I stocked them in one water a few years back, around 30 of them to upper 40's. The water is that rich with naturals they have thrived, but it's very rare they ever get caught.
The Carp on the other hand now do get caught during June, July & August, before the Cats went in the lake would totally shut down for three months “Who's going to eat biscuits (Boilies) when there's nice juicy fresh steak lying everywhere”
There's been some other benefits too – Birdlife used to be a right pain in the butt, but not anymore only a very stupid or brave Duck, Moorhen or Coot would be daft enough to go out into open water!
Plus we now have our own Carp surviving from fry to doubles, as all the fry hangs around were the Cat's are resting up in the marginal undergrowth, as they know they are safe from being annihilated from the shoals of Perch that used to wipe them all out.
From my experience in the RIGHT water, that has an over abundance of naturals they are fine.
The Carp on the other hand now do get caught during June, July & August, before the Cats went in the lake would totally shut down for three months “Who's going to eat biscuits (Boilies) when there's nice juicy fresh steak lying everywhere”
There's been some other benefits too – Birdlife used to be a right pain in the butt, but not anymore only a very stupid or brave Duck, Moorhen or Coot would be daft enough to go out into open water!
Plus we now have our own Carp surviving from fry to doubles, as all the fry hangs around were the Cat's are resting up in the marginal undergrowth, as they know they are safe from being annihilated from the shoals of Perch that used to wipe them all out.
From my experience in the RIGHT water, that has an over abundance of naturals they are fine.
In reply to Post #14
Oh yeah they certainly have an appetite mate, I remember years ago in France I had a mid 60 puke up a good 5kg of mixed fish and pellet when I was holding it for a pic. Whilst they obviously do predate still, I think they are more scavengers than predators in lakes that are carp fished. As Keith says ,in the right lake they are a good addition. I just think a lot of carp anglers are a bit of a species snob when it comes to them. I'd rather not catch them when carping but if I do then so be it.
Oh yeah they certainly have an appetite mate, I remember years ago in France I had a mid 60 puke up a good 5kg of mixed fish and pellet when I was holding it for a pic. Whilst they obviously do predate still, I think they are more scavengers than predators in lakes that are carp fished. As Keith says ,in the right lake they are a good addition. I just think a lot of carp anglers are a bit of a species snob when it comes to them. I'd rather not catch them when carping but if I do then so be it.
In reply to Post #15
Last sentance
Last sentance
In reply to Post #1
From what I understand, 95% of the biomas in the Ebro is now cats.
From what I understand, 95% of the biomas in the Ebro is now cats.
In reply to Post #16
Do they eat seagullls, I know just the place
Interesting that Kieth, you are saying the cats were competing with the carp so this switched the carp onto boilie?
Do they eat seagullls, I know just the place
Interesting that Kieth, you are saying the cats were competing with the carp so this switched the carp onto boilie?
In reply to Post #19
Well from that video they are not short of a food source, dog eat dog
Well from that video they are not short of a food source, dog eat dog
From about 4.15 onward I know he dresses it up a bit but where Jeremy mentions about medieval depictions, I wish I could remember if it was this episode in full I watched which also detailed this some more saying that they believed some of the Wel's in the ebro in medieval times could of been in excess of 1000lb+ but due to being overfished mainly for the table from those time hence the average size is a lot less these days but given time and left to their own devices fish of that size could return if the abundance of food was available, MENTAL.
WEL'S catfish
WEL'S catfish
In reply to Post #20
Interesting that Keith, you are saying the cats were competing with the carp so this switched the carp onto boilie?
Problem was Chris, with the lake going crystal clear during the winter months with max depths to only around 12ft, the Cormorants & Goosanders would have a field day every winter, hence any Roach, Rudd, Trout or Perch we stocked got almost totally wiped out every winter, then it would repeat itself if we tried again.....
Huge amounts of natural food is now "Spare" during the summer months, the Carp have it all to themselves and have a field day, sicking two fingers up at anyone trying to catch them.
Putting the Cats in threw a spanner into the works - the Carp had competition, competition that could not be wiped out via predation every winter.
Plus the Margins have grown well now with time, giving cover too.
Interesting that Keith, you are saying the cats were competing with the carp so this switched the carp onto boilie?
Problem was Chris, with the lake going crystal clear during the winter months with max depths to only around 12ft, the Cormorants & Goosanders would have a field day every winter, hence any Roach, Rudd, Trout or Perch we stocked got almost totally wiped out every winter, then it would repeat itself if we tried again.....
Huge amounts of natural food is now "Spare" during the summer months, the Carp have it all to themselves and have a field day, sicking two fingers up at anyone trying to catch them.
Putting the Cats in threw a spanner into the works - the Carp had competition, competition that could not be wiped out via predation every winter.
Plus the Margins have grown well now with time, giving cover too.
In reply to Post #22
I don't think Cats are native to the Ebro. I believe a German put 20 odd kittens in in the early 70's. The species has now taken over almost completely.
If they can do it there it's possible for the same to happen anywhere.
I don't think Cats are native to the Ebro. I believe a German put 20 odd kittens in in the early 70's. The species has now taken over almost completely.
If they can do it there it's possible for the same to happen anywhere.
In reply to Post #24
Thanks I've obviously completely got my wires crossed on the info in the program I watched, as mentioned it was a while ago.
So on that basis what I watched probably stated Wel's catfish in river systems from medieval periods had the potential of being 1000lb from the depictions rather than the Ebro cats but the potential for growth could be there with sustainable available food for them is a river system with the warmer climate or words to that effect, still makes the mind boggle a 1000lb cat on rod and line from a river system best of luck with that one.
Thanks I've obviously completely got my wires crossed on the info in the program I watched, as mentioned it was a while ago.
So on that basis what I watched probably stated Wel's catfish in river systems from medieval periods had the potential of being 1000lb from the depictions rather than the Ebro cats but the potential for growth could be there with sustainable available food for them is a river system with the warmer climate or words to that effect, still makes the mind boggle a 1000lb cat on rod and line from a river system best of luck with that one.
In reply to Post #25
Pretty sure it was Russia where they've had them up to the huge sizes rather than the Ebro. I'm also sure I read somewhere the story of the German guy putting them in the Ebro was a myth
Pretty sure it was Russia where they've had them up to the huge sizes rather than the Ebro. I'm also sure I read somewhere the story of the German guy putting them in the Ebro was a myth
In reply to Post #26
Years ago my mate had a Kevin Maddocks video, he was fishing for giants back then, which we found amazing at the time
Years ago my mate had a Kevin Maddocks video, he was fishing for giants back then, which we found amazing at the time
In reply to Post #27
Yes I remember watching it on video years ago, I've just searched and its on Youtube the Volga Delta, nice bit of cutting one open and gaffing on show
KM LINK
Yes I remember watching it on video years ago, I've just searched and its on Youtube the Volga Delta, nice bit of cutting one open and gaffing on show
KM LINK
In reply to Post #28
Amazing stuff - fishing before fish care.
Amazing stuff - fishing before fish care.
I fished the Ebro for cats with Catfish capers Caspe
and we all caught big fish one of the group on my week caught a 209lb fish this has since been surpassed with a cat of 226lb
BUT !!
the local authority's were bringing at a law that no cats were to be returned and they were putting out lines at night and towing them in with a 4x4 and killing any cats as they said they are over running the Ebro ? this was a few years ago not sure what the position is today though ?
and we all caught big fish one of the group on my week caught a 209lb fish this has since been surpassed with a cat of 226lb
BUT !!
the local authority's were bringing at a law that no cats were to be returned and they were putting out lines at night and towing them in with a 4x4 and killing any cats as they said they are over running the Ebro ? this was a few years ago not sure what the position is today though ?