Friday 12th March 2010 and Sapphire receives another 25 large carp to add to it’s existing stock. These were mostly commons, the smallest of them weighing 35lb 5oz
These bigger specimens come from large stock lakes which take all day to net, so it was nearly midnight before the fish transport lorry arrives at Sapphire.
11 of the carp are between 35lb and 40lb, 12 are over 40lb and 2 more over 50lb.
All of the 40lb + carp are long torpedo shaped commons which come from the exact same place as the 60lb and 70lb+ commons we see at Margot, another famous Bigot venue.
The final phase of this mega stocking is set to become the icing on this grand cake when the largest of the stock lakes will be netted. This very secret location holds the high 50s and 60lb+ carp which are ear-marked for Sapphire.
The recent storm which recently swept through the whole of France was the sting in the tail of the worst winter for years and it has meant that the water level in this stock lake is still too high for netting its fish.
It’s now a race against time for the water level drop enough to allow the stock lake to be netted before the summer and Michel and Laurent will let us know just as soon as netting becomes possible.
Even so, Sapphire can already boast of a fantastic stock of over 375 carp, with a huge head of 30s and 40s and 4 known 50s. None of which will have been caught before.
Date:
January
2010
Details: Mega Stock... Stage 2
The frustrating delays caused by the freezing weather in early January are well and truly over. Team Bigot have just celebrated this in style with one of the largest single stocking operations that we have ever seen.
The 2-day operation (26/27 January) saw 230 carp added to the existing stock. As always with our Bigot venues the numbers were impressive with 125 x 20lb+ and 80 x 30lb+ carp making up the bulk of the delivery. The 8 x 40lb+ provided the cream, with 2 of these already topping the scales at 50lb. Around 17 good doubles, including several koi, were stocked because of their attractiveness or growth potential.
This brings the known carp stock in Sapphire so far to 350. Additional stock is planned... we'll keep you posted.
Date:
October
2009
Details: Sapphire Mega Stock.... Stage 1
Michel and Laurent Bigot have just completed the first stage of their plans to ensure that the fishing will be worthy of their impressive new venue.
The lake has been netted and all its fish were removed and sorted. While Laurent and the netting team were kept busy all day removing the small fish, Michel got on with the long job of hand-picking the larger fish to be returned.
Michel examined and weighed each and every one of the larger fish. 120 mirrors and commons passed his close scrutiny and these were returned to the lake to enjoy the winter feeding programme. Many times this number were removed to the stock ponds and no doubt we will see some of these again in a year or so when they make the grade.
So stage one of the mega stocking programme is complete. Anything under 20lb just didn’t make the grade unless it was at least 16lb, very unusual and had all the tell-tale signs of rapid growth potential. Needless to say that there were only a handful of carp in this category, so stocking is kicked off with a host of 20lb and 30lb carp.
At last we have the first hint of what will be the Sapphire standard. We know that Michel and Laurent will soon have the stock at over 400 and we also know they are famous for their monster carp and cats.
Expect the next stage of the stocking to be very exciting indeed. You will see it here first!
