In reply to Post #14
What about everyone angling up until the point they start spawning?

In reply to Post #16
As there is no way to accurately predict spawning the only other safe option is not to angle at all. Unless of course you ignore fish welfare completely and carry on regardless as many hook danglers seem happy to do.

My lake is big, so they close down the areas where they spawn rather than the whole lake. Even so I won't be going there for a while to give them a chance to do their business and have a bit of peace after. I don't want to fish when they are getting ready, spawning or just finished spawning.

In reply to Post #18
Spawning fish should be left alone fullstop no fishing open water or opposite end of the lake.

We fish 12 months a year these days 2-4 week break no drama during this stressful time.

Good news the weather forecast is good they should therefore get it done without interuptions....

In reply to Post #17
Of course there is no sure fire way of predicting spawning times, but as the person alluded to that its proper fish care not to fish for them for a month after spawning, but it's ok to stick a hook in them a day before, doesn't seem the best fish care to me??
Obviously the old close season generally took care of all this for us

In reply to Post #20
No argument there.

In reply to Post #16
The guys turned up to the lake sat morning and could see spawning so notified the owner and everyone went home. Simples. Hard to tell when fish are going to spawn so as soon as they do it's rods away for a month

In reply to Post #19
Good point re the prolonged heat spell, last few years has been a little 'bitty' with fragmented spawning, on my waters anyway

Funny thing is that not so long ago lakes didn't close when the carp were spawning, and they often spawned after the season had started and yet there were no more carp deaths than there are now.

In reply to Post #19
That's the one Ryan - if only people abided by that. Just drove past some well known Farnham Angling lakes on my way to work, car park is rammed with motors (van convention). Read on a previous FB post that fish were spawning yesterday..............crackers.

Doesn't help when "superstars" are at it also. Just like Sharpes capture of the Burghfield Common, caught it amongst spawning fish. Doesn't count in my book....sorry to burst any bubbles.

Be lucky.

Jay

Hoping they don't start now at my local lake, I've just been prebaiting and seen them on the spot eating it, looking great for my session planned later this week. Fingers crossed! But I agree that fish should be left alone when spawning, its a mark of respect for our quarry, for example the river closed season gives the fish peace to do their natural practises, which I think there should be as somewhat in lakes and stillwaters in general, just a short period of time to allow the fish to have a break from being caught and to produce the fish of the future. Nothing excuses disturbing them while they are spawning, they should be left in peace imho.

Had news today that their still at in so it's closed for another week.... Best I pick up some more bait and sort a few more new rigs in preparation..... At least the weather has been consistently good so it's all done in one go...

In reply to Post #1
Hoping they hold out till the Euros kick off 😂

All was slowing up on my place Thurs, at a crawl now, I'll give it another week though.

We are so lucky we can catch fish full of spawn ,"pre spawning that is , at their biggest weights" , taking them out of their neutral buoyancy environment , to let them thrash away on a mat , lift them up for a photo or two whilst their belly hangs down due to gravity ,hoping we don't drop them in the mean time .

Thank goodness we stop fishing for them after they have spawned when they are hungry