where are all the fish.....

[RogerTheCat]

Eel do nicley

[Gill Catton]

well I'm not an angler but I'm 100% interested in fish! And yes mine's bigger than your's pics might get quite dull but as illustrative - this is what barbel looks like - pictures it's still a very useful pic (Lincs, esp with your little ID pointers), but think of all those hours you're sat there, why not take a small tank and a few baited jam jars and catch some tiddlers - some fry - (or would this mess up your fishing by scaring other things away? If so why not do it at the end when you're packing up) see if you can id the adult from the fry - see if you can teach me to do the same! I think photographs in the natural environment are better because they are more like what you might see when leaning over a bridge or sat on some moorings in the sun when you're struck with a 'what fish is that?' moment.....

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by RogerTheCat

Eel do nicley

Oooh that's ACE that's exactly what I'm talking about!!!!

[Airehead]

Now I find the irony of the title of this thread. have just been fishing for barbel on the Swale for the first time in 2 years. Last time caught an 8-pounder. This time nothing. Where indeed are all the fish?

By the way, Gill, the most meaningful ID for all small fry is 'food for bigger fish'.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

well I'm not an angler but I'm 100% interested in fish! And yes mine's bigger than your's pics might get quite dull but as illustrative - this is what barbel looks like - pictures it's still a very useful pic (Lincs, esp with your little ID pointers), but think of all those hours you're sat there, why not take a small tank and a few baited jam jars and catch some tiddlers - some fry - (or would this mess up your fishing by scaring other things away? If so why not do it at the end when you're packing up) see if you can id the adult from the fry - see if you can teach me to do the same! I think photographs in the natural environment are better because they are more like what you might see when leaning over a bridge or sat on some moorings in the sun when you're struck with a 'what fish is that?' moment.....

The main problem with taking pictures of fry is that they generally all look similar until they reach a bigger size.It is also quite difficult if you don't know what you are looking at to tell the difference between lots of cyprinid species from above, Roach,Rudd,Bream and Chub can all look very much the same to the untrained observer Some fish such as Tench and Barbel you won't see a great deal unless you are fishing

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Lincs Yellowbelly

The main problem with taking pictures of fry is that they generally all look similar until they reach a bigger size.It is also quite difficult if you don't know what you are looking at to tell the difference between lots of cyprinid species from above, Roach,Rudd,Bream and Chub can all look very much the same to the untrained observer Some fish such as Tench and Barbel you won't see a great deal unless you are fishing

Oh I don't know, you see quite a few fish when wading up a river looking for water voles! I've seen lots but have no idea most of the time what I am looking at Books aren't much use to me it seems because the hand painted illustrations don't look like what i see in the water!!! Stickleback, minnow, bullhead, roach/rudd (can't separate them though!) carp (can't seperate them either!), perch, pike, eel and trout I know everything else is a mystery!

I saw lots of little fish (maybe 25cm at the most) swimming up a brook away from me when doing a WV survey a couple of months ago, they looked to be bottom dwellers with splayed pectorals, downward mouths and whiskers and eyes more on top of their heads than on either side, they were sandy brown and blotch through the water, I thought they might be stone loach? but have no idea really!

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Sound like Gudgeon like miniture Barbel

[nightshade]

MMMMMM Tench now there is a fish ,those huge paddle fins the resigned groan as you pick it up the red eye,sweet

[Airehead]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

wading up a river looking for water voles!

I can't figure out why you need to wade to find water voles. If they exist in the river, you will see them by walking on the bank and the vole will be in the river. Being in the river yourself, I should think you reduce the chance of seeing them.

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

True, i've seen plenty swimming in lakes over the year, often with a lilly flower in its gob although maybe being in the water gives a better view of the holes