it is a silly idea they get threatened now? Wtf...

In reply to Post #189
Nope, still not crystal clear.

In reply to Post #189
Wow

Classy

Seems otters are only part of the problem. Is the fence to keep you out? Or in?

In reply to Post #186
You're right, they've been properly rinsed,

In reply to Post #186
How long you been a member 😂
I'm not doubting the place should be fenced and the stock well worth the price to do it imho but when someone that can easily afford it ask others to stump up the cash, he clearly doesn't feel the same. That's the problem every rich **** is also a greedy one to

In reply to Post #195
My biggest issue is that i cant see there is any way in effectively fencing it?

Ski club, Searles Farm lane (cant put an otter fence across a road), the Flint bank is RDAA and too narrow to put a fence on whilst still making it possible to use the path - im sure there are other areas as havent been there for a few years.

Fair play for trying to do something proactive, but i've no interest in a weekend on the Blue pool with people i dont know so i'm out.....

To be fair i can understand the lads frustration and it just about sums up where we are now with otters. You have old fish here that are remarkable creatures and something furry comes along and not an eyelid is battered and its the same across the country. No different to cormorants for me, should be able to apply for a license and shoot them

Once again we have to take it on the chin. We can spend literally millions of pounds fencing fisheries, never mind the maintenance costs to protect fish from a threat that never existed for a long time, hence, massive fish in un- tampered waters all over the country. Now some do good'er's release otters and they spread like wild fire, no different to vermin and they should be treat that way for me.

£100k for a fence or £200 for an air rifle. Such is society eh!

The species died off for a reason, natural selection. There is a place for them no doubt and that is rivers, or RSPB reserves lol, wonder if they will start fencing these off. The key is, the numbers need capping and locations need to be controlled ASAP.

In reply to Post #197
Off memory 34 RSPB Reserves had been “Predator Fenced” (Political Correct name for an Otter Fence!)By March 2018, probably most have them have been fenced by now.


As for fencing this lake, I can't get over the fact as to why the hell has a fence not already been installed? Everybody and their dog know what happens if you have Carp in a lake that's not protected, it's been absolutely documented to death “Fence it OR forget it!” With such a stamp of fish, it should have been top priority going back to around 2011

I know lake owners who have had helped the Members install Otter Fences themselves to keep costs down, doing large sections every year until complete, not small waters either 40 acre plus.

In reply to Post #197
I thought otter numbers declined rapidly due to hunting initially and then poisoning by pesticides? I'm not sure that would be classed as natural selection. Anyway it makes no difference, they are back in numbers and pose a threat to every fishery that isn't fenced.

I just think it's sad that the current members would rather beg than put their own hands in their own pockets to fund this. As an example, even if there are only 20 members, £5,000 each isn't exactly a fortune (for most). If they arranged a loan over 10 years then you're looking at £1,000 per month (very roughly), so £50 a month for 20 of them.

In reply to Post #196
I think this is the biggest issue, trying to raise over 100k before even confirming the fencing is feasible. Get the permissions all signed off from the relevant authorities and landowners/tenants and then ask for the money. Right now they could raise the money and then not get permissions meaning they need to return the money.

Also;
- RSPB have predator fenced almost all their reserves I believe
- Enut is right, otters didnt die out from natural selection, it was man that killed them off by huntin and pesticide poisoning.

I wonder if Red Kites will be the next 'reintroduced' problem especially for the RSPB, they are already causing problems LINK

In reply to Post #199
Only one person who should be fencing it for me and that's the owners if they really gave a **** and were interested. One thing it does show is that the lads fishing it are passionate about protecting the stock. Sounds like the bloke taking the ticket money is not

In reply to Post #197
Can't agree with you there scozza

I know it's not a popular opinion on here but I don't see the otters as the problem. They are wild creatures doing what nature intended. They had to have a release programme because of over hunting and destruction to habitat.

The problem is commercial fishery owners not adequately protecting their assets. Defiant has it right. Why the hell haven't they been protecting this key fish for the last ten years?

You wouldn't leave your front door wide open and then say 'why can't I just shoot any chancer that tried to come in and nick my telly?'

In reply to Post #186
I feel your frustration it must be hard being on such a lake with the quality of fish knowing that at any minute it could all be taken away and there's little you can do about it
As a carp fisherman on another syndicate we went through this 4 years ago and all agreed to pay an extra £100 initially and then £50 per year to help with the costs
The owners have shown us the costings and we assisted with the installation
I am now on a different syndicate but do not begrudge the money I paid out to help protect the lakes
I think had you approached it differently and had costings, agreements etc in place and tried your fundraising to help you may have received a better response
Yours is not the only lake going through this.
Had all members paid an extra £100 per year over the last 6 years at 30 members you would now be £18000 towards your costs.
I believe every carp angler would love to see all fisheries fenced or better the still the otter population controlled but until then we all need to stand together.

In reply to Post #203
Were talking otters here, not humans, same could be said for Cormorants

Saying that there's a few humans i would probably like to shoot if i could get away with it

Read 199. Like i said

In reply to Post #203
Natural otters i agree with. The problem (although its pretty academic now given it has already happened) was the release of otters without any study or understanding of the relocation site/environments.

My parents used to live in Hampshire and the river Itchen where they were has had a pair of otters there for 20 odd years, and is successful (and too expensive for me!) beat of river with natural brown trout (ie not repeatedly stocked).

The other factor is that the otters main food source is so much scarcer than when they were more wide spread (Eels).

I love seeing natural otters in the wild, however i despise the way that they were bred and then just released without any study or due care and attention. A slow reintroduction with relevant environmental considerations to allow them to find a natural balance over time would have been much, much better.

All IMO of course.

In reply to Post #206
Sense... which they didn't have, and still don't have unfortunately.

But this needn't turn in to an otter thread. We already have one of those.

In reply to Post #205


I think there'd be more humans on my list tbh!

Greekskii - agreed. This isn't really about otters. They never asked me to crowd fund anything

In reply to Post #197
The released otters would've been the ones dying by means of natural selection but some nutters keep putting carp into lakes that they can maim at will.

In reply to Post #209
Ecological balance will not be attained if the biomass of the food source is artificially maintained or increased. It's why Grouse and Pheasant shoots need gamekeepers.( An oversimplification I know but an example to get the point across ).

In reply to Post #208

In reply to Post #206
Thanks Tim. Every now and then you get a post like this, from someone who is aware.

In reply to Post #201
Nah the problem there with the kites is human once more, feeding them! Can't feed them human food and then be surprised when the masters of the air want to start helping themselves

In reply to Post #213
Red kites are like ravens ,and crows ,basically carrion feeders. If you put out food for them you are going to have a population explosion. Similar to the urban fox overpopulation. Which has resulted in mangy, scrawny,
half starved animals that only find release when they get run over in their droves. It's very sad because it's unnatural and shouldn't ,and wouldn't , happen without human intervention.

In reply to Post #214
This isn't aimed at you mate, but at what point do a group angling for captive bred fish, surviving on a supplemented diet to encourage unnatural growth, stocked with the sole intention of being caught become hypocrites when talking about natural balance and ecosystems?

In reply to Post #215
👍🏻 If you love the fish that much you wouldn't be attempting to place a hook in its mouth to capture it. You would turn up with sunglasses, camera and hopefully get a piccy of it in the margins. I happily go to a lake to fish but wouldn't dream f fishing in my garden pond 😀 My Mrs now wishes we had made the pond bigger so if everyone wants to chip in for digger, liner, filter etc... I will cover the cost of the fencing 😀

Get me gong all PETAish 😂😂😂

In reply to Post #215
When they don't spend the money on a gatekeeper / otter fence or gamekeeper. To keep the predators down to a level that allows an ecological and sustainable level to be achieved.

In reply to Post #217
My point is there's nothing natural about most fisheries, the predators wouldn't be there without us putting fish in there

In reply to Post #218
Likewise, otters wouldn't be about in their numbers causing a problem if man hadn't artificially reintroduced them en mass. Otter + big carp = nom nom nom.

Without anything higher up the food chain to keep their numbers in check, they'll naturally spread into areas in search of food.

There was never an otter problem until some bright spark thought, I know, why don't we introduce an apex predator that hasn't anything to keep the numbers down, make them a protected species...otter explosion. Bravo that idiot.

In reply to Post #219
Lol

Bravo the idiots that put all those big carp in the water to support the otters long enough to reproduce.
MAN INTRODUCED THE CARP... the otters were here first technically

In reply to Post #220
Oh, right.

Well, I hope that sometime in the near future there'll be legislation brought in that that'll make it legal to cull little furry Tarquin so as to bring back some kind of ballance. Maybe when lord Fontaroy gets his favourite salmon run smashed, things will change.

In reply to Post #221
Or Tarka and lord Fauntleroy
As everybody is so obsessed with natural balance maybe we should stop stocking fish and allow nature to run it's course, or give up fishing and start live baiting with 20lb carp and call it ottering.... or just fence the carp in and carry on over feeding, hooking, banking and starving them of oxygen because we love them so very dearly

In reply to Post #221
As if you didn't know otters are native to this country and have been here for longer than carp have

You'd think with all this talk of natural balance that people would deem it acceptable to try and reestablish an animal that humans nearly made extinct. The vibe I get is that rhinos being poached to extinction is some form of natural selection
It was a man made decline of otters, thus the solution is a man made one also. Don't get me wrong it's a total F up, and still is. Don't let anyone fool you in to thinking Natural England or the UKWOT actually care in the slightest about fisheries. I've had some conversations and asked some questions and I can tell you now that they literally don't give a toss, superficial gestures have been made to help but it's only to stop further outcry and possible legal challenges in the future.

The picture is very bleak, even with fencing.

In reply to Post #223
with respect, ive never tried to fool anyone. NE and UKWOT do care.

In reply to Post #224
After speaking to them both at length, They don't. Sorry but if they did then why do they refuse to formally record releases? Why do they collect no data? Why do they allow illegal releases and not follow up with prosecutions? Telling people to put a fence up to protect their fisheries is the easy, barely helpful thing to do. Asking people releasing otters to ‘consider fisheries' when choosing a release site? But the release site doesn't need to be recorded. Therefore there can be no prosecutions if they don't.

I know you're in the PAG Joss, and fair play but in all honesty I'm not sure where the fight is going, it's been a while since we've heard which changes to the system are being fought for.
Protecting fisheries is fine but changing the system of unregulated releases and monitoring and data collection should be the priority. Formalising a release process which gets authorised by not only NE but also stakeholders surrounding the release site needs putting in place. Maybe going as far as getting carp OFF the non-native list too.

The current situation of being able to release an otter wherever you want without fear of prosecution or legal action if it happens to them destroy a business is not sustainable. No records kept and no monitoring. Dave Webb of UKWOT told me monitoring is “too hard” so they dont do it.

They don't care otherwise the system would be redesigned to ensure at minimum releases are properly regulated.

Anyway - here's me turning it in to the otter thread I said to keep it away from.

In reply to Post #225
we will have to agree to disagree slightly mate.

Im not in the PAG anymore mate, it wasn't really doing anything in my eyes, although I have the upmost respect for all of them

I do however do a lot of work for UKWOK as a fisheries advisor (un paid)

Not too sure what you mean regarding illegal releases, but if you mean Re Hab's,, no, you don't have to keep records, in saying that Dave does

I do agree that there has been some MASSIVE mistakes in the past, ie Phillip Wares activity, of which was completely wrong, but had the backing of higher powers in government after the he was told not to d what he was by the EA

I also agree that anyone keeping otters for whatever reason should be regulated. Re hab centre do have to have a license to do so and are only able to release a certain amount per yr. No captive breed otters are released, its against the law. (not saying some will break the law, obviously they will)

I could type for hours on this subject, but wont.

I also heard that Burghfield is only fencing half the lake....well that is completly pointless

In reply to Post #226
Half a fence. Now that's mad, especially asking for peoples money too!!

What my point is that without regulation and recording on the releases everything is pointless gestures. If it's recorded by the governing body then it can be accessed publicly by way of FOI. It could also be used by fishery owners to reclaim damages from whoever irresponsibly releases on/near a fishery. Like I said, it's the processes and regulation that needs tightening further. Trapping and fencing are the options, no culls. Next step is ensure it's done sensibly as both UKWOT and NE admit actually monitoring otters is next to impossible, as is tagging.

In reply to Post #227
agree mate, half fence is nothing but stupid and wasting a lot of money and heart ache...

re the regulations, again 110% agree, everything needs to be transparent and water tight, but there again, a bit like that idiot who got caught breaking the law shooting an otter and then gets sent down for it, otter people will also break the law

No easy answer hey mate, its one of the reasons I like the subject so much

In reply to Post #227
regarding tracking otter, yes, that's impossible for otters that are already in the wild, and it will never be done purely down to cost of DNA tracing, so that horse has bolted already.

Re habs do have chips in them

In reply to Post #223
Okay, so what about native fish species that are being hammered up and down this country?

Certainly man made a huge impact on otters and pushed them to places like Scotland where they thrived and there was a natural balance between prey and predator. Now we have a situation whereby otters have been injected back into the food chain and are having a devastating effect on their surroundings with little to no forethought what-so-ever...full retard.

I suppose that once the easy pickings are stopped with fencing being erected, the buggers will starve and the numbers will decline. Just all a matter of time [shrug]. Wouldn't surprise me that some years down the line Bob Geldoff and Bono with do a Live Aid to save the furry critters and it'll be deemed racist by a load of blue haired crazies to put up fence's.

In reply to Post #227
Half a fence?

That's no good at all, especially if it's just the top half, from knee height up.

In reply to Post #231
only what ive been told mate, so don't take it as gospel

half of fence no matter in length or height is a stupid thought. let alone plan...all that money, straight down the drain

In reply to Post #229
Well there's your trouble

Already got chips in them so no wonder they're looking for fish. It's the great British dish after all....

In reply to Post #233
salt n vinegar too

In reply to Post #231
lol

In reply to Post #235
They've changed tack slightly, having a rock up BBQ. Gonna need to sell a crap load of burgers to build the fence!!!

In reply to Post #232
I've been told the same Frenzy, part of a fence and a new stock pond so I hear.

In reply to Post #237
Otters exploit a whole in a fence, let alone half a job

In reply to Post #205
Otters? First world problems. I had a Seal in my swim on the Trent Sunday night. Any chance of donations to put another weir in further downstream?

In reply to Post #239
Did you get a picture? Is that a normal thing for the stretch you fish?

In reply to Post #238
740 metres of Perfect otter proof fence and one 6 inch faulty piece and the little sod found it within 2 days. If you remember the french building the maginot line to deter the Germans.........the Germans just walked straight through the weakest bit!! I feel for the Burghfield carp but judging by all of the venues I have been involved in regarding otters, it must be completely fenced if possible

In reply to Post #244
stop just trying to stir the **** mate

In reply to Post #243
The germans didn't find the weak spot they just walked around the end where it finished, as an otter will do with an incomplete fence. If your not going to do it all you are wasting time and money and putting off the inevitable.

In reply to Post #245
What happened to your post?

In reply to Post #247
241 and 242 seem to have vanished too. Somebody lacking impartiality at the buttons?

In reply to Post #248

Tell you what also went missing is Pimp's locked thread about the money raising auction.

In reply to Post #249
yep lol
however I didn't delete that

I deleted a couple of posts coz they were just on a wind up
something about the common being dead and jim shelley

In reply to Post #84
I have no involvement in anything to do with Burghfield!

In reply to Post #251
Apparently you can have if you've got the cash..

In reply to Post #248
Cancel culture comes to CF !! Speaking of which Peky is doing a raffle to raise money for the fence 70% of which goes to the fence & the Remaining 30% to Embryo & some competition company !! Any how raised a few points with him on Insta which he deleted ! Never had him down as a snowflake 😂

In reply to Post #240
It's not massively uncommon, it's tidal so there's nothing to stop them going up that far even though it's about 35 miles from the Humber Estuary. Harbour Porpoises have been seen up there too.

The next angler down (about 200metres from me) heard it as well and said he saw one a few years ago.

In reply to Post #253
They are only building 70% of the fence required to protect the venue so it seems rather fitting that only 70% of the funds raised are going to that cause.

In reply to Post #255
Weird logic😂

In reply to Post #256
Yes, also it wouldn't be fair to have a carp related fund raiser without added Carp Tax

In reply to Post #257
I'm a b little perplexed as to why some of the money is going to Embyo & a competition company 🤔

In reply to Post #258
I'd say it's likely broken down like this;

70% materials
20% to embryo for labour on a massive job
10% for admin to the competition company

Most competition companies or fundraising companies take a % as admin. Look at captain Tom outrage for example.

Well, it all turned out right in the end, good thing really as it'll guarantee Burghfield's wellbeing well into the distance for future anglers.

As little interest as I have with fishing Burghfield, I wouldn't want to see any fish get done by an otter regardless of the venue.

In reply to Post #255
only fencing 70% of Burghfield .... WTF please tell me they are fencing all of it 100%

Why bother starting to fence Burghfield, knowing you will have a 30% perimeter hole for the unthinkable to wander in ?

In reply to Post #261
It's OK when the otters get in they will only eat 70% of the BC.

In reply to Post #262

I see Ali Hamidi is jumping on this now Ali's Tweet

In reply to Post #264
I've looked at some of the comments on Greg's posts and it's cringing tbh. People are so far up his arse I can't tell who's who. Just see a set of toe nails hanging out 😂

In reply to Post #265
Same on Pecky's you'd think he'd discovered a cure for cancer not caught a few mud pigs

In reply to Post #165
The BC.
I don't even know when it was stocked or by whom but it swam with some of the finest genuine Leneys in the country, in a 90 acre pit that was pioneered by the likes of Kenny Hodder. It was caught back in the 1980's at mid twenties but it was in the 1990's that those in the know began to take notice. Even then, it wasn't until the late 90's/early 00's when it hit 40+ that it became big news. By the mid 00's it had grown to a massive 57 lb, the biggest proper English common carp the country had ever seen. All these years later the fish remains so with a biggest weight of 62 odd.

Didn't know that, never looked into it. And that is why fish like this are pretty amazing, the survivors. Incredible

Cracking fish, have to say

In reply to Post #267
Why isn't the Syndicate paying for this?? They took the place over so must have knew the future costs..

In reply to Post #268
because they arent stupid enough to spend their own money fencing 70% of the a lake

In reply to Post #269
Rumour has it Cell Lad has caught the BC..... 🤫🤫🤫

In reply to Post #270
Just seen the pictures , reckon the fence will still go -ahead ?

Absolutely epic!. That's what it's all about right there don't know the lad but he caught that fish in no time at all and you can see what it ment to him. I hope the fence goes ahead and credit to Greg not everybody's cup of tea but obviously a talented angler fair play to him.

In reply to Post #273
Congratulations Greg......as I said earlier, never been fluked. It takes solid, committed angling. Well done.

Only fencing 70% of the Lake. I'm assuming the house owners whos propertys back onto the lake have promised to keep there garden gates closed then.

In reply to Post #173
There's quite a nice fish on opposite side of m4

Has it been out this year then....or even spotted.

Just to correct something said earlier in this thread.... The BC is not actually as old as everybody thinks it is. The BC & the one referred to as its sister, were stocked into Burghfield from the lake in the old ladies garden to the North of the pit. When I joined, the angler who used to be known as the 'Burghfield ninja' back in the day walked me around the entire pit.... Him and his mate (especially his mate) are responsible for stocking a vast proportion of the big carp in that area on the sly. He no longer carp fishes, is as straight as anyone you would ever meet.

Both him and his mate caught the BC numerous times as an upper single, and then double in its former home he told me. It, and the one referred to as its sister, were poached numerous times on bread flake off of the surface. Both were freaks that grew much faster than the rest. Both were soon considerably larger than anything else in the lake, which was full up with small young commons. Both were moved into Burghfield as doubles, it was only three years or so before it was caught at 40+ in the incredibly rich pit.

That's where the BC came from. From the lips of a man who watched it swim off into Burghfield for the first time, with no reasons whatsoever to lie. I've had it confirmed by others since, that it definitely came from said old ladies back garden.

The stars who turned up in later years and caught it, did not know where that fish came from. The locals did... The anglers in question, were always some of the most secretive around. Those lads seeded so many pits in the area. Numerous fish that are now 50 & even 60+, not including the BC.

Does not detract from the fish at all. It's still the best carp swimming in the UK. But it's younger than many people think... Which is great news really in reality.

In reply to Post #278
Tcarper , what does that mean best carp in the country, is it because people want to catch it the most or other reasons.

In reply to Post #279
For me personally... It's looks. It is the best looking common carp in the land.

I don't subscribe to it's the biggest challenge... There's far bigger challenges out there in my opinion than that lake. I only had one five night trip ever, caught 3 x 40's, 2 x 30's and watched the BC clear the water over my rods (It was caught three days later after I had gone home out where it had showed).

Maybe all that is not normal for the lake above, but it was my experience and that does not equate to me personally as the biggest challenge there is. But it certainly is the best looking, no doubt.

In reply to Post #280
Thanks, amazing history , and u had a great catch well done, are you going back.

In reply to Post #281
At some point definitely. The man who runs it Phil Greenacre is a gentleman, he promised me I could have a ticket in the future with no waiting list.

In reply to Post #282
Doesnt sound much of a gentlemen if he would do that to other people who have been waiting

Thanks for that Leeroy. I had already been through the waiting list process, like everyone else. You don't know why I was offered a deferred ticket.

Yes the bloke is a gentleman. Of course you can have your opinion and vent it, based on nothing. Good luck getting onto any of the best syndicates around in the future with that attitude though.

In reply to Post #280
I only had one five night trip ever, caught 3 x 40's, 2 x 30's and watched the BC clear the water over my rods

That'll be that bloody fermented garlic hemp at work

In reply to Post #284
Im just bitter

Ive been on a waiting list for a local lake 5 years, never once pestered or asked when my ticket will come up, and ive seen multiple people get tickets because people have pestered to get their mates on. Its pretty annoying.

In reply to Post #286
Unfortunately a shy boy gets no toffee, It is annoying when that happens and did many years ago to me on more than one occasion so when I'm on a list these days I tend to send a nice polite message or email just before renewals just to give a little prompt/nudge so to speak.

In reply to Post #285
No mate, that was the first week of April... I never start using that stuff until late May, early June once the water is warm. The carrier is hempseed, seed is for summer. It had nothing to do with that stuff.

I'd walked the pit for a month before my ticket started. I knew where they were. The carrier was Geoff's ABS Chocolate Orange nut mix, crumbed and soaked in S2 liquids and tiger nut slime... With the odd S2 barrel in among it done that. It's S(2)pring crack cocaine for big carp, even the garlic hemp would not come close to that in the Spring

In reply to Post #286


You'll get there mate. As Carpstar said, be nice. Make yourself known, but without being a pest. I know from experience people often blow their chances by pestering. I also know how hard it is to get onto the places that everyone wants to fish. How few spaces come up, for literally hundreds or thousands that want them.

It's getting harder all of the time. You have to think ahead. It's the only way.

I secured my ticket to the lagoon 5 years ago. It was easy to get a ticket. The biggun had just gone 50+, the others were mid 40's. I knew exactly where those fish were going, by their exceptional growth rates. Got a ticket, with no intention whatsoever of fishing it for three or four years. A valuable lesson for you Leeroy that very few here will even know. That syndicate, which the whole world and their wife have tried to get a ticket for in the past two years... It's run by a former regular member of the old Cemex forum. Watch what you write on forums mate to some random bloke... It really can have a big bearing on wether you get a ticket to a lake or not, that you might really want to fish in the distant future.

Carp fishing is a small circle mate, especially those kind of syndicates. Even if people do not see stuff that's written, it tends to get back to them anyway.

In reply to Post #282
Thanks TC , some good advice there chaps

In reply to Post #278
I very rarely comment on forums theses days.. but think I have to on this.. reckon you've been sold some duff info there Mark.
The common had been seen by several well known anglers in the late 80s early 90s at upper 30s weight.. i had a clear photo of it swimming in the highbank snags around that weight from '93.. it's first capture at 40+ was in 2000...
I understand it was moved from another lake, but not that local, not that small a weight, and a lot longer ago.

The ninja as far as I'm aware was a young lad with mental health issue?

If anyone claims to have stocked fish in that area that are going 50.. 60+ now.. ask them to show you the photos..

In reply to Post #291
Hellooo Piers. I hope that you are very well. He def ain't got mental health issues that I know of if we are speaking about the same blond haired bloke. Beautiful family too. He was your mate I always thought. I'm not saying another word, it's zero to do with me, and I probably should never have even commented. Especially after what ultimately happened with that mirror that was reclaimed. But that is what he told me.

I doubt that anyone did take any photos, why would you of pasties... But whatever happened, they certainly did not sprout legs and walk from their original home, to those surrounding area pits, all on their own lonesome did they

They deserve medals whoever they are. It was great work.

In reply to Post #292
Yeah im good mate.. ticking along but fine.
Might pop under the motorway and see you one day!

The Burghfield ninja from back in the old Cemex forum days stopped being the Burghfield ninja and turned into The Lagoon Rambo.. yes the lagoon that your fishing! He used to creep about on all 4s dressed in camo with a plastic toy gun, and try and sneak up on the anglers.. I never saw him.. but I knew someone who knew him... so I very much doubt it's the same person as this one wasn't an angler, and certainly was a bit mental!

But your saying someone I know/ knew claimed to have stocked the common?

Ive fished that area on and off for 30 years.. but i dont know anyone who claims to have stocked it, at least claimed it to me.. so Im intrigued.. but I'll refrain from asking.. 😁

And I say about photos because if there's a group of people putting fish into those lakes on the sly that are now 50+, they'd be taking photos of them I can assure you.. even if they were pasties when stocked.. 😉


Oh.. and if that mirror your talking about had something to do with nuts.. thats quite a long story and probably not for here.. but it was returned.. not reclaimed 🤪

In reply to Post #293
Yes mate don't talk about it like Englefield, pop over there for sure! You can sign my laminated Cemex article about catching the BC before them all! I'm not saying anything else on here now Pop over and I'll tell you. It's not that nutter, you'll know as soon as I say as you know the bloke for sure. He was from that forum, he told me he was the real ninja to do with stars and jumping out of trees (tree surgeon).

Yes that fish (I did name it first of all and quickly edited it), I heard from a few different sources. I look forward to hearing the real story.

Been out this morning.

Well played,

Just seen a rumour Simon Scott has hauled the BC out at 57lb.

In reply to Post #296

In reply to Post #297
Bravo.

Couldn't have come to a nicer man.

In reply to Post #299
Exactly that. Lovely bloke.

In reply to Post #296
He's just posted it to his instagram