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Where did Zander come from, Who introduced them and how long have they been established.?
The text below was taken from 'The Zander' book by Fickling and Rickards.
The First records of Zander in Britain date back to 1878, when 23 German Zander of around 2lb were introduced into Woburn Abbey Lakes. Exact date 3rd Feb 1878. This project was arranged by the Duke of Bedford and the President of the German Fishery.
In 1919 another batch of German Zander were stocked in Woburn Abbey Lakes, by the 11th Duke of Bedford. Sizes unknown.
In 1924 a batch of Walleye arrived, unsure of where they were actually stocked, but the River Delph still holds the British Record.
In 1947 a batch of 50 fish from Woburn Lakes, from fingerlings to 4lb were placed in lakes at Leighton Buzzard, The River Ouzel and a Canal arm of the Great Union Canal, nr Tring.
Also around this time Husbourne Crawley and Linden Lake were also stocked.
In 1950/51 30 five inch fish were placed in Claydon Lake, Bucks. The fish are still established today.
1952 Fish stocked into Sevenoaks Lake nr Kent.
1960 A batch of 500 Swedish Zander were put into Mepal pit, nr Ely, Cambs. These fish are still present.
1961 The Great Ouse River Board transferred mature Zander from Woburn Abbey Lakes and placed them at Hengrave nr Bury St Edmunds on March 2nd.
1962 The 1961 stock were moved from Husbourne to Woburn Sands Clay Pit.
1963 On March 18th 100 Zander were moved from Hengrave to the Relief Channel, 97 fish survived and introduced to their new home.
Cawkwell and McAngus who were Water Authority Baliffs at that time, quoted "The zander could room free and man could no longer control their movements".
On the way to the Relief Channel, some fish were released into Landbech Lakes, as a gift to the owner. For letting the 97 fish stay overnight in his lake.
After this introduction fish started to appear all over the Fenland Drainage system.
1966 - Tidal Ouse.
1967 - Hundred Foot Drain, Welney.
1968 - The Great Ouse at 10 mile Bank.
1969 - The Great Ouse at Littleport and Ely, River Wissey, River Lark, River Cam, River Little Ouse, River Delph and Old Bedford River.
1970 - The Great Ouse at St Ives and Huntingdon. Roswell Pits, Old West River and Middle Level Drain.
1972 - The Great Ouse at St Neots, 40ft Drain.
1973 - The Great Ouse at Eaton Socon, 16ft Drain and Pophams Eau.
1975 - The Old River Nene and 20ft Drain.
1975 to 1990 Most Midland Stillwaters, Rivers, Canals. River Severn, River Trent, River Soar, Warwickshire Avon, Gloucester Canal, Sharpness Canal. Coombe Abbey, Leicestershire Stillwaters, Coventry Stillwaters, Some Lincolnshire Drains.
When Anglers from other parts of the sport have a need to complain about the Zander being illegally stocked, what they should really look at is the History of the Zander in Great Britain. They may learn something.
