Lucky enough to join a lake this year with some really old, history fish. Been even luckier to catch a few. I've managed to date one, from old records and photos at approaching 50 yrs old. Just wandered what others experiences are and how old they go?
In reply to Post #1
Coppermine
Coppermine
In reply to Post #1
Plodder around 47 years old apparently (my profile pic )
Plodder around 47 years old apparently (my profile pic )
In reply to Post #1
59 years old at the time in around 2011 stocked as fingerlings in 1952 most of the dozen or so that were in the lake have now died over the last 12 years but quite miraculously there is 2 still alive today both being 70 years old!!! Those leneys were hardy carp and their longevity unsurpassed in this day and age as far as i know.
59 years old at the time in around 2011 stocked as fingerlings in 1952 most of the dozen or so that were in the lake have now died over the last 12 years but quite miraculously there is 2 still alive today both being 70 years old!!! Those leneys were hardy carp and their longevity unsurpassed in this day and age as far as i know.
At time of catching was known to be at least 30 years old. Still to this day my favourite fish I've ever caught, not my biggest but certainly an awesome fish
In reply to Post #4
Think I know that lake but have also one near me that was stocked by leney the year I was born 1958 and five years ago two still remained one definitely sill there but didn't see the other one last year.
Think I know that lake but have also one near me that was stocked by leney the year I was born 1958 and five years ago two still remained one definitely sill there but didn't see the other one last year.
In reply to Post #4
there are 2 still going 👀 that's awesome
there are 2 still going 👀 that's awesome
In reply to Post #4
70!! Straight up? That's incredible. Wander what the average life expectancy of all these fast growing strains is. Not 70 that's for sure!
70!! Straight up? That's incredible. Wander what the average life expectancy of all these fast growing strains is. Not 70 that's for sure!
In reply to Post #1
I was lucky enough to catch 7 leney stocked fish from the Reading area in 07 (and one in '8). they were either '52 or '54 stockings.
So would either have been 57 or 59 years old at that point.
I know two were still knocking about a few years ago, but havent fished that way for about a decade so unsure of more recent news on them.
I was lucky enough to catch 7 leney stocked fish from the Reading area in 07 (and one in '8). they were either '52 or '54 stockings.
So would either have been 57 or 59 years old at that point.
I know two were still knocking about a few years ago, but havent fished that way for about a decade so unsure of more recent news on them.
A Leney with stocking records going back to the mid 50s so was at least 61 back in 2016 when I caught. Unfortunately it died the year after :(
In reply to Post #10
All these ancient carp make my 50 plus a spring chicken in comparison
All these ancient carp make my 50 plus a spring chicken in comparison
In reply to Post #10
Kevan, your fish was stocked in 1952 👍
Kevan, your fish was stocked in 1952 👍
Crikey even older than I originally thought. 64 years young when I caught it then 😮
In reply to Post #13
I have a few in my lake that were originally stocked in 1967-69
Lovely old grey knarly leathers about 20lb
I have a few in my lake that were originally stocked in 1967-69
Lovely old grey knarly leathers about 20lb
Incredible to think how old some of these great carp are, 70 years is magical.
In reply to Post #15
I've caught big commons that are over 50 years old!
Ironic they came from lakes around the county as young carp donkey years ago. Most stay mid doubles to 20s. But 5 or 6 of them must of been a different strain as they grew huge!
I also caught some lovely Leneys that were known to be well over 40 yrs old! Probably more but no one actually knows when they were stocked only by who stocked them!
I've caught big commons that are over 50 years old!
Ironic they came from lakes around the county as young carp donkey years ago. Most stay mid doubles to 20s. But 5 or 6 of them must of been a different strain as they grew huge!
I also caught some lovely Leneys that were known to be well over 40 yrs old! Probably more but no one actually knows when they were stocked only by who stocked them!
In reply to Post #16
Chris Ball is the man to speak to ,has helped me loads with stock dates and numbers.
Chris Ball is the man to speak to ,has helped me loads with stock dates and numbers.
In reply to Post #6
The good news is the leney line goes on mate know a one 2nd 3rd generation one that is now 42lb its a beauty m8
The good news is the leney line goes on mate know a one 2nd 3rd generation one that is now 42lb its a beauty m8
In reply to Post #17
That's interesting. An estate lake I used to fish in my youth had carp in it from a bygone age, probably stocked by the manor house that is dated around 1700s for food I guess. To my knowledge and my friends in our life span we are not aware of a stocking? Best bit hardly anybody fished except my mates and a few other locals. Straight from a local river as a kid fishing for minnows and bullheads to standing on the bridge and waterfalls watching massive carp, was unreal, catching them was something else!
Fished it from the mid 80s. In 1992 I had a brace, one of 26lb which at the time for the area was incredible, backed up by one just over 20lb, all commons, had them stood up on the bank in front of me on the grass on their bellies
Sad bit, once walking down to fish it with a mate and the EA were there, pumps all over the place trying to airiate the water. A farmers effluent had got in, dead fish everywhere, heartbreaking to see, all those fish gone!
The bit that really pissed me off after writing several letters about the fish and the fishing they claimed off the farmer and used the money to repair the Manor House
Still there today, they spent a fortune on the lake with a lottery grant, it had become heavily silted so they dredged it, narrowed it off with corrs (spelling) and now they have peddle boats on it ffs. Not sure if they have stocked it, walk the dog round it now and again, always have a look, see silvers but no sign of anything decent. Nobody fishes it either
I caught my first ever carp here and it was around 3oz., had to have breed which is amazing
That's interesting. An estate lake I used to fish in my youth had carp in it from a bygone age, probably stocked by the manor house that is dated around 1700s for food I guess. To my knowledge and my friends in our life span we are not aware of a stocking? Best bit hardly anybody fished except my mates and a few other locals. Straight from a local river as a kid fishing for minnows and bullheads to standing on the bridge and waterfalls watching massive carp, was unreal, catching them was something else!
Fished it from the mid 80s. In 1992 I had a brace, one of 26lb which at the time for the area was incredible, backed up by one just over 20lb, all commons, had them stood up on the bank in front of me on the grass on their bellies
Sad bit, once walking down to fish it with a mate and the EA were there, pumps all over the place trying to airiate the water. A farmers effluent had got in, dead fish everywhere, heartbreaking to see, all those fish gone!
The bit that really pissed me off after writing several letters about the fish and the fishing they claimed off the farmer and used the money to repair the Manor House
Still there today, they spent a fortune on the lake with a lottery grant, it had become heavily silted so they dredged it, narrowed it off with corrs (spelling) and now they have peddle boats on it ffs. Not sure if they have stocked it, walk the dog round it now and again, always have a look, see silvers but no sign of anything decent. Nobody fishes it either
I caught my first ever carp here and it was around 3oz., had to have breed which is amazing
I caught some that felt so old that they creaked from the lake at Savill Garden. Not sure of the age of the original fish there, might look into it after this thread jogged by memory. One old scaly character had one eye missing and blind in the other, still one of my favourite captures.
In reply to Post #20
If it was from the obelisk pond I believe that they where leneys.
If it was from the obelisk pond I believe that they where leneys.
In reply to Post #21
Caught an albino Grass Carp last year from y syndicate that is 48 years old.
Caught an albino Grass Carp last year from y syndicate that is 48 years old.
In reply to Post #21
Yes it was
Yes it was
In reply to Post #20
That fish is known as the "Full Blind" and its still there, along with its mate "Half Blind". Probably around 20 of the really old ones left now, all around 40+ years old, and we have been told by those in the know that they are probably Leney descendants - they certainly look like they could be.
That fish is known as the "Full Blind" and its still there, along with its mate "Half Blind". Probably around 20 of the really old ones left now, all around 40+ years old, and we have been told by those in the know that they are probably Leney descendants - they certainly look like they could be.
In reply to Post #24
Thanks for the info Andy, I tend to keep my captures to myself so lovely to hear it was as old as it felt!
Thanks for the info Andy, I tend to keep my captures to myself so lovely to hear it was as old as it felt!
In reply to Post #25
There's a few more over in the big lake that are reputed to be even older. We were told by somebody with access to the authentic info that the lake did receive some fish from Donald Leney back in the late 1950s, so having some descendants of those fish is definitely a possibility.
There's a few more over in the big lake that are reputed to be even older. We were told by somebody with access to the authentic info that the lake did receive some fish from Donald Leney back in the late 1950s, so having some descendants of those fish is definitely a possibility.
I've caught a Redmire carp or two, just a shame it wasn't in Redmire.
Dave Plummer bought some of the fish from one of the successful spawning years, and put them into Taverham.
Proper beautiful fish.
I caught them back in the 1990's.
Other than that I think I did have some of the original Barham stock fish, again late 1990's, so the fish would have gone in when the lakes were first taken over by GAPS. PJG69 might know the stocking dates.
Dave Plummer bought some of the fish from one of the successful spawning years, and put them into Taverham.
Proper beautiful fish.
I caught them back in the 1990's.
Other than that I think I did have some of the original Barham stock fish, again late 1990's, so the fish would have gone in when the lakes were first taken over by GAPS. PJG69 might know the stocking dates.
In reply to Post #27
I caught a 62 year old Leney last year.
I caught a 62 year old Leney last year.
Great stuff gents. Not sure the younger generation will have the chance to experience fishing for such history fish. Happy to be challenged on this but I'm assuming the modern strains don't last anywhere near as long.
In reply to Post #27
Do you know if the original stocking included the ski pit? As there are 1 or 2 left in there from it's only stocking 50 years ago
Do you know if the original stocking included the ski pit? As there are 1 or 2 left in there from it's only stocking 50 years ago
In reply to Post #30
If Dave Plummer put any in there, which I don't know. I know that the Redmire fish were a legitimate purchase by Dave Plummer after a successful spawning and many survived that year.
The original Ski pit and Number 3 in the 1990's cracking fish to look at.
I don't know if I still have the pics of Finleys linear or the fully scaled I caught.
If Dave Plummer put any in there, which I don't know. I know that the Redmire fish were a legitimate purchase by Dave Plummer after a successful spawning and many survived that year.
The original Ski pit and Number 3 in the 1990's cracking fish to look at.
I don't know if I still have the pics of Finleys linear or the fully scaled I caught.
In reply to Post #31
One original (common) still left in ski.
One original (common) still left in ski.
In reply to Post #27
sorry m8 no idea
sorry m8 no idea
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