Angling Echo reported a couple of months ago that new fish would be stocked at Crowsheath Fishery during the winter.

The first arrivals have now been put into the venue supplied by Mark Simmonds, who is regarded as the country's most highly respected fish farmer by the carp fraternity.

His fish are well proven to be the fastest-growing strain of carp ever supplied by a British fish farmer and are some of the most sought after to stock into lakes across the country.

Mark's specimens are liked because they are British and couldwell be contenders for the British record in years to come.

Crowsheath are developing the fishery with the aim of holding British 50lb fish.

A 20lb-plus common was one of three new specimen fish stocked into Crowsheath last week before Mark delivered his new mirror carp for the venue.

Twenty new 6lb to 7lb Fishers Pond strain carp were delivered and stocked into the 7.5-acre main lake for future enjoyment and will make 20lb in under three years if all goes according to plan.

The 20 newcomers will grow at between 5lb and 7lb a year, making them possible 30lb fish within five years and a real target for specimen anglers all over Essex.

Published Thursday December 20, 2001