yonny

On Saturday we got the koi out one by one to measure them (koi size tends to be expressed in length (cm) rather than weight which I struggle to get me head around!). We have 4 over 70cm, biggest 75, 5 x 60s, 5 x 50s, 4 x 40s and a couple at 39 cm. Weight wise, 31 and 30 lb are the biggest. It was actually a bit of a stressful operation. When you net the white ones you can see them going pink as the blood vessels expand with stress. This just makes you want to get them back as quick as possible. Obviously you don't see that when you catch a normal carp as their colour hides the pinkness. The koi are in a right mood after the ordeal. They're feeding but nowhere near as well as they were. I even bought them a load of dried shrimp/silkworm as a treat and even that stuff's not getting them excited. I suspect it'll take a few days for them to get over it properly.

What a session. Well done to the lad. Yesterday I went for a walk around a water on which I have a ticket starting in June. It's an awesome place, nearly 90 acres of water in a massive nature reserve/SSSI/SPA. A proper big pit with everything that you could hope to see..... bays, islands, snaggy margins, massive sheets of water that go on forever, a really impressive place. I actually fished this water ~25 years ago when I was completely out of my depth. I caught one carp, to this day one of the best I've caught. Would you believe it..... I walked into the swim I caught from all those years ago, and there were loads of gulls diving on a huge hatch. I persuaded the Mrs and kids to stop for 5 mins so I could check it out. Straight away I spotted the carp popping there heads out feeding on this hatch, well within casting distance too. All that water and I found them straight away. Couldn't believe it. Law of the sod dictates I'll not find another chance like that once my ticket starts but it certainly got the blood flowing ready for June!

Because I think I could tell the difference with a leading rod.

This👆 Nah...... not feasible imho.

The best stuff is called Saki Hikari and 2kg costs 45 quid or 50 quid for the all-seasons version! 😂😂😂 The Orchard Fisheries stuff you just bought is not a million miles away in quality but a fraction of the price. You should see great results.

I had to Google this but you're right that will 100% be where they got it from!

I had an angler mate round on Saturday. Probably the first other proper dedicated carp angler to have seen my koi. He put 33+ on Whopper (the big white one) and 30+ on Big Bad Barry (a big white mirror with plated black scales who, like Whopper, was named by the kids 🙈). I can't wait to get them all weighed next weekend to find out. There's a big common in there too which 2 local koi pond experts have told me is a chocolate coloured Chagoi. I'm not convinced.... I'm pretty sure it's just a dark coloured common carp (and a proper banger at that). Looking forward to finding out for sure.

This was driven by a certain Mr. Pomeroy! For anyone genuinely interested in lead-free weights, check these out: Weights – Evolve Tackle Not cheap at nearly 3 quid a pop but they do look decent.

Correct 👆 The guy is trying to get lead banned for one reason only $$$$$$$$$$$$ I disagree with the unnecessary dumping of leads. However, I believe the safest rig is the one that lands the fish safely and efficiently, and on many waters I've fished dumping the lead plays a part in that.

Very wise of you to ask mate. Don't get any feed from the local garden centre. Most of it is absolute rubbish. Naturally you can spend whatever you want on koi food.... some of it costs a fortune. I use the stuff below. The spec is right up there with the best feeds but it's a third of the price of the major Japanese brands. Koi Premium and Colour Food Pellet Mix -koi food - Orchard Fisheries

I already have all mine and my brothers families asking to be present 😂

I was thinking about this yesterday and while I've never cracked off, I did lose a spomb on a pre-baiting trip a few years ago over at the a reservoir I was fishing. I was putting in 10k of bits at 100 odd yards and hit it just as a flock of geese came flying over. It went straight through the flock and got tangled on one of the geese. Bye bye spomb. I remember it was quite a violent event! I was fully wrapped up in advance for pre-baiting so had to borrow distance sticks and a spomb from a pal that was fishing just to finish the job 🙈

So I have a day in the diary next month to measure, weigh and photograph all my koi to track their growth over the next year and beyond. I'll take the opportunity to post some pics of the good'ns on here. Water temps up to ~13.5C now so I'm slowly upping the feeding. A couple of them are looking mahoosive. 'Whopper', the big white one, is clearly pregnant so I have some spawning brushes on the way. I dread to think what spawning will look with 16 males smashing her to bits in a pond 🙈

Exactly what I use mate.

Nah. It was some cheapo stuff re-branded by a small UK tackle shop. I'll have a look later.