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Carp Spawning in the UK:
Locations, Water Temperatures and Behaviour Patterns
Carp are amazing fish - and very prolific breeders. In the UK, the carp
season is closed between May and June. Typically, this is the period in
which carp spawn; however that is not always the case. You see, carp must
have water temperatures between 18 and 24° C (just about 73 degrees
Fahrenheit) - and those temperatures do not always coincide with the closed
season specifically. Instead, for some years, the appropriate water temperatures
do not happen until after the closed season ends.
 Carp Spawning Facts:
A female carp is capable of producing up to over a whopping one million
eggs. The exact number she produces depends upon her size and other
biological factors. The environment also plays a big role. When conditions
are appropriate, each female carp may spawn several times throughout the
season. The majority of these eggs will be eaten by predators including
other fish (carp included), crayfish, birds and insect larva. Carp eggs take
between five and eight days to hatch. Those eggs that are fortunate enough
to hatch and become "fry" are in for a long struggle.
Firstly, it is a constant battle to avoid fish like the pike, perch and
others. Additionally, birds are always nearby and waiting to consume them.
If they are able to live long enough, then they will enter into their
premier winter. And a large percentage of the survivors are killed by the
cold weather. And after all of this, there will still be thousands that are
surviving at winter's end.
Springtime brings with it rapid growth patterns for these fry - which is a
good thing. They need to grow quickly and they need to grow strong in order
to prevent themselves from being devoured.
Carp Changes & Behaviour During Spawning Period
In the spawning season, male carp grow white bumps called tubercles over
their heads and gill plates - and they sort of lose their minds. Female
ovipositors become large and distended. The males chase, harass, bump into
and otherwise molest the females which are fattened by the vast number of
eggs that they are carrying.
As the female gets nearer and nearer to the day
which she will release her eggs, the male-based activity grows more
frantic. The males become quite aggressive and restless. Their animalistic
nature emerges. They are fearless and their battles create an amazing sight,
especially in the shallow, weedy and warm waters.
In fact, they seem without ability to even notice anything around them. This
includes people. Many times, you will be able to stand within just a few
feet of a group of carp and they will not be afraid of you. Some even thrash
about so much that they find themselves stranded on the banks of the ponds,
lakes and rivers that they inhabit. Some receive injuries, but they heal and
cause no permanent damage in the vast majority of cases.
European carp (Cyprinus carpio) were spread throughout Europe initially by
travelling monks between the 1200s and 1600s. Today, these fish exist on
every continent in 59 countries. In Europe, they can grow to over 5 feet and more than
80 pounds - and some have been known to live more than 65 years. They are
dynamic, versatile and innovative fish that are able to not only exist, but
thrive in almost every environment.
Applying a New Carp Bait
Fishing for Carp in Rivers
Locating
Big Carp in the Spring
Carp
Location in the Summertime
Finding
Large Carp in the Cold Winter
Location
of Most Carp in Autumn
The
Case for Quality Carp Bait
Fishing Tactics for Snags & Trees
Boilie Placement on the Hair rig
Different types of carp rigs to use
Attempting to Catch Wary Carp
A Carp's Digestive System in Detail
Common
Baiting Tactics When Fishing
The Various Carp Bait
used to Catch Bigger Carp
When to use Pop-ups or Bottom Bait for Carp Fishing
How to
complete a Baiting
Campaign on Lakes & Ponds
The
Basic Carp Fishing
Baits Used to Catch Large Carp
Fishing Tactics when Fishing for Carp during Long-stay Sessions
Advice & Articles on How to Fish for Big Carp
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