Should F1s be considered as silvers? - Keith Arthur

I have never hidden the fact that I don’t like F1s.

I think fishery owners were conned when the original crucian x goldfish hybrid was subtly switched to a goldfish x king carp strain.

The originals, which don’t grow over 4lb, would be fine in silver fish matches but how can a fish that has reached well into double figures and average 6lb-plus in some waters be considered not to be a carp?

It’s bonkers. If they must count (probably to keep the weights up) why not give them a nominal weights say a maximum 2lb?

F1s can grow to an impressive size - bigger than most silver fish

Is this the new British Record dace?

A RIVER angler thought he’d hit the jackpot when he slipped his net under a suspected 1lb 10oz British Record dace, but EA scientists have now confirmed his catch is in fact…an ide.

The pristine silverfish fell to the rod of 47-year-old John Stembridge who hooked into something entirely different whilst trotting maggots for roach on a stretch of the River Itchen.

He said: “I thought it was one of the big roach but when I netted it I instantly thought it was a record dace!

“It had all the characteristics although I must admit the head looked unusual.”

After John reported his catch to Angling Times a picture of the fish was sent to Nigel Hewlett and Alan Henshaw of the Environment Agency for confirmation.

Alan said: “Unfortunately the lateral line scale count of this fish is between 60 and 61, which puts it firmly in the ide camp. Dace typically have between 48 and 51 (Bagenal system) or between 45 and 55 scales (Maitland and Campbell system), depending on your source.”

John Stenbridge’s giant ‘dace’ sadly turned out to be an ide