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Seems a bit silly to start a thread for March on the 29th but hey-ho. Managed 2 days on the bank this weekend which a rarity for me nowadays. It was clear they weren't exactly having it which is standard for March so it was singles and zigs all the way. Had some crazy conditions; massive winds, brutal rain, freezing cold and blazing hot sun, pretty much everything bar snow! Had a little cricket-bat common on the zigs and a slightly better mirror on a pub-chucked pop up. My first carp this year and did see a few so it looks like winter is finally over.

I landed this one off the same spot just before dark.

I’ve just managed to catch this lovely common, caught on a little pink pop up under some over hanging trees.

Had this one on my first trip since we were allowed to night fish again

Managed just the one in the Cold NE wind

Base camp alpha 😂 glorious morning though, best bit I don't have to pack up today 😁

Arrived at 5am....

Can anyone relate to this? All of us at some point i reckon Haha

Best way to keep your lawn/grass cutting to a minimum is to pour plenty of beer on it. It comes up half cut 🙈

Hey everyone, My name is Reece and I have a fairly typical angling story. I’m based in Thurrock, Essex. The first time I went fishing, I was about 10. My dad and uncle took me, and I used a little whip. I remember catching more fish than both of them, and I was hooked (excuse the pun). I quickly progressed in to carp fishing, and dad taught me everything I needed to know (thanks dad). At this point, I would consider myself a pleasure angler. If i thought an area looked like it will hold fish, I would cast a PVA bag or a stick threaded down my hook link at it. Life ended up getting in

Took a while to decide where I wanted to be, I know they are wonky 😂 I am still in the process of getting organised, but I had an occurance on my left hand rod, whatever it was came off, didn't feel like a carp but it's a confidence boost, it was warmer round here earlier so I thought it felt a bit more carpy, its gone all wintry now though 😬😳 L-R POP UP, CHOD, PVA BAG

Couldn't be bothered to do the 3rd rod 😳

My 1994 Urban Tiger Fireblade. Full rolling-road Dynojet system, free-flow air filter, braided brake lines. I loved this motorcycle. Ian.

This is Tango, my Z750. Just had new chain and sprockets, exhaust gaskets, service and MOT. I really hope I get out this year.

It's been glorious today, my skin doesn't know whether to be sunburnt or frostbitten, no carp still had a walk around saw nothing, I would have thought they might have got moving a bit today but nothing showing, the sun has been on this zone all day, all I 2ant is a sign 🤘 Left hand is now on a long parachute Ronnie rig 😁 Middle chod Right hand rod, stiff rig wafter, been doing some underwater gardening and cleared a little debris trying one in the edge tonight still nearly 10ft deep though 😳

If I’m not mistaken that’s a she pee mate 😳

Out for a play on mine today....

I be going under these tree lines, the red dot is we're i got a good chuck last time I had a fish out (PB) hoping to be around this area again on Friday. But there's also some rocks and a wooden pole as features. And I between these people feed the ducks, so a white bait is usually a go to there

Fairly recent purchase. Bought in anticipation of a week fishing in France and unused so far. It's a JRC Quad 2G xxl and is enormous. I've had quite enough of stooping and crouching down. This is 6ft high inside and, as a two man with just me in it, is plenty roomy enough. Only downside is that the overwrap doesn't have vents to match those in the main bivvy which is a bit of a shame. Ian.

I have an auto-immune disease (lupus) that was first diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. It was a battle over many years to get it correctly diagnosed and actually took two decades before I found doctors who were competent at treating the illness. Most gave me steroids (prednisilone) and painkillers, then sent me on my way! I ended up hooked on painkillers, and it took years to get off steroids with all their long term complications. Anyway, nearly died after severe pneumonia set in. THEN the doctors took my illness seriously! Finally (only took 20 years!) I found a couple of speciali

Hope your all keeping well .... I still haven't been fishing!!! Started another lake project this week ... could be of interest to anyone in and around Birmingham in the future 😉

Breakfast of champions 😁cheese and bacon toastie mmm mmm

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, 🌨️

How about if you are fishing a lake that does large fish once or tice a year, from now till june is your best bet for that rare capture.

I don’t see it as an unfair advantage, if anything I see it as a disadvantage to an angler. Imagine having to see what’s under the water to find out what type of substrate your fishing over, then being faced with the prospect of fishing a murky lake with poor visibility where the camera can’t be used... that to me is a disadvantage when the majority of competent anglers can do the exact same thing using a bare lead and braid.

They day I’d rely on an underwater camera is the day I’d hang my rods up, What a load of rubbish.

Cultured goo baits in action look pretty amazing 😍😍😍

Delivered next week, New Barrow.

Well I spent the morning lovingly rolling several kilos of boilies to restock the freezer with bait, looking over the rows of freshly boiled baits air drying on the racks in the spring sunlight. Then tipping them into a large resealable bag to go in the freezer... admiring the big bag packed tight with 12mm boilies... then the horror as that bag tips over and all the bait falls all over the kitchen floor... the dogs eyes light up with joy as a mini tidal wave of yummy boilies come cascading towards her... luckily she only snaffled about a dozen before I managed to get her away, bribed with ano

I must admit I would only be using Specialist or Avon style rods on a water like this, with 8lb line. Hook size sounds possibly a bit big, for me it would probably be a 14 or 12.

Pretty sure the 2005 record carp at 83lb was from Graviers and not rainbow, but then if I'm reading your post correctly, you caught it so I guess you'd know.

Camera flash can be harsh and ruin photo's. Ouch's photo's are really good but the first common has blown out and the background been lost. Unfortunately a phone camera will never produce the same quality night shots as a camera. I always leave at least 6 foot between the camera and fish as it evens out the light a bit. Fishes scales act like mirrors under flash, commons more so than mirrors and you'll always give a bit of glare. If you angle the fish down slightly, it will reduce it. If your flash comes with a diffuser, use it as it scatters the light more and makes it more even. I have a bui

Retainers are designed for short periods only-I’d say upto 45mins max depending on time of day, depth of water and temperature. Because they float the fish is restricted into the depth it needs to feel comfortable. Night time, shallow weedy water in the height if summer is a recipe for disaster since the oxygen level will be at its lowest. I think there needs to be more education on this point. My advice is to practice your self-takes and not risk the fish. Sacking through the night is an unnecessary risk.

Quick 2hrs

I've almost planted the seed of a 48 hour session to the misses as it will be my birthday in April, I started thinking about all the stuff I could do, like reel the rods in, go for a walk about, drink a beer in the morning, afternoon nap and those kind of treats I don't normally get to enjoy, if I catch something it will be a bonus but I'm just gonna relax the Heck out of it and switch off from the world for 2 whole days csmt wait 😂

In addition, I’d use it for tying up my Sweet Peas in the garden. Seriously, for something as important as line, stick with branded, reliable manufacturers/brands.

Should've faked it more time for fishing if you don't have to cut it 😏🤔 And more space for fishing tackle cos you don't need a lawn mower, 😂 Win win

The friendly swans are looking in good condition he is growing well I’ve watched him from a sygnet an can feed them both by hand

You know how it goes you finally get the carp taking dog biscuits one is heading for you bait and then the ducks or swans turn up.I think iv found the solution ! ....

Especially if you can find a fly-hatch and fish amongst it. Ian.

Desperate times got 2 on zigs one on a chod,glorious morning again though, I would've done 3 but I left my zig line at home 😢4ft and 5ft hopefully that will be right cos I can only go lower 😂 I was going to be baiting anyway this morning so I've had an idea, I'm going to make my mix a bit more cloudy, leave the zigs near the spots and hopefully boost the attraction that way,with a little and often approach, I think next session I will be zig and chod ready, The tufties found my chod this morning, luckily I managed to scare them off with my fake tufty torch, the grebe is an arrogant prick

It's arrived 😁

There winners all day long them 👍👍🎣🎣

Re read this and seeing the fish you are catching I would go down to a method feeder rod or float rod or like Nick has suggested an Avon style if you can find one nowadays Match style route would be better

Getting decent night shots is all about the lighting tbh, I use a Canon dslr with an intervalometer makes it a doddle,96 led video light off amazon just set it to take about 20 get the fish up pose, turn it take a few more one will turn out OK usually 👍 I will only put them in a retainer for a short while while I get everything sorted, I usually let it rest in the net for a couple of mins, unhooking in the water if I can, if not get my unhooking, weighing kit out, unhook it,treat it, put it in the retainer, weigh it and put it in the water while I sort out the camera and where I want to

I have had a bait boat for over 25 years ,although i dont use them much ,i have recently just ordered a new one from Germany . I am not interested if anyone disapproves of my use of one , i go fishing for my enjoyment ,and no body else . Buy one ,use one, and above all enjoy your sport using it if it helps you . You can just make out an A.T Microcat in my cover photo 🙂

The shear decadent luxury of a big bivvy! I'm also rather envious of your lawn!! funny what laying your own lawn will do to a man! I keep looking at other lawns hoping my one ends up looking like that!!

If I caught every time I went fishing I'd very soon become complacent and my levels of concentration and enthusiasm would reduce accordingly. Frosty, may I say that three hour sessions barely give the fish time to realise that you've put bait out? Maybe a couple of full-day sessions are in order? Ian.