As Britain’s fishermen mourn the death of Benson the carp, the country’s biggest is still thriving in a Kent lake.
Weighing in at a hefty 67lbs 14 oz, Two Tone as the carp is known, continues to grow at Conningbrook Lake in Willesborough.
The world of angling has gone into shock after it emerged Benson was possibly killed by the use of nuts as bait – which is as good as a lethal poison to carp.
There is no such danger Two Tone will meet a similar fate, said Chris Logsdon, the fisheries manager for Mid Kent Fisheries.
He said: “Just 75 people a year are allowed to fish the Ashford lake Two Tone is in, and they have been monitored for about a year to ensure they are proper anglers before we allow them on there.”
He said only those that are fanatical about the sport are allowed near the lake, and several of them still have not managed to hook Two Tone, despite years of trying.
Chris, who runs 29 lakes in the South East, said: “Some of them are spending thousands of pounds on their equipment in the hope of getting the big one.
“But there’s about 30 acres of water and just 30 fish in there, so catching Two Tone is tough.
“He has been hooked a few times, but he is good at not being caught ,which just ramps up the challenge.
“There is a lot of competition among them to catch the biggest and best fish, and so some of fish become well known.
“One guy has been trying to catch Two Tone for 15 years.”
Benson died because he was in what’s called a day-ticket fish, which means anyone is allowed to take a chance of catching him.
Chris said: “We don’t run things like that here. There are very strict controls and we don’t let just anyone fish here.
“They need to be proper anglers who know what they are doing.
“It preserves the environment, and it keeps the fish in good condition. That is just the way I run things. The fish need to be protected.
“I am a chartered environmentalist and have been doing this for 30 years, and that’s why we have a good name around the country.
“The cost of a 30lbs carp is around £3,500 so this is big business.
“If you don’t have a fish of 30lbs no-one is interested in fishing in that lake. They only put on about two pounds a year. To have one Two Tone who is about 30 years old is a bit of a freak of nature.
POSTED: 09/08/2009 16:00:00
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