Commercial Specimen Carp Lake in Australia – Interested?

[Guest theycallmebruce]

Hello Fellow Carp Fishing Enthusiasts,

 

I’m posting this new thread to see what sort of interest there might be to the idea of a private managed specimen carp water in Australia. Let’s put the cards on the table right away and say that there would need to be a fee to fish which may be direct or indirect, in the form of accommodation or even a syndicate idea could be considered.

 

What I think I could realistically offer within the first few years would be Carp up to the 15kg or 33lbs mark. What these Carp could reach over time would be all part of the learning curve. I believe Australian Carp should have the potential to reach the 50lbs mark but they would need to be actively managed.

 

To give you some of my background, I have been in Australia for over 20 years. I trained in the UK as a fish farmer and most of my working life in Australia has been in freshwater fish aquaculture. My passion is angling though and I do miss well landscaped lakes, with good features, seriously large and clever fish and the company of fellow enthusiasts. This should be achievable here.

 

Realistically depending on interest I’m a year or 2 away from starting such a project but would be more than happy to achieve this on someone else’s lake if anyone is interested. I feel it would need to be located in NSW or the ACT as these states have the most realistic attitude to Carp.

 

I’ll try and keep this concise as it’s only a concept at this stage. I have discussed this with various authorities and although not overly happy with the idea they are forced to look at the idea on its merits. If done with forethought in a Carp abundant area in a lake with an already established Carp population with free fishing attached to accommodation there may be no need to involve the authorities and a very good case for such an idea if the authorities choose to involve themselves.

 

Are you happy with your current relatively free Carp fishing opportunities or would you be interested in paying to fish in a private Carp lake holding specimen sized Carp?

 

Thanks for your time. Please let me know what you think.

 

Bruce

[steve_bok]

Bruce

 

It's not a bad idea at all, I wish I had the money to buy a property with a sizeable water to do such a thing.

 

Personally I'm happy with the prospects I have in public waters in regards to big fish, I'm getting good sized Carp and the mystery of not knowing what is out there is exciting, this would probably outweigh the known population when fishing a managed water even if it had big fish.

 

The thing that would appeal to me about a private water would be the attitude of all involved, you can forget the morons and the negativity and just have a friendly positive vibe on the bank with likeminded people, no bogans leaving rubbish behind for me to constantly clean up, and no carp with their heads caved in rotting on the bank etc etc.

 

I would be interested, but only if it were close enough that I could spend a lot of time on the bank, and it would depend on how much the fees were and if others I know were getting involved.

 

Be sure to keep me updated in how things progress.

 

Cheers

Steve

[luked]

It's a lovely idea but I honestly don't believe that there are enoigh carp anglers in Australia to make it a viable proposition.

 

It's really a question of

 

1, how many specimen carp anglers do you think there are?

2, how many of them do you think would be able (geographically) to fish the lake?

3, how many would pay the money when they can go and catch known fish up to mid 40's for free, with the prospect of an unknown whacker a serious possibility?

 

not trying to wee on your chips just pointing out that it is a seriously niche market that is certainly not spoilt for choice for free, the project would need to have a fairly serious POD, as Steve said Bogan free, nice surroundings, serious head of large fish, decent facilities and I am sure that some would be interested (small syndicate for instance) myself included all depends on the associated costs I suppose.

[Guest theycallmebruce]

Thanks Steve.

 

This is something Ive been interested in for many years. Im sorry I couldnt give you any idea on cost at this stage. It saddens me greatly to see peoples reaction to such a magnificent sport fish. I, like you miss being able to share the passion for Carp fishing and the idea of sharing a water to pratice the black art in peace with as you say a good vibe is definitely the aim.

 

My wife and I currently live apart due to work commitments but we have been seriously discussing moving to Canberra to live and one of the waters I thought might be good for such an idea is not far out of Canberra.

 

My hope with such a water would be to make it really fishy and really natural, with swims you just want to fish. With healthy strong fish, a lot of the Carp I catch look a bit poor. I like a challenge when Im fishing and I like to feel there are fish in a water that I fish that can beat me.

 

Thank you again for taking the time to reply.

 

Bruce

[Guest theycallmebruce]

Thanks Luked for your thoughts, I perfectly understand your thoughts, thats why I put it on the forum really, to gauge interest. Id do it for myself, its been my main passion most of my life. I had even considered returning back to the UK to do this idea, The Borders in Scotland where Im from is crying out for a good Carp lake.

 

I struggle to get the rods out the car some days if I feel the company around me are going to be objectionable to me Carp Fishing. There seems to be no reasoning with some people on the subject of Carp. It spoils fishing when you cant share your passion.

 

Cheers, Bruce

[macbilly]

Sir your idea no doubt will happen sometime in the distant future,but why would us fortunate anglers need one.You mentioned big fish 25kg fish have been banked and still are,but ofton with the need of privacy.So at the moment your idea to me has little attraction as i have the most wonderful wild carp fishing in this country.Having been the subject of the sad effects of private overpriced fishing in my youth,i revell in freedom to fish relitivly freely.,but this is just my view,but good luck to you whatever,but our humble carp will always take a back place to our ,native sports fish. tight linesMacbilly

[luked]

Hi Bruce,

Please don't take what I said as negative or trying to stop you doing it. The attitude of a lot of the fishermen in Australia (even the ones that are pro carp) is quite different than in the UK. I started importing Korda end tackle, free spirit fishing rods and also imported the equipment and started a boilie production facility (fundamentally I did it for myself and friends so we had access to good tackle easily) but opened it up to others, I actually found the reaction of some quite staggering as although some supported the idea and purchased stuff and some supported the idea and spread the word (no worries with that) but quite a few took it as a huge negative and actively went out to discredit me on some of the australian forums? it was bizarre! lots of fishermen here say that they wish they had this and that available locally but when you actually give it to them they either want it available locally and cheaper than it is available in the UK (not sure how they thought that was going to work?) or they just continue to buy from the UK direct as they don't seem to want to support local interests to see them grow.

 

It is a bizarre situation mate, but just something you should be aware of, I don't let it bother me as I got the gear in for me and a few others, if people do not want to benefit from locally available stuff, let them keep losing stuff in the post and complaining that you can't get decent gear in Australia.

 

Anyway mate, if you want to do it, go for it, I outlined the difficulties in my previous post but I guarantee that I for one and probably 20-30 other people that I know of would be interested. Most of these are people that are travelling to Canberra in a few weeks for the largest gathering of specialist carp anglers to fish together in Australia but I can't say to much, in this format, if you know what I mean

[luked]

Hi Bruce,

Please don't take what I said as negative or trying to stop you doing it. The attitude of a lot of the fishermen in Australia (even the ones that are pro carp) is quite different than in the UK. I started importing Korda end tackle, free spirit fishing rods and also imported the equipment and started a boilie production facility (fundamentally I did it for myself and friends so we had access to good tackle easily) but opened it up to others, I actually found the reaction of some quite staggering as although some supported the idea and purchased stuff and some supported the idea and spread the word (no worries with that) but quite a few took it as a huge negative and actively went out to discredit me on some of the australian forums? it was bizarre! lots of fishermen here say that they wish they had this and that available locally but when you actually give it to them they either want it available locally and cheaper than it is available in the UK (not sure how they thought that was going to work?) or they just continue to buy from the UK direct as they don't seem to want to support local interests to see them grow.

 

It is a bizarre situation mate, but just something you should be aware of, I don't let it bother me as I got the gear in for me and a few others, if people do not want to benefit from locally available stuff, let them keep losing stuff in the post and complaining that you can't get decent gear in Australia.

 

Anyway mate, if you want to do it, go for it, I outlined the difficulties in my previous post but I guarantee that I for one and probably 20-30 other people that I know of would be interested. Most of these are people that are travelling to Canberra in a few weeks for the largest gathering of specialist carp anglers to fish together in Australia but I can't say to much, in this format, if you know what I mean

[Guest theycallmebruce]

Hello guys,

 

Thanks for all your feedback everyone, sorry to hear you’ve had so much hassle Luked. I’ve been messing around with ponds and small lakes ever since I was allowed to. I just love the relaxed excitement of Stillwater fishing. Macbilly your very lucky to have access to such impressive Carp. I lived near Lake Eildon in Victoria for over 3 years and fished it almost every weekend for Carp, in all that time I never hooked a Carp over 10lbs. I felt that was a shame as Carp fishing can be so much more. Biggest Carp I’ve seen in Australia were in Lake Dartmouth, near Albury, they weren’t weighed but I think they would have been 25lbs plus.

 

I didn’t want people to get hung up over the paid fishing idea, there needs to be a value placed on any idea like this, only then would I know if people would truly go for it or not. I wasn’t looking at this as a way to make a fortune merely help pay for costs of maintenance and development and also so only truly interested people would come. When I was trying to think of a title I found I struggled to find a way to convey what I was trying to say in a few words, when I tried to type it in I found there was a restriction to the number of letters I could put in which meant me changing how I might have titled it. I don’t really like the word ‘commercial’ but wasn’t sure what else to use, it rips the beauty and mystique out a lake to be called a commercial, makes it sound industrial to me which is definitely not where I aiming at all.

 

I find sometimes when I’m fishing for Carp in this country that I (dare I say it) can get a bit bored if the Carp are coming too easy and they are all fairly small, under the 8lbs mark. During the flood of 2010 we had some Carp swim over the wall of one of our settlement ponds on a fish farm that I was working at. To see the transformation of their body shape in only a few months was miraculous to say the least. They went from skinny, lean bodied fish to fish with big shoulders and great endurance in only 2 months, what they could become if had years in those conditions would be very interesting to see. I’ve always wanted to develop a Carp lake ever since I was introduced to them in The Netherlands as a teenager. Australia has such wonderful conditions for growing fish.

 

I recognise there is likely to be a huge opposition to such an idea in this country, I’m sure we have all experienced the loathing of such a magnificent fish and the fact that it’s almost impossible to have a rational discussion about them at times. I just wanted to get the idea out there and see what happened.

 

Thank you all for taking the time to give me your thoughts. Very much appreciated.

 

Bruce

[pawelkruk]

if you set it up let me know. I am defiantely interested. Spent too much time chasing small carp around the melbourne area.

[citycountry]

G'Day Bruce,

 

Not sure if I've had the pleasure but welcome and much appreciate your enthusiasm!

If you are serious about setting up a commercial operation ie specimen lake I think you'd have some interested bods about for sure; myself being one of them.

 

It has been my dream ever since embracing this wonderful sport to set up my own specimen lake. If you ever want to pursue this seriously, let me know, I am similar in my expectations too. No massive profit in it but the absolute pleasure of managing a water? Priceless!!

 

I have no doubt either that with Australia's environment, the growth rates of the local strains, and maybe the odd 'special' stocking it would be possible to develop a world class fishery.

 

Keep us posted, Mate. Dare to dream!

 

Take it easy,

Ben

[stokecarper12]

Hello Bruce

 

Your idea sounds very interesting. Canberra is about 6 hours from me so would be a good location. But obviously not for all. Are you thinking of a massive lake or something a round 20 acres or so to set up as fishery?

 

I must admit at the right price a i would be interested. I have loads of water a round this area where i live, but finding a big carp in good surounding with out some idiots is another matter.

 

I think the biggest carp i have seen a round here would be 25 to 30lbs, but really the rest of the fish i see regular would struugle to reach 12lbs.

 

I hope you get this venture off the ground and you can get permission for it. I must admit i had thought and looked a round for a decent sized lake that could be used and created similar to what is offered in france to engish anglers.

 

I would add i have not seenanything really like that at the moment. There is one or two massive sheets of water like the sea that could hold big carp, but where to start on these waters is another thing.

 

Keep me posted how you go on

 

yours

 

andy

[Guest theycallmebruce]

Hello Ben, Andy and Pawelkruk,

 

Thanks for your support and feedback. Hopefully this is not just a dream, but thats where things start. I think with the ideas that I have I would be looking at a piece of water no greater than 5 hectares or around 11 acres. I probably go smaller than that though especially for the first go as the expenses would multiply with every acre of water. This is a personal thing but I like to fish smaller waters so I can fish to features like lillies, bullrushes, etc with easy casts and light weights. Massive waters I find can be overwhelming, Im never quite sure where to start.

 

I'm a little over 2 weeks away from another upheavel in my life as I finish one job, have a break and go looking for the next. My wife is a coast lover and I like my freshwater fishing too much to settle on the coast so the next couple of months will be interesting. I think we have settled on giving Canberra a go but I wouldnt put money on it yet.

 

Hopefully things will settle down soon and I'll be back to having weekends to explore ideas and new areas, then I'll know whats possible.

 

Thanks again for all your feedback. I think the one thing that stands out from all the replies so far is that we're all looking for somewhere we can fish in like minded company, so we can relax and enjoy our fishing and enjoy sharing our fishing too.

 

Cheers, Bruce