BAYESWATER STOCK POND

As anyone should know who reads the web site reports we've removed as many small carp from the day ticket lake as possible the last 2 years. I don't intend to keep doing this as I hope the stock levels are right to allow for good growth with the existing stock heading for a good average weight. The past few weeks one in less than 10 fish caught have been over 20 so it's not doing bad.

We've also been removing fish from the syndicate lake into the stock pond with the general rule being anything under 15 must go although there's also been several over 15 to 20 pound moved. These fish are all home bred syndicate babies and are really good looking stocky fish. We haven't kept records but there's somewhere around 150 fish from half a pound up to 20 been moved so far. I moved 8 a few weeks ago, 2 about 4 pound, 3 around 6 pound, 2 low doubles and one about 18. I returned a 24 which I'm convinced was an home bred fish to the syndicate.

My intention is to grow these stock pond fish on, using the bigger ones as our future stock to share between the lakes and to sell of the smaller ones to cover the cost of the serious amount of food I'm feeding them.

I arranged a little test fish on the stock pond the other week and we managed to catch 3 in the end. It was surprisingly difficult to catch them, which I have experienced before in there. I think it's because they freak out more when they haven't been caught much before and don't come back to the danger area's as quick as they do in fished waters.

What was interesting was the ones we caught were all the same size 12 poundish but they were all in good nick, healthy looking and hard fighting. I don't know why we caught only 12 pounders but they look young, not fat but broad like they are growing to quick to put a belly on. They are all stunning fish that we have moved and I'm sure there will be some really good stock in the future to top the lakes up with.

I've attached pics of each of the fish we caught, just imagine them at 20 plus, wicked aren't they?

Please don't be tempted to put a rod in the stock pond, it is strictly out of bounds.

Gary