Just out of interest what's the longest anyone knows of a known fish going between captures?
Obviously not including fish that have been moved, then moved back, just those that seem good at avoiding capture.
Obviously not including fish that have been moved, then moved back, just those that seem good at avoiding capture.
In reply to Post #1
Once had one that the regulars said was an original due to a blue spot tattoo on its belly and they said it hadn't been out for sixteen years and was long forgotten.
Once had one that the regulars said was an original due to a blue spot tattoo on its belly and they said it hadn't been out for sixteen years and was long forgotten.
In reply to Post #1
9 years, and that's in a tiny 6 acre water. Madness.
9 years, and that's in a tiny 6 acre water. Madness.
In reply to Post #3
12 years and counting from a 200 acre water.
9 years on a 5 acre pit.....that one did finally get caught.
12 years and counting from a 200 acre water.
9 years on a 5 acre pit.....that one did finally get caught.
In reply to Post #1
I think there was a mirror in Colemere that did upper 30 on it's only capture in 30+ year's. It was seen at much larger weights I believe.
I think there was a mirror in Colemere that did upper 30 on it's only capture in 30+ year's. It was seen at much larger weights I believe.
In reply to Post #1
10 years ago I caught a 68lb fish that after the owner studied the photos declared it had never seen the bank before after that if came out a fortnight later and now 10 years later well over 80lb and comes out fairly often
point being how did it reach that weight without being tripped up ??? the sack was full of zebra shells and a complete crab claw
10 years ago I caught a 68lb fish that after the owner studied the photos declared it had never seen the bank before after that if came out a fortnight later and now 10 years later well over 80lb and comes out fairly often
point being how did it reach that weight without being tripped up ??? the sack was full of zebra shells and a complete crab claw
In reply to Post #2
Patching Goose?... I had a few with the blue tattoos 😊
Patching Goose?... I had a few with the blue tattoos 😊
In reply to Post #6
Was it definitely in the lake? Not having a pop just aware that foreign fish go on trips to other venues for 'holidays' quite a lot!
Was it definitely in the lake? Not having a pop just aware that foreign fish go on trips to other venues for 'holidays' quite a lot!
In reply to Post #5
Wow. Never heard about that.
Wow. Never heard about that.
In reply to Post #8
thats a possibility I guess as its rumoured some may have jumped the fence from Etang 5 but we will never know
thats a possibility I guess as its rumoured some may have jumped the fence from Etang 5 but we will never know
In reply to Post #10
I had it on good authority that certain fish in Etang 5 some how sprouted legs and went for walkies
I had it on good authority that certain fish in Etang 5 some how sprouted legs and went for walkies
In reply to Post #1
The big lin on Ecton went missing for a good 5/6 yrs a while back
The big lin on Ecton went missing for a good 5/6 yrs a while back
It's a fact, some fish don't need bait 
In reply to Post #13
That's true, I'm sure we've all fished lakes with uncaught/uncatchable fish in them. This is more abount the wily old beasts that are obviously very, very cany but DO pick up bait, however rarely.
That's true, I'm sure we've all fished lakes with uncaught/uncatchable fish in them. This is more abount the wily old beasts that are obviously very, very cany but DO pick up bait, however rarely.
In reply to Post #14
I have one that regularly goes 3/4 years without being caught and then gets caught 2/3 times in a month. It went 30 months without capture, gained 5 pounds and has now been out twice this week!! I even know the bush she lives under! Very very odd fish
I have another small common with distinctive orange cheeks that has only been caught twice in 11 years
I have one that regularly goes 3/4 years without being caught and then gets caught 2/3 times in a month. It went 30 months without capture, gained 5 pounds and has now been out twice this week!! I even know the bush she lives under! Very very odd fish
I have another small common with distinctive orange cheeks that has only been caught twice in 11 years
I caught a fish last year which I really wanted before we lost our lake to HS2 earlier this year, after seeing a photo of it on the bank the previous season. That capture was 10yrs since its last capture, and it had put on around 10lb in that time.
Some never get caught it has been often said, with lakes full of naturals why would they take the risk...
Some never get caught it has been often said, with lakes full of naturals why would they take the risk...
In reply to Post #7
Yep, must have been late nineties, think it came out a few times after and may have been Adam that identified it.
Yep, must have been late nineties, think it came out a few times after and may have been Adam that identified it.
Coincidence that this thread has come up.
This weekend we had a fish caught from one of the syndicate lakes that hadn't seen the bank for 3.5 years
This weekend we had a fish caught from one of the syndicate lakes that hadn't seen the bank for 3.5 years
In reply to Post #18
There has to be a chance on some lakes that people catch stuff and no one else knows surely? I'm out of touch with syndicates etc but I'd be surprised if all captures are shared on them? Much more so on club lakes.
There has to be a chance on some lakes that people catch stuff and no one else knows surely? I'm out of touch with syndicates etc but I'd be surprised if all captures are shared on them? Much more so on club lakes.
In reply to Post #19
Most definitely. I rarely tell people when I catch.
If I don't talk with anyone when I am fishing I most Certainly tell no one.
I am sure there's lots of others like myself, if someone asks I will say if I caught or not.
Most definitely. I rarely tell people when I catch.
If I don't talk with anyone when I am fishing I most Certainly tell no one.
I am sure there's lots of others like myself, if someone asks I will say if I caught or not.
In reply to Post #20
I'm of the same mind.
I'm of the same mind.
In reply to Post #20
Wet net on floor, sling and net hanging from a tree
“Any good mate?”
“Nah, breamed “
Next week
“Any good mate”
“Tenched”
“Any good mate?”
“Nah, on for a blank I think, just cleaned down my gear to kill off any viruses and give um a bit of sunshine”
Welcome to the world of syndicate fishing.
Next week
“You had one in the night then?”
“Nah what made you think that?”
“Thought I saw a camera flash”
“Oh no that was fire works behind me, bloody kids”
Wet net on floor, sling and net hanging from a tree
“Any good mate?”
“Nah, breamed “
Next week
“Any good mate”
“Tenched”
“Any good mate?”
“Nah, on for a blank I think, just cleaned down my gear to kill off any viruses and give um a bit of sunshine”
Welcome to the world of syndicate fishing.
Next week
“You had one in the night then?”
“Nah what made you think that?”
“Thought I saw a camera flash”
“Oh no that was fire works behind me, bloody kids”
In reply to Post #22
On a lake I used to fish we often had a laugh with the owner. He'd come round in the morning and ask if we had anything, similar conversations:-
'Had anything?'
'Oh, just a bream'
'Interesting, as there aren't any bream in here!'
'Had anything?'
'No'
'Why's your unhooking mat wet?'
'It blew in'
'Had anything?'
'No, but Chris has!'
'Now, I know you're lying as he never catches anything!'
'Had anything?'
'No, lost one at the net'
'Why's your weigh sling wet then?'
'Chris was sure I was going to land it so had already wet the net!'
He always let us get away without making the expected catch reports as we made him a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea, each morning.
I did once have a 36lb mirror, a long dark fish, never saw a picture of it before or after, sadly a fish kill a few years later probably put paid to it.
On a lake I used to fish we often had a laugh with the owner. He'd come round in the morning and ask if we had anything, similar conversations:-
'Had anything?'
'Oh, just a bream'
'Interesting, as there aren't any bream in here!'
'Had anything?'
'No'
'Why's your unhooking mat wet?'
'It blew in'
'Had anything?'
'No, but Chris has!'
'Now, I know you're lying as he never catches anything!'
'Had anything?'
'No, lost one at the net'
'Why's your weigh sling wet then?'
'Chris was sure I was going to land it so had already wet the net!'
He always let us get away without making the expected catch reports as we made him a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea, each morning.
I did once have a 36lb mirror, a long dark fish, never saw a picture of it before or after, sadly a fish kill a few years later probably put paid to it.
In reply to Post #22
We had a guy on a water I was on who never blanked,each morning he would tell you he had caught but he would never take pics.One evening one of the lads tied some line through the mesh of his net to a small tree,next morning net was still attached but he had caught.When asked how he landed it and was shown his net,his face was a picture and he vanished into his bivvy
We had a guy on a water I was on who never blanked,each morning he would tell you he had caught but he would never take pics.One evening one of the lads tied some line through the mesh of his net to a small tree,next morning net was still attached but he had caught.When asked how he landed it and was shown his net,his face was a picture and he vanished into his bivvy
In reply to Post #24
We had a guy on one of my waters who did used to catch. But whatever he caught it was always heavier than the last time it came out, even if that was only a short while before. So at an AGM the committee presented him with a new weigh sling, but they'd had a riding stirrup stitched to the bottom of it. The idea being he could slip his foot into it just as he lifted the fish by the weigh bar.
We had a guy on one of my waters who did used to catch. But whatever he caught it was always heavier than the last time it came out, even if that was only a short while before. So at an AGM the committee presented him with a new weigh sling, but they'd had a riding stirrup stitched to the bottom of it. The idea being he could slip his foot into it just as he lifted the fish by the weigh bar.
In reply to Post #25
That's quality,I don't get why people feel the need to lie about catching and weights.
That's quality,I don't get why people feel the need to lie about catching and weights.
Had a fish last year from a club water - 17 years between captures.
Couldn't quite believe it myself but no previous members / ex commitee members / stockings could work it out until a photo popped up of it at a lower weight all them years ago.
I'm not saying it wasn't caught but a close community on the club and those who had been on there years didn't have a clue which one it was or seen it before until the photos appeared.
To this day since capture it hasn't been seen in this lake so there must be a hidden bunker!
Couldn't quite believe it myself but no previous members / ex commitee members / stockings could work it out until a photo popped up of it at a lower weight all them years ago.
I'm not saying it wasn't caught but a close community on the club and those who had been on there years didn't have a clue which one it was or seen it before until the photos appeared.
To this day since capture it hasn't been seen in this lake so there must be a hidden bunker!
In reply to Post #26
Because there's something wrong/missing in the other part of their lives.
Because there's something wrong/missing in the other part of their lives.
In reply to Post #9
No myth, and the various tales surrounding a capture lead to nowt concrete.
Personally reckon it's likely long gone, and besides, life's far, far, far too short...
No myth, and the various tales surrounding a capture lead to nowt concrete.
Personally reckon it's likely long gone, and besides, life's far, far, far too short...
In reply to Post #24
I remember a certain someone who did that on both Roach Pit and Rockford. Reasonably well known person at the time. Never a good idea to turn up for your first season on a water and claim you'd caught three twenty pound commons in a night, but put them all back without photos... When there were only 2 twenty pound commons in the lake....
I remember a certain someone who did that on both Roach Pit and Rockford. Reasonably well known person at the time. Never a good idea to turn up for your first season on a water and claim you'd caught three twenty pound commons in a night, but put them all back without photos... When there were only 2 twenty pound commons in the lake....
In reply to Post #30
there are fish on my syndicate that go missing for years on end.
A lovely scaley mirror was missing for 12 years and turned up 3lb heavier - and is now caught regularly.
Another common low 30 completely unknown - caught once 2 years ago and not seen since.
And one of the bigguns will go missing for 2 years and then get caught as few times in quick succession, that's its cycle.
Crazy what they do. 25 acre water, regularly fished but certainly not overfished.
there are fish on my syndicate that go missing for years on end.
A lovely scaley mirror was missing for 12 years and turned up 3lb heavier - and is now caught regularly.
Another common low 30 completely unknown - caught once 2 years ago and not seen since.
And one of the bigguns will go missing for 2 years and then get caught as few times in quick succession, that's its cycle.
Crazy what they do. 25 acre water, regularly fished but certainly not overfished.
In 1995 I had a 21.10 fully scaled from Barham B pit that had never been seen before or after.
A guy on the opposite bank, later a mate, Mick, saw me casting to the Beach Island, came round to find out what gear I was using as it was a long chuck that was around 120yards, (long ish distance back then), and by the time he got round I was playing the fish from there, so he saw it as well.
NO-one from the club recognised it and the pic was in the tackle shop I worked in for years.
A guy on the opposite bank, later a mate, Mick, saw me casting to the Beach Island, came round to find out what gear I was using as it was a long chuck that was around 120yards, (long ish distance back then), and by the time he got round I was playing the fish from there, so he saw it as well.
NO-one from the club recognised it and the pic was in the tackle shop I worked in for years.
I fished at the weekend and ALL the fish had gone missing.... 
In reply to Post #33
Horseshoe had a 30lb fish (one of the first ever caught) that was totally different to the rest of the fish being grey in colour. I only know of one capture, by a lady angler in all the years the catches were being recorded. I was lucky to be there to see the fish banked and weighed.
I had a lad hook it and unfortunately lose it in weed on a Junior fish-in, and I was absolutely gutted for him. Both times it was hooked were in similar areas of the Summer Bay. It definitely also visited the snags though.
There was also a fish with just a single scale on one side that I caught twice (28 & 30lb) that only ever had one other known capture (Mr Poole I believe).
Horseshoe had a 30lb fish (one of the first ever caught) that was totally different to the rest of the fish being grey in colour. I only know of one capture, by a lady angler in all the years the catches were being recorded. I was lucky to be there to see the fish banked and weighed.
I had a lad hook it and unfortunately lose it in weed on a Junior fish-in, and I was absolutely gutted for him. Both times it was hooked were in similar areas of the Summer Bay. It definitely also visited the snags though.
There was also a fish with just a single scale on one side that I caught twice (28 & 30lb) that only ever had one other known capture (Mr Poole I believe).
In reply to Post #29
Love the old myths and legends...some turn out to be true...others absolute tosh.
Love the old myths and legends...some turn out to be true...others absolute tosh.
In reply to Post #35
I suppose there are two possible elements to fish not being caught.
1) They dont recognise the bait items as food.
There is a famous lake where the stock fish in their early years were extensively reared without being feed pellets. They now live their lives as uncatchable creatures unless you use snails etc. These fish are likely to remain uncaught.
2) They recognise the food as bait items.
At certain times through the year the fish will feed on the bait items (all be it cautiously) and these become the missing fish, rarely caught.
I suppose there are two possible elements to fish not being caught.
1) They dont recognise the bait items as food.
There is a famous lake where the stock fish in their early years were extensively reared without being feed pellets. They now live their lives as uncatchable creatures unless you use snails etc. These fish are likely to remain uncaught.
2) They recognise the food as bait items.
At certain times through the year the fish will feed on the bait items (all be it cautiously) and these become the missing fish, rarely caught.
In reply to Post #36
What lake and what did they feed them on?
What lake and what did they feed them on?
In reply to Post #36
There is another element, the mechanics of how they feed. Some feed different to others.
There is another element, the mechanics of how they feed. Some feed different to others.
In reply to Post #38
yes the old 'underslung mouths' or the 'parrots' definitely trickier fish
yes the old 'underslung mouths' or the 'parrots' definitely trickier fish
In reply to Post #39
I dont believe they feed THAT differently to avoid capture.
Heather from the CPL was supposed to feed in an unusual way, but famously she became catchable soon after being caught once. This suggests a fish being thrown from its routine that avoids being captured, not a manner in feeding which keeps it from the bank.
Far more questions on the subject than answers. As a fish farmer and breeder I tend to see all individual fish the same and I know this isnt the case.
I dont believe they feed THAT differently to avoid capture.
Heather from the CPL was supposed to feed in an unusual way, but famously she became catchable soon after being caught once. This suggests a fish being thrown from its routine that avoids being captured, not a manner in feeding which keeps it from the bank.
Far more questions on the subject than answers. As a fish farmer and breeder I tend to see all individual fish the same and I know this isnt the case.
In reply to Post #40
You just have to watch some of rare ones feed to understand why they're hardly ever caught imo.
Of course you can tailor your approach based on the info you learn during those observations.
You just have to watch some of rare ones feed to understand why they're hardly ever caught imo.
Of course you can tailor your approach based on the info you learn during those observations.
In reply to Post #40
Interesting points btw there is a common denominator with lakes that hold uncaught or even uncatchable fish.....safe zones. Some fish just take up residence in certain areas. This can happen even on small lakes. I fished a water a few years ago, only about 5 acres, but a large area of snags and islands which was out of bounds. This area was not just silty crap, it included some good feeding zones. There were a couple of fish which I used to watch everyday in this zone which had not been caught for over 10 years.
Interesting points btw there is a common denominator with lakes that hold uncaught or even uncatchable fish.....safe zones. Some fish just take up residence in certain areas. This can happen even on small lakes. I fished a water a few years ago, only about 5 acres, but a large area of snags and islands which was out of bounds. This area was not just silty crap, it included some good feeding zones. There were a couple of fish which I used to watch everyday in this zone which had not been caught for over 10 years.
Reading ALL pages