R
Ron 'The Hat' Clay (ACA)
Guest
Although I don't do much carp fishing these days, there have been times in my life when I have fished for little else. One aspect of the species I have noticed is the enormous difference in fighting qualities of carp.
For example I caught a number of carp in Yorkshire during the 60s in a couple of lakes, and in those days carp in Yorkshire were as rare as hen's teeth. They fought like tigers - all of them did, often running at high speed for long distances. The hardest fighting Yorkshire carp I caught then, weighed 9lbs 15oz, a fully scaled lean mirror that took me the best part of 25 minutes to beat on a Mk IV 12lb line and no 4 hook that was baited with balanced crust and paste in the classic time honoured Walkerian way.
Then in '67 I moved to South Africa. I spent several years fishing for carp there and to tell the truth, most of the fish I caught came in like the proverbial wet sack, including the big ones. They were most disappointing. The exception were the long lean commons of the Vaal River which took off like underwater torpedoes, often taking in excess of 100 yards of line in screeching screaming runs at incredible speeds. I am not ashamed to say that I have had 15lb lines smashed with a crack like a gunshot on occasions with these fish, using Mitchell 410 reels.
Since returning to the UK my carp fishing has taken a back seat, but I have caught enough to be able to say that the few fish I have caught - up to 22lbs, have put up the most dissapointing scraps imaginable. All they have done is chugged or plugged around for a minute or so and have been landed quite easily.
The exception being an 18 pound common I caught from the Trent. Hell, that fish went like a bullet!!
There is no doubt in my mind that the carp in this country don't fight like they did way back in the 50s or 60s.
Have you found this?
For example I caught a number of carp in Yorkshire during the 60s in a couple of lakes, and in those days carp in Yorkshire were as rare as hen's teeth. They fought like tigers - all of them did, often running at high speed for long distances. The hardest fighting Yorkshire carp I caught then, weighed 9lbs 15oz, a fully scaled lean mirror that took me the best part of 25 minutes to beat on a Mk IV 12lb line and no 4 hook that was baited with balanced crust and paste in the classic time honoured Walkerian way.
Then in '67 I moved to South Africa. I spent several years fishing for carp there and to tell the truth, most of the fish I caught came in like the proverbial wet sack, including the big ones. They were most disappointing. The exception were the long lean commons of the Vaal River which took off like underwater torpedoes, often taking in excess of 100 yards of line in screeching screaming runs at incredible speeds. I am not ashamed to say that I have had 15lb lines smashed with a crack like a gunshot on occasions with these fish, using Mitchell 410 reels.
Since returning to the UK my carp fishing has taken a back seat, but I have caught enough to be able to say that the few fish I have caught - up to 22lbs, have put up the most dissapointing scraps imaginable. All they have done is chugged or plugged around for a minute or so and have been landed quite easily.
The exception being an 18 pound common I caught from the Trent. Hell, that fish went like a bullet!!
There is no doubt in my mind that the carp in this country don't fight like they did way back in the 50s or 60s.
Have you found this?