Spawning in April

[InteraX]

I visited a local commercial fishery yesterday to visit the on-site tackle shop. Driving in, the lake next to the entrance was 'closed due to spawning'.

I know a lot of things feel to me like they're happening early this year, but I would have thought it's far too early for spawning. Doesn't spawning usually happen around May time?

[yonny]

21 minutes ago, InteraX said:

Doesn't spawning usually happen around May time?

It's completely temperature dependant. I'd be amazed if the carp were spawning as they need at least 17C water temps. Even my pond is only ~12.5C at this point.

23 minutes ago, InteraX said:

the lake next to the entrance was 'closed due to spawning'.

They could mean a different species perhaps?

[elmoputney]

Could be a heated lake, won't be long now 😂 

[salokcinnodrog]

9 hours ago, InteraX said:

I visited a local commercial fishery yesterday to visit the on-site tackle shop. Driving in, the lake next to the entrance was 'closed due to spawning'.

I know a lot of things feel to me like they're happening early this year, but I would have thought it's far too early for spawning. Doesn't spawning usually happen around May time?

Bit early!

The water temperature is not high enough for carp and I don't think the days are quite long enough yet, be about right towards the middle of May.

[framey]

10 hours ago, InteraX said:

I visited a local commercial fishery yesterday to visit the on-site tackle shop. Driving in, the lake next to the entrance was 'closed due to spawning'.

I know a lot of things feel to me like they're happening early this year, but I would have thought it's far too early for spawning. Doesn't spawning usually happen around May time?

What else is in there?
I think pike are one of the first to go.

[salokcinnodrog]

11 hours ago, framey said:

What else is in there?
I think pike are one of the first to go.

Pike being predators go at the end of February to mid-March (sometimes outside the old close season!), followed by perch, then roach and the cyprinids.

Tench and carp are usually the last British species to spawn.

[commonly]

I popped into a mates lake, thinking most of the carp were dead, only to find around 20 mid doubles all cruising around, occasionally breaking the surface and splashing their tales about.

If I didn't know better, I'd have said they looked to be getting ready for it.

We have had a fairly warm spring so far

[salokcinnodrog]

11 hours ago, commonly said:

I popped into a mates lake, thinking most of the carp were dead, only to find around 20 mid doubles all cruising around, occasionally breaking the surface and splashing their tales about.

If I didn't know better, I'd have said they looked to be getting ready for it.

We have had a fairly warm spring so far

Don't forget that carp love eating the spawn of other species. It is one reason that pike and perch are hanging around the margins, waiting for other species and a sneaky meal

[salokcinnodrog]

Well we are into May now. I parked next to the cottage so I could see if I recognised any of the fish. It looked like mostly the new stock rather than originals. We can fish just nowhere near the shallows.

I can't put video direct off my phone on carp.com, but can link my FB post:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0sYXNjUPpjV1ZgJCi2gW98NwRq3t94jPBzdaLn6WKkzLwbgraHWdHtPYkmfEfEfkrl&id=100000347282223

 

[kevtaylor]

On 24/04/2026 at 08:02, salokcinnodrog said:

Don't forget that carp love eating the spawn of other species. It is one reason that pike and perch are hanging around the margins, waiting for other species and a sneaky meal

Most epic sight I've had in carp fishing was seeing the big girl down welly chasing spawning tench around the lake, she looked angry and stayed within feet of the tench they couldn't shake her off.  If not the spawn she was eating the tench anyway lol

[framey]

Good time for a small white pop up now lol