Making mark with carp (From Warrington Guardian)

Making mark with carp

FISH are in a very accommodating mood on the waters that Lymm Angling Club still have open.

Rivers are performing extremely well with good catches reported.

Member David Nicholson had two sessions on the River Bollin on consecutive days, gaining a fish a chuck from roach, perch and dace. He landed the odd chub to 1lb among his catch. His method was to trot with maggots and corn.

The River Dane continues to produce big chub with fish of up to 5lbs reported.

Matt Park enjoyed a hectic session catching quite small fish that were too numerous to count, although among his haul he landed a chub of 3lbs, while a barbel of 8lbs was also reported.

The still waters are matching the rivers for action.

On Grimsditch Mill Pool, the Hand family spent a very productive day. Robert Hand reported that he, his dad and his brother caught 117 fish between them, made up mostly of skimmer bream of 12ozs each.

His dad fared best with the biggest haul but his sons were hot on his tail.

Over on Village Pool, Mark Matthews spent his session in a quest for carp. Although it was a fairly slow session, ledgering boilies he did manage to land five of his chosen quarry weighing up to 8lbs.

Other anglers on Village Pool were kept busy catching roach, bream, perch and the occasional gudgeon.

Down on Sandy Pool, member Michael Berry had a session specimen hunting, landing a bream of 6lbs and a ghost carp of 15lbs.

Using specimen baits, Mike excluded himself from the excellent fishing being enjoyed at the moment from the inhabitant silver fish.

What can I tell you about the carp disease? There are still no answers to all our questions, such as 'Has the cause been identified?', 'Is there anything that can be done to treat waters?', 'Is the condition waterborne?' or 'Can it be transferred by ducks and geese etc?' The waters currently closed will remain closed for the time being.

The effects of the disease are threefold in simplistic terms - there is the fish welfare to consider, the loss of amenity to anglers and the value of the fish that have died and continue to die.

While these are only 'ball park' figures, one affected fishery has lost perhaps 100 carp per mile, and because they are big fish they average approximately £350 each in value.

That equates to £35,000 per mile, and multiply that by 25 miles or so and perhaps that gives an idea of the cost to fishery managers.

That example is just one fishery from what is already the dozen or so affected. Will anyone wish to compensate clubs for this loss? I don't think so.

Please note that it is that sort of asset that clubs such as ours are trying to protect by closing waters.

I can be contacted on 411774, but be prepared to leave a message.

Neil Jupp