Which Species Is Hardest To Catch?

[excarper]

Hi all, was reading through my old Angling Times before they go on the compost heap, (with all the bad news about fish deaths cormarants and the like perhaps i should not read them anymore and just throw them on the compost heap after purchasing, but thats a rant for another day) yes back to the point of this thread. There was an article which proves the common carp is far harder to catch than its mirror carp relative. Scientists believe all fish have a level of intelligence. I was wondering what you all thought the hardest species to catch is? For me the ghost carp is difficult. I believe that in summer it wont feed off the top like the other carp because of its colour making it stick out like a sore thumb. Do you think its the age of the fish that makes it harder to catch or just that certain fish get caught week after week and cotton on?

[NICK R]

Grass Carp with out a shadow of doubt , very cagey feeders , easily spooked

[pingu]

ruffe..ask ian

[headless]

I agree with Nick, the grass Carp is a very frustrating fish to try and catch, Big Roach are also but that maybe due to numbers,

Zander are another frustrating fish, can be very delicate at takes

Darrell

[Kirk]

For me its grass carp, very spooked and not greedy like common or mirror.

[Kirk]

excarper, just read through your article again and I do think that most fish become harder to catch with age and do believe that they get more intelligent, more wise and weary about where they feed and what to/not to eat.

Kirk

[excarper]

its nice that someone reads them at all! Not alone twice! So why are big commons harder to catch than the big mirrors? They say its because they are closer to the old strain of wild carp. Was a great article though i especially liked the underwater filming of this pike who came back six times to the same deadbait before taking it even though it knew it had hooks in it! Bit like when i pass macdonalds. I know its no good for me but cant resist!

[Kirk]

I would say that's true to honest. Because its said the common is more wild by nature than the mirror, its instinctively more weary about what it eats (like the grass) and I think will stick to more natural sources off food rather than bollies and other man made baits.
Underwater filming is fantastic, really shows you how the fish really work on your bait and suss it out before taking it. Haven't seen that pike one. Like you with the macdonalds, its all you can eat restaurants for me, lol

[shurdycarper]

hey guys i dont think fish learn as such but become used to a routine! also i think certain fish are harder to catch compared to others because of the certain way they feed not from learning certain things mean there gunna get caught like say tubing! the reason i think it spooks them is because its not natural so see at as unusual so avoid it! also if a carp feels a piece of metal in its mouth it will blow it out because it can recognise its not food! any way im gunna shut up now cos i could go on all day! lol! good thread tho!

[geejayy]

Originally Posted by pingu

ruffe..ask ian

ouch...............thats a low blow

i'd have to say - an english burbot for obvious reasons
or maybe a pompey tarpon