The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I read somewhere the average growth rate of Carp but, for the life of me, I cannot remember where? If a water was stocked with fry in 2002, what is the maximum size of Carp in a small water one can expect now? I know there are many variables but an idea?

Not certain but there could certainly be some good doubles if not 20s there by now.

An old pool of mine not too many miles away from Redmire, we stocked with 12 carp all 1lb in weight. 5 years later I witnessed one of those carp caught at 15lb 7 ounces.

There are so many different variables, strain of carp,size of water, volume of natural foods, climate, whether the water contains predators.........etc, that will determine how fast a carp will or won't grow.

Edit,

3 acre pool.



it looks very much different to that now.

Sparsholt college have under ideal conditions grown carp to 20lb in 2 years!

Snape wrote:Sparsholt college have under ideal conditions grown carp to 20lb in 2 years!

I'm reading "Four seasons" again and in there CY mentions carp putting on 10lb per year. I don't doubt it if the conditions are right. I also have a mate in Sparsholt and he was saying that every now and again from a hatch of eggs you'll find a fish that piles on more weight than others.....a freak of nature so to speak.

The breed of carp will also effect the growth rate with mirror carp having a faster growth rate than the common.

It all depends on the strain of fish, the stocking density, the food availability and temperature which is why French carp tend to grow bigger than ours. Simmo carp grow fast and will easily make 3lbs or more a year.

The venue I am referring to was one I first fished soon after opening and I caught loads of tiny fingerling Carp, both mirrors and commons. Recently, I caught a fish of about 10lb but I have seen bigger in the margins. Thanks for the replies, very interesting.