Just been reading the Martin gay story I remember it all those years ago,Martin well respected and experienced,angler never come across as a story teller etc was adamant he caught these fish in the uk even though he admitted to being in Canada a while before.
Respected anglers like Chris Yates believe he caught them here in the uk some said he said he caught them in the uk even though they were from Canada out of spite to a magazine editor or something,another side to the story was a guy has confirmed that he was living in Canada when he was talking to his neighbour and all the fishing came up and he offered to take his neighbour's son with him and it all came out that his uncle gd been over from uk and walked round a lake in Ontario and saw some massive carp and went to tackle shop and went back and caught them,his name......Martin gay.
My question of all this are there fish that haven't been caught yet or places that hold monster carp that haven't been fished yet this has facinated me since I was a kid bought up with redmire giants etc.
He's the link I was reading
http://www.fishingmagic.com/news_events/headlines/18083-martin-gay-s-50lb-english-common-carp-closure.html
Respected anglers like Chris Yates believe he caught them here in the uk some said he said he caught them in the uk even though they were from Canada out of spite to a magazine editor or something,another side to the story was a guy has confirmed that he was living in Canada when he was talking to his neighbour and all the fishing came up and he offered to take his neighbour's son with him and it all came out that his uncle gd been over from uk and walked round a lake in Ontario and saw some massive carp and went to tackle shop and went back and caught them,his name......Martin gay.
My question of all this are there fish that haven't been caught yet or places that hold monster carp that haven't been fished yet this has facinated me since I was a kid bought up with redmire giants etc.
He's the link I was reading
http://www.fishingmagic.com/news_events/headlines/18083-martin-gay-s-50lb-english-common-carp-closure.html
In reply to Post #1
I think there are actually quite a few lakes which still hold quite abit of mystery in terms of what lies beneath. I dont believe there are many lakes left that haven't seen an angler at some point wet a line in them. I know of a couple of lakes that see very little angling pressure, but history and location suggests there could well be a few lumps swimming around in them.
I think there are actually quite a few lakes which still hold quite abit of mystery in terms of what lies beneath. I dont believe there are many lakes left that haven't seen an angler at some point wet a line in them. I know of a couple of lakes that see very little angling pressure, but history and location suggests there could well be a few lumps swimming around in them.
In reply to Post #2
Rutland water
Rutland water
In reply to Post #1
There's a few in grafham aswell
There's a few in grafham aswell
In reply to Post #4
When I worked for go outdoors I travelled the country setting their new fishing departments up and worked in the Colchester one for 2 weeks I heard ardleigh rezzie had some big big ones in and also I worked in Bedford and stayed at the premier inn there and it was by the side of a massive lane that was suppose to have a 40 or 2 in there.
I also heard of a 42 being moved from a burton club water a few years ago and put in a pit by me
When I worked for go outdoors I travelled the country setting their new fishing departments up and worked in the Colchester one for 2 weeks I heard ardleigh rezzie had some big big ones in and also I worked in Bedford and stayed at the premier inn there and it was by the side of a massive lane that was suppose to have a 40 or 2 in there.
I also heard of a 42 being moved from a burton club water a few years ago and put in a pit by me
Plenty in windermere
In reply to Post #6
What a challenge that would be. Who's to say if there aren't some big ones in there too.
What a challenge that would be. Who's to say if there aren't some big ones in there too.
In reply to Post #1
Lot of places that aren't fished and been left to nature to go wild by the owners. Many ignored by modern carp anglers because they are so wild and fishing would involve wading through swomp to a rat hole fishing one rod for very old doubles with the odd twenty plus if lucky. Many of these type places the fish can be caught fishing for a few hours if the effort is put in to pre bait regularly to get them feeding confidently.
Lot of places that aren't fished and been left to nature to go wild by the owners. Many ignored by modern carp anglers because they are so wild and fishing would involve wading through swomp to a rat hole fishing one rod for very old doubles with the odd twenty plus if lucky. Many of these type places the fish can be caught fishing for a few hours if the effort is put in to pre bait regularly to get them feeding confidently.
In reply to Post #1
I've read the correspondence between Martin and another well known carper. Martin doesn't name the water but did,IIRC state the county was Essex. There's a lot more to this than meets the eye and I've spoken to the carper who lent me the letters. He feels they were Canadian, I'm in the opposite camp. Martins words make perfect sense..
I've read the correspondence between Martin and another well known carper. Martin doesn't name the water but did,IIRC state the county was Essex. There's a lot more to this than meets the eye and I've spoken to the carper who lent me the letters. He feels they were Canadian, I'm in the opposite camp. Martins words make perfect sense..
A few years back one of my best mates secured the rights for six of us to fish an estate lake in the grounds of a hotel for a year. The estate manager/game keeper said he thought it had been about thirty years since it was last fished. I think between us we had about 80 fish that year. Became a nightmare in the end. Got very political and came to an end. We definitely never caught everything that was in there.
I've heard a tale of a water that's own by a Hollywood actress. It's in the grounds of her estate. I know a guy that was fishing it. Again it was only a shot term thing. That did two different 50s to a guy in one night. Fishings now stopped on there again.
I've heard a tale of a water that's own by a Hollywood actress. It's in the grounds of her estate. I know a guy that was fishing it. Again it was only a shot term thing. That did two different 50s to a guy in one night. Fishings now stopped on there again.
I think they exist even in lakes that regularly get fished.
In reply to Post #1
My question of all this are there fish that haven't been caught yet or places that hold monster carp that haven't been fished yet this has facinated me since I was a kid bought up with redmire giants etc.
One of the things that really makes me tick, a water that's relatively unknown and the fish in it. Sadly with the popularity of the pastime at the moment I bet most places have seen a line or two
Unless you find a special smaller water I would be looking at vast sheets of untampered water where people come and dabble for a session or two and go home with their tails between their legs when the harsh reality of unknown stocks or a handful of fish in say 100 plus acres. The rewards are there though if you put the effort in
Over the years I've had the pleasure of fishing a few and still do but around me they seem to hold lots of stunted commons, the main thing is though, they are survivors, amazing
A lot has to be said for the water too, for example, busy park lakes, no night fishing and actually getting your gear to them, there are a few reasons why people are put off fishing them too. I know a golf course with a decent sized water on it and I have seen carp in it, I would love a dabble but getting the gear there would be something else! The next challenge is hiding yourself, and the thought of stood out in the water trying to net a fish, well
The only good news nowadays about having over stocked fish ponds with massive fish for me, it filters and keeps the knobs away
My question of all this are there fish that haven't been caught yet or places that hold monster carp that haven't been fished yet this has facinated me since I was a kid bought up with redmire giants etc.
One of the things that really makes me tick, a water that's relatively unknown and the fish in it. Sadly with the popularity of the pastime at the moment I bet most places have seen a line or two
Unless you find a special smaller water I would be looking at vast sheets of untampered water where people come and dabble for a session or two and go home with their tails between their legs when the harsh reality of unknown stocks or a handful of fish in say 100 plus acres. The rewards are there though if you put the effort in
Over the years I've had the pleasure of fishing a few and still do but around me they seem to hold lots of stunted commons, the main thing is though, they are survivors, amazing
A lot has to be said for the water too, for example, busy park lakes, no night fishing and actually getting your gear to them, there are a few reasons why people are put off fishing them too. I know a golf course with a decent sized water on it and I have seen carp in it, I would love a dabble but getting the gear there would be something else! The next challenge is hiding yourself, and the thought of stood out in the water trying to net a fish, well
The only good news nowadays about having over stocked fish ponds with massive fish for me, it filters and keeps the knobs away
In reply to Post #4
I think most of the big trout reservoirs hold a few surprises. I heard a few rumours about some very big carp in another midlands reservoir.
I think most of the big trout reservoirs hold a few surprises. I heard a few rumours about some very big carp in another midlands reservoir.
In reply to Post #9
Big water in Essex, Abberton reservoir...
That has thrown up some monster fish of various species, bream to British Record, some of which got into the Stour.
Uncaught fish, most definitely and in regularly fished lakes.
You can watch them at spawning times and see fish that have never been on the bank going for it.
I'm 100% that there are uncaught fish in Alton Water, Ardleigh and my syndicate lake.
Big water in Essex, Abberton reservoir...
That has thrown up some monster fish of various species, bream to British Record, some of which got into the Stour.
Uncaught fish, most definitely and in regularly fished lakes.
You can watch them at spawning times and see fish that have never been on the bank going for it.
I'm 100% that there are uncaught fish in Alton Water, Ardleigh and my syndicate lake.
In reply to Post #6
My thoughts too
Huge, deep, not hammered by carp anglers every week
Must be some in there.
....
Unless the monster pike have eaten them of course
My thoughts too
Huge, deep, not hammered by carp anglers every week
Must be some in there.
....
Unless the monster pike have eaten them of course
In reply to Post #13
I had an offer to fish a private lake from a lady who came into go outdoors with her son,he wanted to fish he was only around 8 y.o and I set him up simple float rod showed him how to cast and was generally talking to her and her son showing some pictures to him of fish I caught,she then mentions she has a lake I think she lived with her dad and my biggest fish was 27lb and she saw that and she said ‘oh there's bigger fish in there than that,well that made me listen my even more and she actually asked if I'd like to come and fish it and gave me a contact number well guess what happened......I lost that piece of paper with the number on gutted.
Also on the river itchen by the canoe club and salmon run there was a lake at back of it used to be owned by the Royal Mail apparently and there was no fishing because it was a kids activity park I heard there was some decent ones in there not been fished for years etc well I managed to get permission to start fishing it then the guy who had arranged it all left along with all the details of people who had been invited,I've moved back home now and 10 plus years on will never know if anyone has or can fish it.
I had an offer to fish a private lake from a lady who came into go outdoors with her son,he wanted to fish he was only around 8 y.o and I set him up simple float rod showed him how to cast and was generally talking to her and her son showing some pictures to him of fish I caught,she then mentions she has a lake I think she lived with her dad and my biggest fish was 27lb and she saw that and she said ‘oh there's bigger fish in there than that,well that made me listen my even more and she actually asked if I'd like to come and fish it and gave me a contact number well guess what happened......I lost that piece of paper with the number on gutted.
Also on the river itchen by the canoe club and salmon run there was a lake at back of it used to be owned by the Royal Mail apparently and there was no fishing because it was a kids activity park I heard there was some decent ones in there not been fished for years etc well I managed to get permission to start fishing it then the guy who had arranged it all left along with all the details of people who had been invited,I've moved back home now and 10 plus years on will never know if anyone has or can fish it.
In reply to Post #1
thames estuary
and loch Lomond , pike anglers have been dumping carp in there for 40 plus years.
thames estuary
and loch Lomond , pike anglers have been dumping carp in there for 40 plus years.
IMO every lake has uncaught fish. Not necessarily monsters, but uncaught none the less.
There are lots of surprises out there. I've seen some pictures and heard some stories. Even know of a massive carp in a large golf course lake that is left alone...well in the day time..
Private grounds old chalk pits there's still lots of the unknown carp about some even of the old strains that are just left alone
Private grounds old chalk pits there's still lots of the unknown carp about some even of the old strains that are just left alone
In reply to Post #13
The big trout reservoirs - definitely.
Same can be said of certain water supply reservoirs as per Abberton as previously mentioned. The latter was a stupendous fishery back in the day.
Certain rivers.
My neighbour has 2 gravel pits -one is 17 acres and currently one person has permission to fish it. There are definitely Uncaught fish in there - I've seen them ! Same applies to his other lake it's hardly fished at all.
I could take you to a dozen ‘unknown' pits within 10 miles of my house......they have probably been poached by one or two - but every fish known; I somewhat doubt it. I have sole access rights to one of them - one day I will bait it and see what comes along. A 3lb roach or a 10lb tench would be nice.
The big trout reservoirs - definitely.
Same can be said of certain water supply reservoirs as per Abberton as previously mentioned. The latter was a stupendous fishery back in the day.
Certain rivers.
My neighbour has 2 gravel pits -one is 17 acres and currently one person has permission to fish it. There are definitely Uncaught fish in there - I've seen them ! Same applies to his other lake it's hardly fished at all.
I could take you to a dozen ‘unknown' pits within 10 miles of my house......they have probably been poached by one or two - but every fish known; I somewhat doubt it. I have sole access rights to one of them - one day I will bait it and see what comes along. A 3lb roach or a 10lb tench would be nice.
In reply to Post #18
Love to know how big they go in Haningfield res Andy
Love to know how big they go in Haningfield res Andy
In reply to Post #21
Love you find somewhere like this close to me in Yorkshire.
Love you find somewhere like this close to me in Yorkshire.
In reply to Post #22
In reply to Post #16
The old GPO pool 👍
The old GPO pool 👍
In reply to Post #21
I've heard stories of some very big fish, but never any pictures to back them up.
Just need them to change the rules on use of free offerings and we find out.
I've heard stories of some very big fish, but never any pictures to back them up.
Just need them to change the rules on use of free offerings and we find out.
In reply to Post #21
Hanningfield had some massive perch in, British record sized, when Richard Walker was alive. He created a fly specially for them.
Hanningfield had some massive perch in, British record sized, when Richard Walker was alive. He created a fly specially for them.
In reply to Post #1
Colmere lake shropshire some big ones in there not many in there hard work isnt the word lol
Colmere lake shropshire some big ones in there not many in there hard work isnt the word lol
In reply to Post #25
If I don't see it for myself or photos to back anything up its just rumours as far as I'm concerned. Having said that I rarely take photos and vertualy never show them to anyone except my closest friends and family.
If I don't see it for myself or photos to back anything up its just rumours as far as I'm concerned. Having said that I rarely take photos and vertualy never show them to anyone except my closest friends and family.
In reply to Post #28
Same I made a mistake by putting pictures of a 30 plus from my local canal on social media 3 years ago and the canal had more bivvies on there than before in the last 2 years so Ive come off social media now,anyone now who comes up to me while fishing and asks me if I've caught I just tell them no,even then they make comments like oh this water is easy(it's not) etc so tell no one except friends & family.
Same I made a mistake by putting pictures of a 30 plus from my local canal on social media 3 years ago and the canal had more bivvies on there than before in the last 2 years so Ive come off social media now,anyone now who comes up to me while fishing and asks me if I've caught I just tell them no,even then they make comments like oh this water is easy(it's not) etc so tell no one except friends & family.
I heared from a very reliable source that fish in excess of the british record have been seen in one of the big ressie's near wraysbury but cant remember which one and that was going back nearly 20 years also of 50 lb plus fish in leeds castle lake around the same time, as far as im aware none of these have been caught or even fished for
In reply to Post #1
Plenty of stately type homes/estates with Redmire type waters that will never be accessed, some real whoppers in a few I know of so there must be plenty around.
An hour on Google maps always shows a few interesting bits of Blue
Plenty of stately type homes/estates with Redmire type waters that will never be accessed, some real whoppers in a few I know of so there must be plenty around.
An hour on Google maps always shows a few interesting bits of Blue
I know an old pit in Essex where I used to live that was no fishing which held some really old carp. People used to poach it in early 90's and a few got moved before they they all died (the owners pumped salt water in). My memory is a bit sketchy as it's going back a long time but there were fish to mid/upper 30's in there which were uncaught I believe (which was a massive fish at the time) I always wonder what would have happened if the lake had been left unfished...
In reply to Post #31
Really, many stately homes/estates are now in the hands of the national trust or English heritage and through my work I have access to them. Both of these organisations support the introduction of otters and are anti non indigenous species. Very few original Leney stock fish left and the vast majority that did have them have been restocked with different strains often to the detriment of the leney stock.
Really, many stately homes/estates are now in the hands of the national trust or English heritage and through my work I have access to them. Both of these organisations support the introduction of otters and are anti non indigenous species. Very few original Leney stock fish left and the vast majority that did have them have been restocked with different strains often to the detriment of the leney stock.
In reply to Post #33
Really, what about the ones you dont have access too!! the ones owned by foreign national's, foreign governments and the UK's wealthy and famous.
Bye the way everyone has access to the Nat Trust etc via membership.
But you'd be right about the Nat Trust etc but you never know. Would be nice to see something unknown show up.
Really, what about the ones you dont have access too!! the ones owned by foreign national's, foreign governments and the UK's wealthy and famous.
Bye the way everyone has access to the Nat Trust etc via membership.
But you'd be right about the Nat Trust etc but you never know. Would be nice to see something unknown show up.
In reply to Post #34
Nat trust membership doesn't give access to all they manage. The ones that now belong to rich individuals and organisations may well hold the odd monster but research into them and any stocking records will be the way to go rather than trying to get access. Some of the ones owned by foreign nationals have extremely high security including armed guards. Would any of these people actually be interested in stocking any carp other than ornamentals?
Nat trust membership doesn't give access to all they manage. The ones that now belong to rich individuals and organisations may well hold the odd monster but research into them and any stocking records will be the way to go rather than trying to get access. Some of the ones owned by foreign nationals have extremely high security including armed guards. Would any of these people actually be interested in stocking any carp other than ornamentals?
In reply to Post #35
You're right about the armed guards bit and stocking. The place I know that fits that scenario is on the edge of London, the carp were put in long before the current Arab owners turned up. Originally put in to improve water quality for trout. The trout pegged it but the Carp lived on.
Saw a few pictures once of a 40+ common 30 ish years ago, from a private estate with a lake of around 7 acres, lad who showed me was an estate worker none angler, he said there were fish in this lake half as big again but not so nice looking as they didn't have many scales (mirrors) . They had part drained the lake to fix a leak and only took a few pics for a laugh.
You're right about the armed guards bit and stocking. The place I know that fits that scenario is on the edge of London, the carp were put in long before the current Arab owners turned up. Originally put in to improve water quality for trout. The trout pegged it but the Carp lived on.
Saw a few pictures once of a 40+ common 30 ish years ago, from a private estate with a lake of around 7 acres, lad who showed me was an estate worker none angler, he said there were fish in this lake half as big again but not so nice looking as they didn't have many scales (mirrors) . They had part drained the lake to fix a leak and only took a few pics for a laugh.
One thing to bear in mind is the reintroduction of the otter by fair means or foul would mean a lot of very quiet places would be very easily predated ,and I'm willing to bet a lot of those fish would be killed without anyone knowing about it..I'm talking about stately home type of places..
I see leneys are mentioned a lot ,there were places that Donald distributed his fish from I'm led to believe,and extensive paperwork would have been kept which detailed much of his delivering...Chis Ball and Skeff ,come to mind I'm sure..with this info ,it's not underground info..
All of Mr Leneys fish are of the Galician strain,
I'm lucky to fish a water equally significant to.Bernithian court,no one is entirely sure where the originals came from,other than when the big bypass was built back in the 70s splitting another history water in two..some fish got transfered.
All I can say is Peter Mohan ...! Cypry the carp...
(There's a lot more I know but don't want to bore one and all)
And most likely of no interest to the modern carp fisher,but I find angling history completely fascinating..
I see leneys are mentioned a lot ,there were places that Donald distributed his fish from I'm led to believe,and extensive paperwork would have been kept which detailed much of his delivering...Chis Ball and Skeff ,come to mind I'm sure..with this info ,it's not underground info..
All of Mr Leneys fish are of the Galician strain,
I'm lucky to fish a water equally significant to.Bernithian court,no one is entirely sure where the originals came from,other than when the big bypass was built back in the 70s splitting another history water in two..some fish got transfered.
All I can say is Peter Mohan ...! Cypry the carp...
(There's a lot more I know but don't want to bore one and all)
And most likely of no interest to the modern carp fisher,but I find angling history completely fascinating..
In reply to Post #1
What an interesting thread this is.....
I left the UK in 1996 when mystery still existed in a number of accessible waters. The carp were not all monsters of course......
And 25 years on I find myself fishing great big lakes where it is impossible to know the maximum size the carp go to. Access limitations and low angler pressure means that it will probably always be so.
Think if I was back in the UK I might struggle to find all that mystery unless I was very fortunate indeed...
What an interesting thread this is.....
I left the UK in 1996 when mystery still existed in a number of accessible waters. The carp were not all monsters of course......
And 25 years on I find myself fishing great big lakes where it is impossible to know the maximum size the carp go to. Access limitations and low angler pressure means that it will probably always be so.
Think if I was back in the UK I might struggle to find all that mystery unless I was very fortunate indeed...
In reply to Post #37
An interesting post.
Obviously there was Donald Leney's stocking notes and paperwork for fish purchases. Didn't that get passed onto Chris Yates?
Then we have the what is now illegal, practice of moving fish to stock new waters, some of these were Leney's, yet there were Italians, Dinks etc.
I know that after very successful spawning years at Redmire some fish were sold onto various waters around the country. Cheshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and I reckon just about every county benefitted from them.
A lake I know very well has fish that were removed from a nature reserve lake and quarry in Suffolk where no fishing was legally allowed. At least one of these has never been banked.
I also know of some fish that were in a garden pond which flooded and got down the stream that flows into the lake. Again at least one of these has been seen but never caught.
An interesting post.
Obviously there was Donald Leney's stocking notes and paperwork for fish purchases. Didn't that get passed onto Chris Yates?
Then we have the what is now illegal, practice of moving fish to stock new waters, some of these were Leney's, yet there were Italians, Dinks etc.
I know that after very successful spawning years at Redmire some fish were sold onto various waters around the country. Cheshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and I reckon just about every county benefitted from them.
A lake I know very well has fish that were removed from a nature reserve lake and quarry in Suffolk where no fishing was legally allowed. At least one of these has never been banked.
I also know of some fish that were in a garden pond which flooded and got down the stream that flows into the lake. Again at least one of these has been seen but never caught.
In reply to Post #37
Chris yates I am told has leney's stocking records but Chris Ball had them at one time and I have spoken to him a few times and gone on to investigate what's left in some of the ones that aren't now commercial waters but most now seem to hold stunted commons. There are still a few originals that can be fished for but these are extremely old fish now in club or syndicate waters that have been re stocked with other strains.
The London water yes I know of a few private houses but some are owned by Russian's with armed guards and you'd be foolish to attempt fishing them.
Chris yates I am told has leney's stocking records but Chris Ball had them at one time and I have spoken to him a few times and gone on to investigate what's left in some of the ones that aren't now commercial waters but most now seem to hold stunted commons. There are still a few originals that can be fished for but these are extremely old fish now in club or syndicate waters that have been re stocked with other strains.
The London water yes I know of a few private houses but some are owned by Russian's with armed guards and you'd be foolish to attempt fishing them.
In reply to Post #40
Yes ,
And back along I tried to find out if a certain lake I loved had leneys in there ,or what was left of them due to predation..
I took a photo of evey fish I caught over a 7 year period and sure enough,those much more knowledgeable than me said ,they similar to the Surrey trout farm fish..
I'll never know though,as no records of that stocking could be found ,and that's with Chris and Mark (Skeff) looking for me..
That lake ,is another collation on my predation list now sadly ,but it had some beauty scale patterns ,no other lake I have fished in the Southwest had such lovely carp.
I will never know....
Yes ,
And back along I tried to find out if a certain lake I loved had leneys in there ,or what was left of them due to predation..
I took a photo of evey fish I caught over a 7 year period and sure enough,those much more knowledgeable than me said ,they similar to the Surrey trout farm fish..
I'll never know though,as no records of that stocking could be found ,and that's with Chris and Mark (Skeff) looking for me..
That lake ,is another collation on my predation list now sadly ,but it had some beauty scale patterns ,no other lake I have fished in the Southwest had such lovely carp.
I will never know....
In reply to Post #1
Didn't the great Rod Hutchinson mention in one of his books that he thought there would be some huge uncaught fish in the large trout waters? I would agree with that.
I suspect there are uncaught fish in a lot of waters, even heavily fished ones, some fish just seem to rarely, if at all, pick up anglers baits, maybe they just feed on naturals.
Natures reserves and trout waters would be my best bets.
Didn't the great Rod Hutchinson mention in one of his books that he thought there would be some huge uncaught fish in the large trout waters? I would agree with that.
I suspect there are uncaught fish in a lot of waters, even heavily fished ones, some fish just seem to rarely, if at all, pick up anglers baits, maybe they just feed on naturals.
Natures reserves and trout waters would be my best bets.
In reply to Post #42
I agree 100% there are uncaught fish even in heavily fished waters
My French PB a 68lb fish I caught in 2009 according to the owner was a completely unknown fish it pooped out a very large handful of crushed Zebra shells and a crab claw the size of my thumbnail 3 weeks after I caught it it came out again exactly the same weight since then it comes out as much as the other fish and is now well in excess of 80lb apparently
in my opinion up until I caught it probably just feeding on the massive amount of Zebra muscles and crabs etc
I agree 100% there are uncaught fish even in heavily fished waters
My French PB a 68lb fish I caught in 2009 according to the owner was a completely unknown fish it pooped out a very large handful of crushed Zebra shells and a crab claw the size of my thumbnail 3 weeks after I caught it it came out again exactly the same weight since then it comes out as much as the other fish and is now well in excess of 80lb apparently
in my opinion up until I caught it probably just feeding on the massive amount of Zebra muscles and crabs etc
In reply to Post #41
Also as we all know carp get caught and moved, sometimes a long way and put into unfished secure lakes. Never moved a fish personally but I do know a few that have but this was purely because the fish was getting old and being well known was a target for some full timers, can remember one in particular doing two autumn's to catch it but the following season he turned up and watched them spawning and didn't see his target so never returned, was tempting to tell him it hadn't been in there since he started to target it but purely by chance I was fishing a local river that I rarely saw anyone fishing and there was someone on there and we struck up a conversation and it turned out he was a mate of this named angler so I tlod him the location of the fish and when it had been moved. The named guy did come back and have a look around the lake and may well have caught it but if he did he never published it.
Also as we all know carp get caught and moved, sometimes a long way and put into unfished secure lakes. Never moved a fish personally but I do know a few that have but this was purely because the fish was getting old and being well known was a target for some full timers, can remember one in particular doing two autumn's to catch it but the following season he turned up and watched them spawning and didn't see his target so never returned, was tempting to tell him it hadn't been in there since he started to target it but purely by chance I was fishing a local river that I rarely saw anyone fishing and there was someone on there and we struck up a conversation and it turned out he was a mate of this named angler so I tlod him the location of the fish and when it had been moved. The named guy did come back and have a look around the lake and may well have caught it but if he did he never published it.
In reply to Post #43
I agree 100% there are uncaught fish even in heavily fished waters
Second that, they don't need bait, I also believe they have different preferences and feed from different spots
I agree 100% there are uncaught fish even in heavily fished waters
Second that, they don't need bait, I also believe they have different preferences and feed from different spots
In reply to Post #45
That's what I've read before they have a different way of feeding or are mainly feeding on naturals
That's what I've read before they have a different way of feeding or are mainly feeding on naturals
In reply to Post #24
In reply to Post #47
I fished the river regular up until 2013 had loads out biggest was around 17/18lb but there was a mid 20 in there which got put into mans bridge rezzie,I caught that at 27 and then it got found on its side and out back in river where it belonged,also had a 22lb pike on a boilie from there to bottom of river by the canoe club.
Imo there wasn't anything over that mid 20 in there as I was doing repeat captures on the river all year round.
I fished the river regular up until 2013 had loads out biggest was around 17/18lb but there was a mid 20 in there which got put into mans bridge rezzie,I caught that at 27 and then it got found on its side and out back in river where it belonged,also had a 22lb pike on a boilie from there to bottom of river by the canoe club.
Imo there wasn't anything over that mid 20 in there as I was doing repeat captures on the river all year round.
In reply to Post #48
There are definitely uncaught carp.
Reasons can be various .
But they are there even if we cannot or don't want to believe it.
I fish a lake where I can use a boat to get around and onto islands and I know there are uncaught carp in it.
Then there are the ones that get caught occasionally and then there are the ones that turn up regularly.
But that's what makes this sport/hobby of ours so frustrating and addictive.
There are definitely uncaught carp.
Reasons can be various .
But they are there even if we cannot or don't want to believe it.
I fish a lake where I can use a boat to get around and onto islands and I know there are uncaught carp in it.
Then there are the ones that get caught occasionally and then there are the ones that turn up regularly.
But that's what makes this sport/hobby of ours so frustrating and addictive.
Don't forget all the illegal foreign fish that got dumped into various lakes and rivers when they were gasping in vans after arriving in the uk. I'm positive some of the very big fish of the last 20years were dumped to allow more oxygen for the bigger fish in the tanks.
In reply to Post #41
There's a list of the Kent Leney stockings in the book 'Carp County'
There's a list of the Kent Leney stockings in the book 'Carp County'
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