OK, I did promise not to bring this subject up again, however Br Nicholas raised a subject that led onto the Small Mouth Yellowfish of South Africa - one of the truly most delightful species I have ever had the priviledge to pursue. I true wild fish found in the wild rivers of Southern Africa. The scientific name has changed by the way to Barbus aeneus.
B. aeneus photos can be viewed on
www.flyshop.co.za, together with a detailed description of this fish. It is closely related to our B. vulgaris.
The habitat of this species has been destroyed in parts of the system, mainly by the proliferation of carp, as well as the building of impoundments and dams along the Upper Vaal River. Like our barbel, it needs clear fast water flowing over gravel to spawn. Not only that but B. aeneus only becomes sexually mature at the age of about 7 years.
If you had lived for the length of time that I have, in a part of the world where carp have done so much damage Rik, then I feel you would have a different opinion of them.
Carp in SA, can, due to the average water temperature, spawn up to 4 times in a year. Their feeding habits cause the water to become turbid. You see this happen in UK too.
Barbel, roach and other species have lived in harmony for many years in the rivers of the UK where barbel were endemic, ie most easterly flowing English rivers, eg Trent, Thames, Don, Yorks Ouse and tributaries. I have often thought that the introduction of the barbel into the Severn system as well the Hants Avon and Dorset Stour may have been wrong, although they certainly have not affected the roach fishing in these waters.
It is, I think important to consider the following fact:
Barbel, and all our other species are naturally occuring English species that have been here and have evolved here for hundreds of thousands of years.
Carp, are today, nothing like the original wild carp of Asia, if indeed such fish has ever existed. They have been selectively bred by man over thousands of years, primarily for food, just in the same way that pigs, cattle and sheep have.
On that score we should avoid classifying this species as something wonderful, although I have nothing against those anglers who wish to persue them.
Kept in their place (and that is vitally important), carp are fine. But somehow to mmy mind, the persuit of a true wild fish in it's natural habitat is the ultimate angling experience.