One lake in particular has fished surprisingly well this year

My favourite cluster of gravel pits is an interesting microcosm of the world at large. Although the lakes are roughly the same age, they differ somewhat in their appearance and fish stocks. One lake in particular has fished surprisingly well this year. Most of the fish have been caught at least once, a rare state of affairs for this place. Other, generally considered to be easier, lakes on the same complex have fished incredibly poorly. The fish are still present, but no matter what the anglers try, results have been hard won. A third lake has become almost impossible, with only a single confirmed capture this year! Again, this is not an easy water, but a few fish can normally be caught in the space of a summer. The main difference that we can see between these three lakes is the amount of submerged plants present. The first lake is crammed full of weeds of several different species, while the other lakes have much less plant growth the usual. The second lake appears to be just going through a year of poor plant growth, while the third may have been treated with weed killer. I find it interesting that clued-up anglers keep stating that we should be caning the fish on the weed-free lakes, but even though fishing is easy, somehow the fish are adversely effected. Now, it may be that the fish just feel less at ease without their blanket of weed being present. This might be the case in the second example, where there are generally several competent anglers on the water at any one time, but the third water rarely sees an angler from one week to the next. I am sure that the open water make the fish harder to catch. Perhaps it is easier for the fish to discern the position of tight lines, or perhaps the baited areas are easier to make out. I cannot be sure, but this is certainly a plausible argument. An alternative hypothesis, which I tend to be leaning towards, gives a very different cause. It is my experience that fish in very weedy waters tend to have a higher number of parasites on their bodies than do fish in open waters. This, I might add, only applies to relatively natural waters, not highly overstocked stew ponds where the fish are already stressed. Why this should be the case, I do not know for sure. It has been suggested to me by experts in the field that perhaps the survival of the larval stages of the parasites is improved. Perhaps attachment to the skin of the fish is also easier when they are brushing against weed? Certainly when I have asked anglers fishing the three waters the same picture has appeared. The currently ‘easy to catch’ fish are in a terrible state according to some, yet still they continue to feed. Why a high parasite load should make the fish easier to catch is also open to conjecture. Perhaps they are preoccupied by the constant itch produced by the parasites? Perhaps their immune system is working overtime to try and protect the body? I would put my money on the latter, but do not know for sure. This theory was, I believe, first written about by Neville Fickling. I think Neville was talking mainly about carp, but I think it can equally apply to other species, pike being the main one which springs to mind.

Before the weather cools and the fishing gets harder, have a close look at the fish you are catching. Are they in good health? Do they have red patches? Lots of mucus? Split fins? Parasites? Perhaps it is these little nasties, rather than the latest wonder bait that contributes to making the fish so easy to catch?