A bit like the Loch Ness Monster, but further south.

[RoyW]

On reading the opening post, the weight quoted in Practical Fishkeeping seemed a bit excessive:

"A Canada goose is not a small bird. They weigh about 16lb, so whatever took it was also large."

After looking it up (in Birds of the Western Palearctic, and the Helm ID guide "Wildfowl"), it seems that the weight range of adult Canada Geese in Europe is actually more like 6.3 - 11.9lb, with an average of about 10lb (slightly less for females, slightly more for males). Still a heavy bird for most fish to take, but considerably less than the claimed weight - although some Canada Geese do occasional weigh more than 16lb.

It seems that it's not only fish that 'fish people' exagerate the size of!

[~T~]

Originally Posted by GCN lova

apparently these freaky cat fish breed in the wild in scotland which is what i heard....

More likely to be found down south in the odd course fishery. Escapees are inevitable like Darren here...maybe the beast of the river Lea is Darren (also what kind of name is Darren for a giant river monster anyway? )

BBC News | UK | Teenager illegally threw catfish in river

[Dogghound]

Yes as ~T~ says wels catfish are much more common in the south this is largely due to their preference of warmer eutrophic waterbodies, packed with lots of fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aquatic vgetation, mud and hiding places such as submerged trees. Most of the lakes in Scotland especially the larger lochs are cold oligotrophic bodies of water largely unsuitable for this species, primerily due to the lack of mud, cool water temp, hiding places and prey.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by shenk1

British record pike 46lb 13oz

They have backward facing teeth and once they have hold they don't tend to let go

I was unlucky enough to work at the place where this British record pike was caught. The water was full of large specimens, you would regullary see them over the 30lb mark. To my knowledge, the largest prey species that anglers etc witnesses being taken where coot sized...the water has plenty of canada, occasionally about 170+.

Never heard any of the water users being attacked by the Pike. Though we would occasionlly wind up a windsurfer that was not sticking to the boundaries..."stay out of this area, large Pike, will take your leg off!"

Interesting to see reports on this water of a large Sturgeon sp following the pike around when spawning. Hoovering up the eggs?

Regards Chris...

[bigdave60dog]

I have never seen the River Lea but the Wels used to be known as The Danubian Catfish. In that river (Danube) they grow to over 5m long and do take ducks, geese and swimming Mammals (including Children).
I remember when they were first introduced to a lake in a stately home in England. I have heard that they have been introduced to other land locked freshwater bodies since that time. No-one would ever own up if they had introduced them to the Thames system but there are plenty of folk who have the capability for this kind of environmental vandalism.
I have not heard of Wels in Scottish waters but it is unlikely that they would thrive in many places. Surprisingly, many Scottish waters are not very "fishy".Flowing through peat they tend not to carry the large amounts of nutrients that English lowland waters carry and most would struggle to support a good head of hungry fish such as Carp. Wels are very hungry fish.
Dave

[~T~]

Originally Posted by Fauna

I was unlucky enough to work at the place where this British record pike was caught.

Loch Lomond

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by ~T~

Loch Lomond

It was at Llandegfedd Reservoir in Wales.

[Fauna]

Originally Posted by ~T~

Loch Lomond

The 47lb 11oz caught by Tommy Morgan in 1945. I can't really remember why this was/is discounted.

Perhaps Fudgey could fill us in on this?

Regards Chris....

[shenk1]

You should have seen the one that got away though - it was T....H.......I..........S big

[bigdave60dog]

Originally Posted by shenk1

You should have seen the one that got away though - it was T....H.......I..........S big

Never. It could not be THAT big.
Dave