Fishing in miniature

[Coffee Table 43]

On 30/09/2020 at 19:53, Nicepix said:

There is a small river near here that I call 'Lilliput' after Arthur Ransome's story 'Fishing in Lilliput' that was obviously inspired by Gulliver's Travels.Within a one mile stretch there are some very varies swims and lots of species. I can usually count on six or seven different species in a session.

 

 

It's no pressure angling

Lovely little stretch of river, not in the UK I assume?

Second from last and third from last images aren't fish I'm familiar with. Second from last is maybe a Ruffe?

Third from last image looks like an escapee from someone's tropical setup.

[Nicepix 5,650]

Yes, that one is a ruffe and the other is a pumpkinseed fish or perch solei, an American invasive species that is turning up all over the place. I caught some in a customer's lake that is all fenced off and miles from any river.

The river is in France, very near to where I now live.

[comanche 2,955]

On 02/10/2020 at 11:30, green lurchers said:

Had a return visit to the farm pond yesterday put out some mash bread and put some flake on the hook fish touch ledger on the pin  had a bite less couple of hrs , changed tack and went again today this time put a chubber float on the rod pin set up , got six nice baits on the whip in know time , lip hooked a roach and let it have a spin about the swim hoping for a decent perch as I dropped a 10 oz perch couple days ago , after 20 mins no joy on went a lip hooked gudgeon.  After a couple of mins in the rain lashing down hard it worked it’s way to a overhang bramble Bush. And away she went  fighting hard on the 3lb line pin set up I was thinking maybe a daddy Sargent of the pond was on after a decent scrap was very surprised  to see a chub surface  not that I was put out  I went for the buggie that snapped my pole set up  thinking chub maybe the culprit and leaves room fir another visit for the daddyo perch  how chub got into this tiny pond I wouldn’t have a clue miles from any river or lake that contain chub 

What a lovely chub to catch from any water ,let alone a farm pond.

Weirdly the pond l've been fishing has produced nothing but rudd and tench for weeks. Yet my early vists produced a few roach and surprisingly ,a dace or possibly a dace hybrid. 

The nearest river is a mile away . A distance easily covered by a little boy on a bicycle ; even with a bucket  of water full of tiddlers swinging from his handlebars.

[Nicepix 5,650]

On 04/10/2020 at 17:23, comanche said:

What a lovely chub to catch from any water ,let alone a farm pond.

Weirdly the pond l've been fishing has produced nothing but rudd and tench for weeks. Yet my early vists produced a few roach and surprisingly ,a dace or possibly a dace hybrid. 

The nearest river is a mile away . A distance easily covered by a little boy on a bicycle ; even with a bucket  of water full of tiddlers swinging from his handlebars.

Could the farm pond have been connected to the river at any point in the past? Around where I used to live there were several small lakes created when the river was straightened during the 1970's.  One was like a serpent in shape, and had a flow of springwater through it but was landlocked from the new river course. That held dace and chub. And a few local farm ponds had been created by damming a stream.

[BEARINATOR 2,867]

30 minutes ago, Balaur said:

Don't they reckon birds transport a few fish eggs here and there? Stick to legs etc not sure on science of it....

They carry fish and snail eggs on there feet and legs 

[Daniel cain 45,150]

1 hour ago, Balaur said:

Don't they reckon birds transport a few fish eggs here and there? Stick to legs etc not sure on science of it....

Some truth in that joe

[Greyman 28,269]

1 hour ago, Daniel cain said:

Some truth in that joe

And for some strange reason it’s always the pike that seem to arrive first, which is strange as a predator should need prey ? 

[Nicepix 5,650]

17 minutes ago, Greyman said:

And for some strange reason it’s always the pike that seem to arrive first, which is strange as a predator should need prey ? 

Yes, it always seems that pike and perch arrive in new lakes almost immediately. Initially they will feed on insect lava and tadpoles but once they get to their third year they will happily eat their young.

[Daniel cain 45,150]

Spoke about this with a few lads who work for the E. A few yrs back.... Told me the same thing

[kanny 20,504]

Pike are very opportunistic and will prey on almost anything they can fit in their gobs  ,birds mice,rats,frogs etc are all on the menu 

[Alan... 172]

I always thought the eggs were transported in bird poo from fish/eggs they'd eaten

[comanche 2,955]

21 hours ago, Nicepix said:

Could the farm pond have been connected to the river at any point in the past? Around where I used to live there were several small lakes created when the river was straightened during the 1970's.  One was like a serpent in shape, and had a flow of springwater through it but was landlocked from the new river course. That held dace and chub. And a few local farm ponds had been created by damming a stream.

Not in the case of "my" pond. It is on the top of a hill,probably the highest point in the area. If it wasn't for the South Downs being in the way you could probably see the sea on a clear day.

[comanche 2,955]

19 hours ago, Daniel cain said:

Some truth in that joe

Apparently no one has produced evidence of the fish on birds' legs theory but it seems possible.

Scientists in Spain and Brazil studying the movement of other aquatic species between waters found that fish eggs deliberately fed to ducks could pass through visually undamaged. The number coming out whole was a fraction of a percent though.  

In the interview l heard with one of the scientists he didn't say that any of these eggs had actually hatched. I suspect not because when pushed by the interviewer he merely said it indicated transference of fish "might be a possibility" .  Not a very scientific answer.

Also when asked if he thought human transportation of fish was the prime means of transfer the chap got a bit mealy mouthed and non committal. 

I know of a pond dug over 30 years ago that lies within 1/4 of a mile of three club lakes and two commercial fishing lakes yet still contains no fish.

Pike spawn early,often in flooded ditches and watermeadows while rivers are still at high winter levels . It might explain them turning up in unexpected places. That and the fact that they do get moved out of mischief!  

In the past pike were often stocked in Gentlemens' stew ponds in large numbers as a main crop.  I guess they ate each other and their babies and were probably taken at table size rather than being allowed to reach specimen size.

Perch have notoriously sticky eggs so l reckon would be prime suspects if there is any mileage in the eggs on birds feet theory.

All scientists in need to prove the theory is an empty pond a duck and some eggs ; not exacting requirements . You would've thought someone would've tried it by now.

Then again,little rudd can be caught by the bucket load and carp and tench are easily transported which most likely explains why they turn up in odd ponds so often.  

Edited October 11, 2020 by comanche

[Nicepix 5,650]

55 minutes ago, comanche said:

Not in the case of "my" pond. It is on the top of a hill,probably the highest point in the area. If it wasn't for the South Downs being in the way you could probably see the sea on a clear day.

Like that old song about being able to see Hackney Marshes if it wasn't for the houses in between.

There is a small lake that I pass on Mole Patrol that is situated on top of high ground, surrounded by wind mills. It is an abandoned farm lake, the farm buildings having been replaced by others some distance away. It is unusual for two things; firstly it is the only lake in the area that never suffers from droughts despite its altitude. Secondly, it contains black bass, and some large carp. How the bass got in is a mystery.

[tomburras 2,730]

Great topic! I love small hidden ponds. I recently moved away from semi urban leeds and completely moved areas to be out by the countryside. After a bit of riding my mountain bike exploring I found a unfished pond. After trying to find the owner and asking in the nearest fishing shop its only £17 for the year. Iv been down there a lot and never seen anyone at all. Having a great time there I don't think these fish have ever been caught....