FISH STOCKS

The ultimate 'big fish' venue with carp to 76lb

The initial stocking of carp into the lake was carried out by the original owner in the early 1990s and consisted of 250 two to three year-old carp. By the time the current owner purchased the pits with a view to transforming them into a carp fishery, the largest of these carp had topped 44lb, with an estimated 60 fish remaining from this first stocking.

During 1999, 2000 and 2002 a large number of carp were stocked into both of the lakes as part of a progressive fish management programme on the venue. Commons and mirrors were purchased from a number of French fish farmers, their average weight at the time of stocking being 15lb to 30lb. Catfish to 55lb and grass carp were also stocked into the Tortue lake.

These fish have thrived in the waters, gaining weight very rapidly due to the rich environment and regular feeding with quality carp bait and pellets. They have grown on to make an incredible head of big carp. The largest to date, one of the original fish from the 1990 stocking, has topped 76lb!

Each lake now has well over 200 carp to over 70lb. Other species include the Wels catfish to over 85lb, grass carp to 40lb plus, tench, bream, crucian carp, roach, rudd, pike and perch. A scan of the average weekly catch reports shows exactly what you can expect to catch at the lakes.

The stocking policy for the future is to continue to introduce fish over 20lb progressively to the main lakes from the stock pond over the next few years. These fish were purchased in November 2004 and weighed from 15lb to 26lb. By introducing them one by one the risk to them and the existing stock is kept to a minimum. All these fish will have spent a minimum 18 months in quarantine, regularly fed but unpressured by anglers.