The tethered 45 !!
We experienced an interesting and potentially disastrous little interlude this evening whilst Jimmy was baiting up. The lads on the Chateau bank mentioned that one of the marker poles had been moving around all afternoon so Jimmy boated out to it to investigate. He found that a line was tangled around the base with a fish tethered on the other end, about 15m away. After a period of Jimmy playing the carp by letting line through his hands the carp in the boat a good fish was netted and brought to the bank for unhooking. It turned out to be a fat mirror of 45lb !!! I have put a picture of the fish together with a picture of the rig complete with half a yellow pop up still intact. The great shame was that the hook still had an intact barb !!! If this carp had become tethered to a tree root or suchlike the result would probably been fatal. As it was the hook took a great deal of effort to remove. Our strict rule of crushed barbs only is for a reason and I think its a great disapointment that knowing this one of our anglers still fished with an intact barb………..with potentially disastrous result.
A great shame for the angler that lost such a fabulous fish and great shame to the same angler for flouting the rules.
I wouldn’t be so kind to say “shame for the angler” Jim, I’d be more inclined to say shame ON the angler. It should be common practice that wherever you go you abide by the rules. If you can’t do this then leave the fishing to those who can and find yourself another hobby. The good news is that such a great fish was saved. Well done to Jimmy and the lads who noticed the pole moving around.
That just about sums it up Mike !!
Jim does actually also say shame TO the angler.. but Mike is right, if anyone feels unable to respect the rules set and abide by them, then they should simply fish somewhere else. I do think some fisheries overdo the whole rules thing sometimes, but that’s not the case here: the rules set at du Mee are fair and reasonable, and set for a very good reason – maintaining the welfare of carp which are far larger than anything most of us will encounter in the UK! The problem with idiots breaking common sense rules like this is that lake owners often respond with further rules.. and who can blame them? Let’s hope it’s an isolated incident.
They shouldn’t fish somewhere else. They shouldn’t fish period, if they can’t abide by the rules of the fishery.
Exactly !!!
I think the trouble is that some anglers will feel at a disadvantage if they have to fish in a different way to how they normally do.Unfortunately some anglers also put carp welfare as a secondary consideration as opposed to catching which will be first and foremost in their mind. Anything that they consider puts them at a disadvantage will be challenged…………..thats modern day carp fishing I’m afraid !!!
You’re right Graham, Jim did say great shame to the angler for the rig he was using but also gave the angler the courtesy of “a great shame for losing such a fabulous fish”. I wouldn’t be so kind as to even give this angler such a courteous thought, that’s why I would have just left it shame on the angler. Jim is too nice a guy sometimes, ain’t you Dad!
As Chris rightly says, they shouldn’t fish period. My sentiments entirely, find another hobby.
Strange!!!!!! A bit of sense from a doddery old fool !!! well, well, well.
i think a new rule is needed, end tackle will be checked without notice any one breaking the rules as regards to crushed barbs will be asked to leave. hard rule maybe even harder to lose carp, there your fish jim if people dont care for there well being then chuck um off, simples
regards Ian
I try to run the fishery on ‘trust’ Ian but this event may cause a change in my view on this.
i dont blame you Jim you have alot of money invested in those fish and all your regulars and caring anglers would not have a problem about having there gear checked. i find it hard that someone has set up a fishery and certain arse holes treat it with contempt. Jim unfortunately the days when we could trust people are gone. the person who had that rig would recognize it from the photo and lets hope that person has read the blog and has realized his rig could have killed a large fish and maybe a lesson to all anglers who still use barbed hooks on other fisheries but there is still a number of anglers who are selfish in the sence that they think they will lose a fish more often then a barbed hook and dont give a shit if the fish cant eject the hook ( there be using trebles soon)
so to sum up after my rant,
did he know his rig was against the lake rules YES
did he think his rig could snag up with a fish on NO
did he want to catch a biggie regardless of the barb so he had less chance of losing it ABSOLUTELY YES
would he feel embarrassed reading this blog YES
is he a bad person NO
can we all learn from this YES
regards Ian
Very sad to see that some people dont fish wiht the correct rigs
We all now crushed barbs only !!!!!!!!!
Last year during the drandown we also found a forbidden rig
So maybe the time has come for CHECK CHECK CHECK
I think that you sould have to check the angles that are fishing on times thay wil not expect it during night-time or early in the morning is the best that is what we do overhere on our lakes
Maybe if the guy has balls he will contact you and make his excuse
I hope for him he does this
Greetings from holland
PAUL MARTINA BRENT JILL
That shamefull Jim. Your rules are nothing compared to some rules on UK waters so if they cant fish to your rules they should not be fishing. Shame on them it really is.
I wouldnt mind but i fish with crushed barbs over here now. The hook holds and it comes out alot easyer than barbed hooks.
While i am here Paul lost Micks Fox speaker box, it has’nt turned up has it???
Also if that is a piece of boilie on that rig do you know who was using them recently??
Jim i find it a great pity that some anglers cant manage to abide by rules ,your fishery has less than many and all are sensible and there for the benefit of your stock ,i fish many differnt waters some with sensible rules some with what i think are crazy ones ,but i abide by them all because at the end of the day you should respect the veiws of the fishes owners .
I think that is a mistake to take it on trust all your anglers will not break rules ,and would not be supprised the bigger the fish get the more some will have a catch at any cost attitude,I suppose that problem will be reduced somewhat for you as you have a high number of returnees .
I would for one welcome rig checks day or night after all if your fishing to the rules its not a problem is it !
I would love to meet the person responsible for that rig,it would be more than a quiet word in his ear methinks. As others have said Jim I think it’s time to start checking rigs. I don’t think any angler will have a problem with that. It’s idiots like this that get all anglers a bad name.
Do you not read my emails anymore Jim?? lol sent one a while ago and no reply!
Maybe its time to do spot checks as you go around the lake, sad that you have to do that but some anglers just cannot be trusted and you have so few rules that i find it mind boggling that someone would break your rules and disrespect you and the lake as that is what they are doing as it is your pride and joy and you have worked hard to have such a fantastic place! The email was about available dates next year fella! just have to get back!!!
Spot checks are one way of dealing with this but there is a even craftier way of doing it , get young jimmy a wet suit and snorkel and send him down under the cover of darkness , he could scoure the lake bed and check all the rigs , any ofending rigs he could snap and confront the angler at breakfast with the evidence, where upon once found guilty the rest of the anglers could beat him with wet mackrels, what you think ?
Strange you mention that Andy, I once saw “young Jimmy” one night in a wet suit and snorkel. I wondered what he was doing but I thought it was a feitsh thing and something to do with the mags the dutch lads bought with them!
I got the wet mackrel idea from one of those mags jim left in my swim mike……………
Mmmmmm wet Mackrel interesting thought guys,sounds like a best selling video in the making.
Only just seen this…
Whoever you are – give up fishing – we don’t need you.
Jim that is shocking mate, considering how few your rules are and how sensible, and how welcome you make everyone feel at your fishery.
I would be more than happy to have my rigs inspected if asked for, as would any decent angler I would have thought.
The idea of Jimmy in rubber is even more horrible than a dead carp though in my opinion.