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Had a spare afternoon so a quickie trip with a feeder rod for a couple hours, it was so mild 😳

More pics in Daylight now, there's 8 anglers on, myself n Mate up the Snaggy end... Not massive range fishing.... 10 wraps.

23lb

Arrived at 5.30am, lights doing its justice.

Just bought a 48 hour ticket for Berners Hall in the back end of March...£60

That dog need to learn to relax....... Ian.

Ive taken mine since a pup. This was his 1st outing with me. Practically comes on every session, Loves coming with me.

Greetings it’s been a while , such a while that I thought I’d post in this section . who’s about these days ? Nick ? Nige ? Ian still about Gaz maybe ? Anyway after a seriously long sabbatical I’m considering picking up a rod again this year and be nice to catch up 😘

Thanks I will don't worry, I'm in me onesie just about to tuck Into these bad boys, had a buffet tea, life is good,

My missus is always asking me what I want for Birthdays and Christmas and I never know so she surprised me with a stocking filler. (Well it was after!)

I definately went through a spell when match the hatch was more productive, I usually try one or two different ones just to see, no point having all 3 rods asking the same question, but I think for me location, spots, and preperation are more important, I think the freebies play a big part too, if they trough on them they are more catchable, something I will say for free though This years biggest lesson was........ If prebaiting a swim or you know the spots or whatever, when you get there to fish, before you whack out spombs of bait and crash leads around and spaff any early chances by setting the traps, just chuck out a rod with a mesh bag or something while you set the rest of the kit up, I've had a few quick bites just doing this, sometimes I've only got 1 or 2 rods out like this before its gone and that sets you up for a good session, 👍

So my stuff arrived this morning, the chair is perfect, comfy and high off the deck. I'm out on Sunday with the float and feeder rods. Pint of maggots sat in the fridge for that session. Going to float fish for tiddlers and chuck a small live bait out on the feeder rod for perch. Should be a fun day 😆

I'll never use a bait boat... just my (traditional) approach... my young apprentice asked me why I don't use one and I said a matter of three things... Cost, Carrying the things, and all the above reasons... I really cannot be bothered with them... my apprentice asked "if you want to fish a far bank spot accurately what would you do"? I said go and fish from the other bank...😜🤣

17lb with a rare view, still holding the smelt

We were away in the wobbly van and as the weather warmed nicely New Year's morning, I pulled this little fella out for 15lb 3oz. It was the first of five for the day but I was just delighted to kick off the New Year with a fish. So how did you do?

Same view this morning, but what a sunrise. Still - 2degrees but beats being sat at home

Not a purchase as such... (it was a freebie for a little light editing) I'll be swapping out the stringbag mesh for something more fish friendly... I can use it for carp but not massive ones (not that I catch em that big anyway🤣)

As a professionally trained rod builder why would you buy a pre made rod instead of making it I’m blooming sure I wouldn’t

My son is obsessed with carp rods. Over the years he's spent a great deal of money on several sets of three rods. His go-to, all-time favourites? Three Chub Outkasts that cost him £145, several years ago. It isn't all about the money. Ian.

Have a good break and tight lines to all in 2022.. stay safe lads and lasses...👍🍺🍺🍺

Falling in to the trap then saving yourself there. Worst thing we do as anglers is say “I changed to this bait and caught more” because we never really know. You could go hours without a carp in the swim, change and they turn up and feed. Who’s to say you wouldn’t have caught on what you had on before. as you said right place, right time, right everything to get that bite.

I'm out in morning for the day with 2 mates to the Park Lake... stuff is already put together, just do the Food later after the Dentist and Football training. Like a Kid at Christmas... 🎣🎣 Good luck mate. 🙂🤞🎣

Sounds good, when is the Elmo test? I'm out in morning for the day with 2 mates to the Park Lake... stuff is already put together, just do the Food later after the Dentist and Football training. Like a Kid at Christmas... 🎣🎣

Hi, I’m new to the forum & I’d like to say hi to everyone out there. I live in the West Midlands & I’ve fished for many yrs for all U.K. species, mainly Carp & Pike though. looking forwards to the banter with all on the for, I’m in the process of training my new pup to be a regular fishing partner ( hopefully lol), any advice on this would be very welcome! Dave.👍🎣

Many thanks 👍 he’s a 8mth old Staffy cross American Staff, he’s well socialised with people & other dogs. I think he’ll be a too strong to attach him to my bed chair as he’ll probably tow me & the bed chair if he wants too! Lol. I’m going to start him in the garden in the Bivvy for a few nights with my to get him accustomed to tent-life before a serious session. tried to upload photos but unable to. Just keeps asking me to upload from URL?

12 Month Membership Book arrived 😁😁

Blimey , you’ve got a good memory 😊 He’s fine mate , off to secondary school in September, and he’s been progressing so well that my Mrs has been able to go back to work full time . We have a few small childcare issues but as I’m on a rotating shift pattern myself we are working around it nicely though it does mean there won’t be any weekday fishing trips outside the school holidays ( wifey works in a school). His nagging me to take him fishing is one of the reasons my interest in this lark has been rekindled somewhat . Im looking forward to introducing him to the art of bleak bashing and maggot drowning . it’ll be a family day though as he currently has the attention span of about 10 minutes unless it features an Xbox . Oh and bait boats are cheating 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I was being a bit flippant, and i will make sure it's still safe but it will go to places I can't cast too easily 😏

Not teaching you to suck eggs but I hope you only put it in places where you know you can extract the carp from safely. Too many people put it under far bank snags etc only for the fish to tether them up or cut them off.

I've just gone to the darkside, it was either this or a baiting pole and this was less than half the price and will hopefully do the same job 😬🙄

First pike trip of the year, in fact this season, has started well with 4 fish. The 2 smallest are 9 and 10lb, but I have just broken the pike PB as well with a 23

Thought I'd have a looks at if I need anything before I go A D on Friday.... Ridgemonkey Light needed charging, only the 2nd time I've charged it in 12months..... Thought I'd pimp some bait up abit more... Sticky Krill on Right, Sticky Manilla on Left. Put 1 of each in a dowl to see how they will settle... Giving a good cloud and and scent from them... If that's just 1 imagine a good handful? 😳😳

Affordable housing, job creation, mental health supports, addiction treatment all work to reduce crime, and those things are enabled by all levels of government. Who you vote in as mayor or city counselor counts just like Crown ministers or party leaders. Having a say in who represents you is the beautiful thing about democracy (just like carp.com 😉). A quick scan of the world news drives the point home.

Hope you've got your Christmas hat on Elmo?.... Took boat for a spin yesterday withittle en, he loves and can't wait fish with it. Yep, it's not an Actor like I've been using with my mate, but it's a boat and can get me abit closer we're i think the fish might be.

I did go fairly easy in the end, they werent very nice, I got them from work so they probably didn't pay much for them, can't go giving shareholders profits to the minions now can they 😂 It's nice to be out Ive even heard a few boshing and the last one sounded near to my pub chucked solid bag, there is slight hope anyway

Thanks for the reminder, I have to go plug in my block heater for a few hours if I want to go anywhere today; it's -35 this morning. Naturally, if you need a new battery every place is closed for New Year's.... Happy New Year everyone!

Happy New year to everyone and I hope it's a good one for everyone and you're family's. I certainly hope me and my family have a better one, The end of 2021 wasn't a good one for me and mine, I've been quiet about it but my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in September, so the fight goes on. Everything is looking good though. So here's to a good one for us all and our families. 👍

Happy New year all 😎

Buy what you can afford. After all it's the last 6-8inches of your set up that's out in the pond that catches your fish and your watercraft obviously. Carp don't care if you've got a £50 fishing rod or a £500 fishing rod. I'm pretty sure I've said this before on here somewhere but mates of mine swear by the lower end chub rods. To the point of using them over their much more expensive other rods.

Hope you all had a great Christmas and santa bought you lots of treats 👍

Proppa Christmas get together... Merry (Carpy) Christmas all.

Merry Christmas all 👍

oogh I actually ordered what I hope is a new really bright headlight last night, I decided it may help be able to see the far bank and fish better at night, my eye sight isn't what it once was 😢

Not paid for mine yet Keith, hopefully next week. Itching myself too get out... Hope all goes well for the Family this year 🤞🤞

Sad to hear that mate, but I hope it all goes well for you this year and she gets the all clear, just remember it's always good to talk about things, even if you don't think you are struggling, it always helps to spread the load, All the best Elmo

Thanks for all the input guys, I think the main point of this thread has got somewhat lost along the way, I've also got some rods that will do the job for now, like framey said I have to stick on budget for now, as I also want to keep a roof over my families head, As for mentors I have always received great advice on here and that usually boils down to location, keep it simple and use a decent bait and a rig you have confidence in, its too easy to get sucked down a rabbit hole and disappear into the abyss if you over complicate things and I try to stick to that

They are doubling up on me now, but I'm just about resisting 😢

Sorry I just struggle to concentrate on some of the content, 🤓with this targeted marketing!