The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I expect most of us have caught carp, on rare occasions, that seem to be well, ancient, and this is my offering to get things going with the thread - a heavy plated, near fully-scaled mirror from Ashperton Moat, circa 2005.
Obviously, this is a fish very much going back in condition (a bit like its captor!); - but it gave every impression of being very old indeed, despite a few spirited runs towards the lilies and tree roots.

Ashperton was an interesting water because it was rumoured to have been stocked by Leney in 1934. The kind Skeff has offered to take a look at the records for me, and so, perhaps, the truth will be known at last.
Either way, there's no doubt in my mind that some fish there were virtually prehistoric in looks! The smaller ones, mainly commons, were very pretty indeed.

A lovely small, tired old warrior.

Snape wrote:A lovely small, tired old warrior.

Me, or the fish, Snape?!
No, it had lovely golden/buttery colours, but it seemed quite hollow, empty, and weary...that was the overwhelming impression.
No really big fish were ever caught there, to my knowledge, despite rumours of one large common. But the 1963 winter was supposed to have caused a fish kill, with some very big carp going belly up...
Mirrors and smoke and whispers...never hard facts...
All I know is, - it was the most gorgeous pond, looks wise, that I have ever fished.

What lovely warriors FB in a very fitting and beautiful background.

Mark wrote:What lovely warriors FB in a very fitting and beautiful background.

Thank you Mark - Oh, it was a lovely place - and I use its real name, because misfortune struck in 2006/2007, when the medieval dam started to leak, the water level fell and the mink moved in..
Today, there are a few carp left, I believe; and I keep meaning to go back for a session...
But I'm not sure if I want my memories ruined by the present day situation..

FarliesBirthday wrote:

Snape wrote:A lovely small, tired old warrior.

Me, or the fish, Snape?!

I'll let you work that one out FB - but unless you've shrunk since we last met....

Snape wrote:

FarliesBirthday wrote:

Snape wrote:A lovely small, tired old warrior.

Me, or the fish, Snape?!

I'll let you work that one out FB - but unless you've shrunk since we last met....

No same as ever, Snape, - shortish in height, wide in girth, alas!

Here's the head of the same fish - very odd, distinctive colours in the mouth, don't you think? - and an image, I think, where its old age is very much apparent...

Lovely old warrior FB...

Here is the ancient Single Scale from Soake Pond...well over fifty years old at the time of capture.

Quite magnificent, SK - and it looks its age too, in a majestic way...
Do you think that the colouration of carp alters with age?