''Catching a record fish''.

[Derek Gibson]

The title was prompted by a conversation I had with two of my oldest angling friends this past week. Both of them with over fifty years of successful angling behind them.

The question was put to me that any time during the last sixty years was there a time when I harboured a lust for a record Pike? When I replied not really, they seemed surprised, so I made the distinction between a record fish and a lottery win. Maintaining that had I become fixated with record fish I would have set myself an almost impossible target that was guaranteed to sour my love of the sport. I then said that I was more than happy catching fish that were considered ''big'' by national standards.

I'd be interested to hear your views on this topic fella's, on any species.

 

[thecrow]

Never with a national record as I fished few waters that may have contained a record fish, I think its a shame that most waters with record potential are now well known and targeted by anglers just trying to catch a record, each to their own though.

I did have a period many years ago of being obsessed with catching a double figure Barbel from the Warwickshire Avon, it ruined my enjoyment anything I caught that wasn't "the size fish" that I wanted meant nothing and I am sure that if I hadn't followed a friends advice to just go and fish other waters for whatever came along that I would have stopped fishing completely.

 

[Peter Jacobs]

Another soul-searching question form Derek, and a jolly good one too . . . .

Personally I have never pursued the quest for a Record fish, and to be honest I find it almost distasteful when we hear of a record, or near record, fish being caught only to witness the ruddy circus that then makes a hasty trek to the same venue . . . . . .

Those who remember the brace of 3 pound roach from Ibsley some years ago will also remember the constant Car Park that the venues side roads became for months afterwards.

I have often wondered what I would do if I were to catch a record fish, and it is a real dilemma; do you publish the fact or do you maintain a discrete silence in order to keep the venue safe from the inevitable circus?
I like to think I would opt for the latter.

As for targeting a particular species in the hope of catching a record fish, well, I agree with Derek, I think, in all honesty, that would sour my approach to my fishing as well.

My final word on the topis is; of all the more distasteful tactics in our sport then I find the deliberate targeting of gravid fish to be the worst . . . . . . .

 

[thecrow]

My final word on the topis is; of all the more distasteful tactics in our sport then I find the deliberate targeting of gravid fish to be the worst

And the acceptance of such a fish as a record, I remember a Tench that took the record grossly extended and so obviously full of spawn this being the worst case I can remember.

 

[mikench]

So far on my learning curve every fish I catch is a record one! I simply want to catch every species except catfish! I have plenty to go at.

In my eyes the enormous carp one sees are abnormal, grossly overweight and distended and, to my mind , ugly.

A 1 lb roach, perch or Rudd are beautiful and to be admired! You can keep your record carp!

 

[Lord Paul of Sheffield]

personally I would keep stum
I would not want somewhere I enjoy fishing in relative peace to be packed with anglers on my next visits

 

[mikench]

So would I!

 

[steve2]

Catching record fish is not a measure of skill just a measure of luck on the day.
I can't think of one record that wasn't down to luck on the day. Even those that target known fish are lucky that it put on a bit of weight.
As far as fish full of spawn go they should not be counted as records. A week later that fish will be down to its true weight way below its so called record weight.

 

[rubio]

With a catch record like mine nobody would believe me anyway.
I do occasionally channel my inner child and hope to discover outrageous monsters of the deep. Last one of those was my PB Millers Thumb. So far I have resisted all attempts to reveal the location.

 

[flightliner]

Ok Derek, time to 'fess up, did I ever tell you about my lower tidal Trent Bleak , lol , ?.

 

[Graham Elliott 1]

Well if I caught a record fish I would claim it.

However apart from a couple of trusted pals the location would remain secret. I wouldn't sell the story to the comics nor seek free bait as an Iinstant celebrity. (For a day)

As for spawn filled fish....difficult. how full is ok?

The funny thing is......in years of barbel specialisation I have always avoided known record/ near record places.
Strange but true.

If I caught a monster fish really wouldn't want it to be a known one.

 

[robtherake]

I do fish a water where there's an outside chance of a record fish; a fish caught on a day when the scales had been left at home might well have topped the current record for that species, but without a keepnet and holding a dead phone in my hand I was completely stymied. mg: Whether another chance ever comes along remains to be seen, but I ain't holding my breath.

 

[barbelboi]

I have never been obsessed with catching a record fish. I have fished some waters over the years where the 'publicised' record has come from, I've also fished waters where bigger fish than this 'record' have been caught. Catching specimen fish has always been a welcome part of my angling, but catching fish that are large to any particular water will do me just fine..................

 

[john step]

Actually I cannot recall any of the present record weights anyway so a claim would be unlikely.
For me the aim is to catch fish that put a bend in my rod for whatever I am fishing for.

I have some fishing acquaintances whose first question is "how much did it weigh". From conversation, their objective seems to be collecting the next big number in their personal best list rather than enjoying fishing.

 

[Bob Hornegold]

Derek

Funny question really, how many anglers actually fish waters with the potential of a record fish ?

Not that many I would think ?

Big Trout Reservoirs for Pike must be the best chance on one of the Special Days when Coarse fishing is allowed !!

Certain rivers or sections of rivers, like the Kickles Farm/Adams Mill on the Ouse or the Biggleswade section of the Ivel for Barbel, The Old River and Relief Channel at Kings Weir or Fishers Green for Chub.

But how many anglers fish that those sections of river and never came near catching a record ?

It was a bit like the Mary at Wraysbury, loads of people fished the Gravel Pit, but very few came any where near catching the record.

I believe, you fish those venues in the hope of a bigger than average example of the species, if you get near to a record, that's a bonus.

And yes on those types of waters I would publise it, I mean if your one of many fishing a water and they all know there's a chance, what odds does it make ?

But say I'd been fishing and doing all the hard work on a big river like the Thames, Severn or Trent, I'd claim the record, but only those who needed to know would be told of the location.

Nothing stays secret in that situation and the chances are the venue/location would get out ?

Bob

 

[peter crabtree]

Derek

Funny question really, how many anglers actually fish waters with the potential of a record fish ?

Not that many I would think ?

Bob

A record fish could come from any water anywhere depending on species?

 

[thecrow]

Funny question really, how many anglers actually fish waters with the potential of a record fish ?

I would think they will be in the thousands every week that fish the River Trent.

 

[Ray Daywalker Clarke]

Well a few points here.
First you are lucky to catch a record fish.
Second you have to present your bait right, that's for any fish.
Third a record fish in most species will be an old fish, maybe wise, so bait presentation is more important.

I wouldn't claim a record again as the record list is a joke.

You can claim a record and not name the venue as I did.

Catching a record fish isn't easy, the venues have to have fish of record breaking size, and there aren't many of them around, that's why it's not easy. If it were record's would be broken week in week out.

Those that Chase known possible record species are the worst, the circus. They know who they are, and its these anglers that let down angling.

All for their own EGOS Nothing more.

 

[xenon]

i personally don't get why one would want to target a record-would this prove anything of any value at all? I doubt it.

 

[no-one in particular]

Our world would be lot duller without a record list!