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Ian speeking to most of the anglers on the match this spring.the general feeling is that there is to many cats in the match.
Too many cats in the match ! I'm on my way.
DOC
Gee
I fished my first session on there the first weekend of June and although they were there (huge splashes as they struck at prey and hooge bubble patches coming up from the bottom where they were feeding on something) I still caught a carp.
I don't think theyre too much of a problem, they do tend to hang around the Canopy Island a lot.
still, we'll see how it goes this weekend.
Crispy
Made In England
E.C.H.O.
CRISPY congratulations on catching your carp the area your talking about is full of cats espically on the point(just ask rancie). well hand wave and im sure he will tell you all about it .The point im trying to get at is the majority of anglers on the match fish for carp.now catching the odd cat is not aproblem but five in a week which happened to a angler on the tees is no fun .espically at two in the morning in the pooring rain.Also most of the cats i have seen on the bank have hooklinks still in there mouths either from were anglers cant unhook them or have been stapped up by the power of them.
Hi
I know what you mean, Derek came round moaning (literally) about them.LOL
I see what you mean about the rigs though.
Personally I wouldn't mind catching one or two cats but then that's just a personal thing, I can see how some carp anglers would be hacked off with a soaking at 2am.
Cheers about the fish, I was chuffed to bits, see if I can do it again this weekend?!?!?!
Crispy
Made In England
E.C.H.O.
andy_w21uk
14-06-2001, 23:57
any ideas just how many cats are in there and how big they go,,,,, wouldn't mind having a go and trying to keep them occupied and away from you carpers sometime,,,,many people fish for them,,,,
andy,,,,
If I can get a swim during the social I might just have a try for them.
rhornegold
15-06-2001, 08:29
Ian,
If they dont want them, how about putting a few into an Essex water ( with the relevant permission ).
It would be nice to have some English bred and born fish in the county.
Bob
I think we should have a whip round of a couple of quid each to see who can get the biggest at the social.
Although I love my carp I am also a fan of Cats, I can't wait to up my PB for them!
Crispy
Made In England
E.C.H.O.
Right with you Bob, would be nice to have some in a water over our way!
Clive
Am I the only one who thinks the distribution of cats should be extremely limited, and strictly controlled? My concerns are based on the huge appetite these things are supposed to have, "can empty a lake of silver fish" I think I am mis-quoting Bob Hornegold. I know nothing of fishery management (obviously), but a few of these introduced to an established water must have a huge impact on the natural balance.
That's if the Cormarants don't get them first..... natural pedation in waters is a good thing to a certain extent... just think we won't get plagued with any small fish.... the only problem will occur when the larger fish die.... then I suppose it will be a restocking program. I am all for Cats being introduced into some waters if it's legal as they are another fish to fish foe.
Tony
rhornegold
17-06-2001, 09:59
Ioki,
I just thought it would be good to have some roast beef and two veg cats in Essex rather than the Garlic type fish.
But I do take your point and all cat waters have to be managed properly, which would apply to any water run by a good club or organisation.
Bob
I do understand where you are coming from Bob, and I am certainly not anti-catfish. My concerns are simply based on what I have heard about the species from people who know it well (yourself included), and the likelihood that will be mis-managed by the type of disreputable fishery owners that we often hear about in the carp world.
It is interesting that people are starting to question the inclusion of cats in certain waters, or certainly the quantity. The control of any species by an organisation such as RMC will always be safe within the confines of the waters it controls (what you put in you can take out). However, if the species exists in sufficient quantities across the whole country, possibly spread by well intentioned and properly sanctioned stock movement, the danger is that the natural balance is damaged beyond repair. Hence my view that this species in particular is more strictly controlled than perhaps any other.
On the subject of cats........could someone remind me of how many cats were originally stocked into the Split lake? I was asked at the weekend, but couldn't remember!...Was it 15 or so? The chap who asked is new to the lake and I'm pleased that everyone on the venue was more than happy to answer his questions and offer advice......very refreshing!
His reward by listening was a new PB 28+ cat on his first visit caught form some snags. You should have seen his hook and hooklength after the battle! He was using a beast of a hook, but the cat soon made short work of that.....I can see why carp rigs are left behind. The power of a big cat near to snags has to be seen to be believed!
[b]Smarts
Smarts,
I believe 25 cats of around ten pounds were introduced into the split in 1993 though I stand to be corrected.
As you know, they have grown steadily, putting on pounds every year and are now reaching low thirties.
They have bred successfully, as an angler last week found out by catching two at about six pounds and one at 22.
MartinJ
Many thanks, Martin.
The chap did look for the tattoo marks....but couldn't find them......it's not easy unless you know *exactly* where to find them!!
They certainly are breeding arn't they!....some of 15-17lb have been turning up too, so that's at least three different year classes......hurrah!
[b]Smarts
The tattoos are simple blue dots on the lighter belly area, you might typically find a pair of dots at the base of one fin and a single dot at the base of another. They are not always easy to find by torchlight among the fishes natural markings.
MartinJ
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