We do get one or two mate but not in the numbers that some of you are facing. I understand some of the lakes around Limoges are being hammered also. However the islands on the Saone at Chalon-sur-Saone have been virtually killed of any vegetation by hundreds of them roosting in the trees.
I would just add that I haven't found any injuries caused to the big carp by them but I'm sure they are taking some of our bass. The odd fish that I have found with damage to their backs are often caused by coots. They thrash the water to a foam if the carp come up underneath them and, having had to unhook a few, their claws are real talons mate.

Keith I have a dozen a day flitting between the lakes, taking the silver fish and shitting everywhere. I try shooting them but they are an impossible target with just a .22.....

I have a huge reserve of silver fish, but I do worry about the effect on the carp...

The strange thing is you only see these bastards in the winter. Where are they for the rest of the year?

use a .177 mate to kill them pesky birds.. try a "Weihrauch HW 35"
..probably the best long range rifle there is..brilliant and will drop a cormorant easily from 100 metres.

as for the feeding fish maize..... i think there is too much natural food buried for the winter in the silt..the carp know they are there and will eat that over maize any day....try not feeding them for a while then put some in and see if they react.. if they react fast they have probably ate most of the natural larder..if not you know they are well fed ..and it will save you a few quid.

Hi Cliff, I agree about them preferring the live food mate. On top of all that,while the lake has had some ice on it I have still managed to find snails eggs attached to some of the rotting leaves on the lake bed. This indicates that their preferred food items are being replenished even as we speak.

There must have been getting on for 100 cormorants flew over the complex this morning....someones fish are in for a real battering.......

Hi Paul
I noticed your reply on another thread about your roach fry in January. I am also seeing feeding carp like I've never seen before, this early in the year. [I counted 32 different sets of bubbles yesterday morning]However, my concern is that this weird winter weather could lead to the carp spawning very early this year. What do you think?

It could be possible Keith, but I remember this has happened before...we had spring-like conditions In January/early Feb and everything came alive and then we had a really cold February and things were pretty catastrophic for some of the wildlife such as frogs... I remember hundreds died and we were stockpiling them and then had to dispose of them... After the February cold spawning took place at the customary times.
We will have to see but early spawning could affect those anglers planning to arrive early season to avoid the normal spawning period...

i think we could be in for the mildest winter since records began... got no idea what it will do to the natural clocks of the wildlife but it probably wont do them too much harm.