I'm probably in the minority here, but I've just seen a thread on FB about posting a pic if you've had a pb this year, there was a couple of 50lb plus, and some low doubles to mid 20s. Some of the really big slabs looked grotesque, low hanging stomachs with visible stretch marks. I'd sacrifice the chance of ever catching a really large carp for a lifetime of dark, pristine looking smaller ones. Am I one my own?
In reply to Post #1
I think many on here will agree with you. PBs don't mean anything to anyone other than to yourself anyway, a 30lb fish from a pig puddle is not the same as a 30lb uncaught fish from a no fishing nature reserve.
There is a 50lb carp swimming around 15 mins from my house, but i would never fish for it
I think many on here will agree with you. PBs don't mean anything to anyone other than to yourself anyway, a 30lb fish from a pig puddle is not the same as a 30lb uncaught fish from a no fishing nature reserve.
There is a 50lb carp swimming around 15 mins from my house, but i would never fish for it
In reply to Post #2
Glad I'm not alone 👏🏻👏🏻🙂
Glad I'm not alone 👏🏻👏🏻🙂
In reply to Post #2
Got a place not far from where I live full of big fish,never fished it and never will.I prefer to fish more natural looking lakes,size of the fish is irrelevant so long as I like the water
Got a place not far from where I live full of big fish,never fished it and never will.I prefer to fish more natural looking lakes,size of the fish is irrelevant so long as I like the water
In reply to Post #1
Said it before, there are very few 40+ carp that look good, the vast majority have the large gut and many are spawn bound, if they were human they would be classed as obese.
Said it before, there are very few 40+ carp that look good, the vast majority have the large gut and many are spawn bound, if they were human they would be classed as obese.
In reply to Post #1
I was looking through my local lake pics where my 13 yr old son fishes and there is a fully scaled mirror just under 20lbs. I was trying to persuade him that was the nicest fish in the lake rather than the other mid 20s that he has his sights set on!
I was looking through my local lake pics where my 13 yr old son fishes and there is a fully scaled mirror just under 20lbs. I was trying to persuade him that was the nicest fish in the lake rather than the other mid 20s that he has his sights set on!
Good looks all day long.
In reply to Post #2
That 46 you had recently wasn't exactly a fat mud pig, was it. Personally the prettiest fish I've ever caught was an immaculate 23lb double linear unfortunately I don't have a photo of it. It stills lives in my brain though.
That 46 you had recently wasn't exactly a fat mud pig, was it. Personally the prettiest fish I've ever caught was an immaculate 23lb double linear unfortunately I don't have a photo of it. It stills lives in my brain though.
I prefer a nice bubbly personality over weight or looks.
In reply to Post #1
I think there's 3 factors, that are of different importance to different people. And there's no right or wrong in my opinion
1) weight
2) looks
3) difficulty
I think there's 3 factors, that are of different importance to different people. And there's no right or wrong in my opinion
1) weight
2) looks
3) difficulty
In reply to Post #1
Much prefer a pretty fish over an overweight obese 'Simmo', although later fish are nicer looking.
I actually stopped fishing a lake when Simmos were stocked (the 00's versions).
I caught the same ugly fish twice and decided I didn't want to catch 'them'. Real shame as a lot of the other already stocked fish were real lookers.
Much prefer a pretty fish over an overweight obese 'Simmo', although later fish are nicer looking.
I actually stopped fishing a lake when Simmos were stocked (the 00's versions).
I caught the same ugly fish twice and decided I didn't want to catch 'them'. Real shame as a lot of the other already stocked fish were real lookers.
In reply to Post #1
I like black commons, but I'll take enything
I like black commons, but I'll take enything
In reply to Post #1
I caught a fish from a fenland drain that went 39 and it was a proper ugly pot bellied thing. In many ways, I'd rather have had a smaller fish that didn't look like that one did. Not long after I had it, some bloke called Mark Barrett had it at over 40 and publicised the crap out of it - when I saw the pics, he was as fat and ugly as the fish, made me laugh anyway.
I caught a fish from a fenland drain that went 39 and it was a proper ugly pot bellied thing. In many ways, I'd rather have had a smaller fish that didn't look like that one did. Not long after I had it, some bloke called Mark Barrett had it at over 40 and publicised the crap out of it - when I saw the pics, he was as fat and ugly as the fish, made me laugh anyway.
In reply to Post #13
In reply to Post #13
Strange post.
Strange post.
In reply to Post #6
Can't see it very well but the one in my pic is my favourite capture. Only 17lb but an old, dark fully from a Manchester park lake. I had bigger fish from there but nothing that looked like that one.
Can't see it very well but the one in my pic is my favourite capture. Only 17lb but an old, dark fully from a Manchester park lake. I had bigger fish from there but nothing that looked like that one.
Well for me it's all about size. Big and pretty is preferred but I'd take big and ugly over small and pretty
In reply to Post #17
What about carp though Steve?
What about carp though Steve?
In reply to Post #13
As you said, not the best looking or proportioned carp, but a large one for the fens.
As you said, not the best looking or proportioned carp, but a large one for the fens.
In reply to Post #1
Depends on the time of year I guess, on some venues in the winter you welcome a liner lol
Depends on the time of year I guess, on some venues in the winter you welcome a liner lol
In reply to Post #18
They just the same... Big and pretty is preferred but I'd take big and ugly over small and pretty
They just the same... Big and pretty is preferred but I'd take big and ugly over small and pretty
Having run a water for six years now, I can assure you that the vast majority of anglers are more interested in the size of the fish over their looks or how nice the surroundings are.
First question most people ask is "what's the biggest in there?". Not all, but most.
I can now fully understand why many owners stock a big fish or three when starting out.
First question most people ask is "what's the biggest in there?". Not all, but most.
I can now fully understand why many owners stock a big fish or three when starting out.
In reply to Post #22
I tend to ask what the stocks like and be met with numbers. I'd rather hear about healthy weight gains, scale patterns, characters etc.
I tend to ask what the stocks like and be met with numbers. I'd rather hear about healthy weight gains, scale patterns, characters etc.
My very good French mate, Philippe Lagabbe, has caught some glorious carp over the years...and he never weighs them! He says the practice is elitist and demeaning. I wouldn't go that far, but he has a point.
Philippe describes it thus: Imagine you have gone out on the raz with your mates and after a few beers ended up in a nice club where the girls are all gorgeous but mostly aloof and unobtainable. So you get chatting to one of these fabulous looking ice maidens, and you ask her what she likes for breakfast and to your astonishment she tells you a, "Full English" and asks you to cook it for her. After an amazing night of bedroom gymnastics you cook her the requested breakfast, and just before you kiss her au revoir you say: "Just jump up onto these scales for us, would you, angel?"
Nuff said?
Philippe describes it thus: Imagine you have gone out on the raz with your mates and after a few beers ended up in a nice club where the girls are all gorgeous but mostly aloof and unobtainable. So you get chatting to one of these fabulous looking ice maidens, and you ask her what she likes for breakfast and to your astonishment she tells you a, "Full English" and asks you to cook it for her. After an amazing night of bedroom gymnastics you cook her the requested breakfast, and just before you kiss her au revoir you say: "Just jump up onto these scales for us, would you, angel?"
Nuff said?
In reply to Post #24
as long as you ask them to jump on the scales after the jobs done and not before then i don't see the problem
as long as you ask them to jump on the scales after the jobs done and not before then i don't see the problem
In reply to Post #25
Looks are definitely the driver for me. Then the place that they reside, and I like a challenge! I still love a fatty when they roll over the cord 😂
Looks are definitely the driver for me. Then the place that they reside, and I like a challenge! I still love a fatty when they roll over the cord 😂
Not all about looks either for me, as long as there is something special about them. Old, tricky, a looker, massive.... take your pick.
In reply to Post #27
I'm similar, don't mind if they are big or small as long as they are not boring. Some big old girls are so fat and ugly that you have to like them. Dodgy backs, chewed tails, missing eyes are all good with me over a big pale simmo.
I'm similar, don't mind if they are big or small as long as they are not boring. Some big old girls are so fat and ugly that you have to like them. Dodgy backs, chewed tails, missing eyes are all good with me over a big pale simmo.
In reply to Post #10
"I think there's 3 factors, that are of different importance to different people. And there's no right or wrong in my opinion
1) weight
2) looks
3) difficulty"
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I think there's a fourth and fifth one there too, and those are methodology and an anomaly. One of my targets this year was one pale pig within a sea of smaller commons. I was not interested in its weight or it's looks, it was just the fact it was different to everything else, and I could fish for it on my terms. If I had to bait and wait, I wouldn't have been interested. However to know I could catch the biggest in the pond from under my feet was the icing on the cake.
"I think there's 3 factors, that are of different importance to different people. And there's no right or wrong in my opinion
1) weight
2) looks
3) difficulty"
-------------------------------------------------------
I think there's a fourth and fifth one there too, and those are methodology and an anomaly. One of my targets this year was one pale pig within a sea of smaller commons. I was not interested in its weight or it's looks, it was just the fact it was different to everything else, and I could fish for it on my terms. If I had to bait and wait, I wouldn't have been interested. However to know I could catch the biggest in the pond from under my feet was the icing on the cake.
In reply to Post #29
You targeted a pale pig because it was swimming with small commons?
I struggle to understand that tbh.
Edit: bluebeat, agree, I love a battered old character
You targeted a pale pig because it was swimming with small commons?
I struggle to understand that tbh.
Edit: bluebeat, agree, I love a battered old character
In reply to Post #30
, I love a battered old character
Thank you for your kind words mate.
, I love a battered old character
Thank you for your kind words mate.
In reply to Post #31
In reply to Post #24
Wow....
Wow....
In reply to Post #33
Looks ,history in a quiet place are much more important than weight. I can never remember the weight anyway..
Looks ,history in a quiet place are much more important than weight. I can never remember the weight anyway..
In reply to Post #24
I bet he's weighed a few before taking that view.
I bet he's weighed a few before taking that view.
In reply to Post #24
Where's this club again..?
I'm not obsessed by weight. I fish places that have good, healthy fish and I fish for a range of species as the mood takes me. If I catch a big one I'll maybe get the scales out, but I'm more impressed by the look of the fish.
Where's this club again..?
I'm not obsessed by weight. I fish places that have good, healthy fish and I fish for a range of species as the mood takes me. If I catch a big one I'll maybe get the scales out, but I'm more impressed by the look of the fish.
In reply to Post #24
Just gonna photograph the sleeping beauty are we? 😂
Just gonna photograph the sleeping beauty are we? 😂
I think I would follow Phil's advice were it not for the fact that he catches so many obviously huge carp. Imagine not knowing the weight of this one, from the Danube Delta.
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