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Old boy is just a *** dw about him.

I’m really surprised to find that European – or rather British – anglers also feel so strongly against this trend. I always assumed this high-tech approach had long been accepted and widespread over there. Over the past few years, I’ve gone through nearly every carp fishing article available online: every online magazine, every tackle brand blog, everything you can dig up through search engines. This style of fishing felt so novel, fascinating and almost magical to me. Whoever invented it must have been an absolute genius; it feels almost inspired. To this day I still don’t think I’ve fully wrapped my head around it. Honestly, I went back and forth for ages about buying and using a bait boat, and had endless discussions about it with my fishing mates here. But for whatever reason, we caved in to the temptation in the end. I don’t know the exact situation across Europe, but I get the impression your fishing regulations and the whole scene are really well established. And for you lot, it’s all about the enjoyment, not the catch itself. It’s different over here – we have a long culture of eating carp and grass carp. So apart from a few influencer streamers who do it for clout and to take the moral high ground, very few people actually release their catch. Another factor is the ripple effect – almost like a butterfly effect – when someone bags loads of fish, and big specimens at that, in no time using a bait boat. It’s incredibly tempting for regular anglers. Especially when you’ve driven hundreds, even thousands of kilometres, fished solid for days on end and come back blank. After a few runs of that kind of frustration, it’s really hard to turn down a shortcut that seems to work. Carp fishing has blown up to become one of the most popular freshwater fishing styles in China right now. On live streaming platforms, people sell tackle while broadcasting from reservoirs. Big catches are a regular sight – especially footage of 100-jin (roughly 110lb) black carp. It’s visually spectacular and drives huge traffic, which in turn boosts bait boat sales. It got to the point where the high price tag seemed like the only reason not to buy one. A few years back, a team of Chinese anglers sponsored by tackle brands entered a world carp fishing championship for the first time. They were among the very first carp anglers in China. They used all kinds of high-end kit: inflatable boats, underwater drones, bait boats, the latest top-of-the-line fish finders, you name it. And since all that gear was permitted in the competition, this approach got spread around here as the “proper, orthodox” way to do carp fishing. The logic goes: if the fish are released anyway, any method is fair game as long as it’s legal. Part of this is driven by tackle sales. On top of that, barely anyone here has actually travelled to Europe or the UK to learn first-hand, or to fish and talk with local anglers. Almost everyone learns everything online. That flood of information, mixed with commercial push, is what’s led to this whole situation. That’s exactly why I came onto this forum to ask. I want to know how real anglers in Britain and Europe actually fish. I want to learn the actual, meaningful skills and knowledge behind carp fishing. Throwing endless money at it lowers the bar for catching big fish, and makes honing your own craft and skill feel pointless. That was never what I got into this for. Thank you so much for your thoughtful replies. I know it’ll take me a while to take it all in and put it into practice properly. But I truly believe this is what fishing is really all about.

Chill down all! I'm one of the traditionalists. I don't do bait boats, I don't do GPS or echo sounders, and I tend to rely on my own skill (or lack of) and watercraft. Saying that, I don't fish big foreign waters where they are required, although you could argue that Alton Water and Ardleigh reservoir may qualify at well over 400 and 150acres respectively. Even on them I stayed traditional. Come to that, say on Cassien, I don't think that fish caught using GPS and sonar are any or much bigger than fish caught in the 1980-2000's before they were a regularity. I do do wading out, looking for feeding spots, watching the water, listening for fish. I bait up with throwing stick, by hand or by spod/Spomb. I use bankside markers as aiming features for casting at, and if I can't cast there I don't fish there. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I get it wrong. This 'next level' thing seems to have come from other sports into fishing, and to be honest, it winds me up. You fish or you don't fish, fishing should be relaxation and escape from the rubbish that the world throws at you, not the 'be all and end all', yet I believe to pinch Bill Shankly's (?) words fishing is not a matter of life and death, it's more important than that. There seems to be from the days of paper magazines to now, a cadre of 'fish chasers', bounty hunters for the biggest fish in a lake. I suppose it started with Heather, Basil, Jumbo and the like from Yateley where anglers fished specifically for the named fish. I want to fish to enjoy myself, chasing targets can stop that enjoyment, and I have to remind myself that every now and again; @yonny will know exactly what I mean as we had a message conversation about a big common that I was chasing. Fishing exclusively for that I 'forgot' to think about other areas of the lake, staying in 2 or 3 swims. Continually blanking can limit your enjoyment, if that happens, take time out, go to an easier water for a trip or two. I could be fishing at the syndicate now, but I reckon a week off, go sea fishing for an evening, and maybe find a quiet swim for the start of the river season and hopefully catch a chub. Another issue can be 'gremlins', or things that just seem to wind you up or go wrong. I had many years of easy fishing, where I caught plenty of fish, I didn't break a rod, I didn't have swans and ducks taking the baits, yet at the moment those issues are a'plenty. I don't know how to beat the gremlins, maybe an exorcism? Take fishing for what it is, but learn from every trip.

Don't do faceache, ticktop or whatever mate, As for 'next level' you cannot be serious really? A bait boat with GPS etc maybe a camera now? ,all avaiable here for people who feel inclined to splash out dosh on that stuff,....... Drones etc etc Sorry you think traditional fishing is actually dated, it's actually what I like doing and probably many on here too? 👍 Each to his / her own though

No need to criticise people on here mate. Im sure other social media is more suitable, if that's your bag? I am fascinated by the OP's methods. I mean the kit he's using to take account of the conditions, is absolutely next level. Not so sure its going to catch on here, particularly as we have our traditional, (usually dated) British methodology in nearly everything we do

Actually mate, Maybe criticism is constructive? Maybe you have also taken the temp of your lead weight? ---- who knows 😂 Maybe I am just to old and actually laugh at these over thinking posts. As for other forum, long been banned from there for being a bit critical of some members there, NO not the bait bloke on there now, not sure he was even about at that time. Too many 'Maybes' of course, but I just comment as I see things on here, most of my posts I hope have been informative and perhaps interesting to anglers of a certain age. Mini rant over 😃

Nicely put. Ian.

Hmm! Your eyes and ears are your biggest advantage. My fishing for years was fishing waters big reservoirs and lakes, for a maximum of 48hours. I'd get home from work, frequently at 11pm at night, load up my gear and go fishing, arriving at the water between midnight and 1am. The picture is just 30acres of a 75acre water I fished for 10years. Even arriving that late I would often sit listening before deciding where to set up. To start with, the only baiting I would do is with PVA stringers or PVA bag of pellets, no other free bait. I don't use a bait boat, everything is by hand, throwing stick or spodding bait in. In fact I put most of my bait in either as I left, or on specific baiting sessions where I was prebaiting for later trips. Getting your lines the right distance is easy with distance sticks or walking it out. I don't worry about water temperature, if it is not iced over it is possible to catch. Fish will be where they want to be, they may follow wind lanes, move from weedbed to weedbed to natural food. As much as you ask, there really is no substitute for being on the water, while carp as a species tend to behave the same, every water is different and they have their own rules. Fish can follow a new wind, especially in summer if it is warm, but not so much in winter. As the wind grows stale they will move back off it. Don't immediately think that long range is the answer, many fish get caught from the margins. It is easier to see them, easier to bait for them, and easier to cast at them (quietly). Does your big baiting attract nuisance species? There is no point in piling bait in if other species eat everything before the carp find it. It is easier to cast in a PVA bag of bait and your hookbait, than stand spodding for 1hour if it is going to get pinched by something else.

After I reeled in my rig for the first time, I measured the lead weight and found its temperature was 22.8°C. I reckon this temperature is pretty suitable. Also, is my spot right on the transition between shallow and deep water? I’ve heard this kind of area is known as a fish highway/fish path.

Even though relevant laws and regulations are in place, many reservoirs are privately contracted. The contractors carry out illegal fishing using nets, and some rivers are frequently plagued by people using electric fishing devices. There are very few spots available for long-term shore camping fishing, and the viable ones are far away. In many areas, fishing rods fitted with reels are prohibited. Yet we have a strong passion for angling. We are still willing to give it a go even when fish stocks in a given water body are scarce. After my last post, I did walk around the reservoir with a monocular to scout the water. I am not sure whether I failed to identify fish bubbles or there were other factors, but I spotted no signs of fish activity at all. There are crucian carp close to the bank, yet I have never seen anyone land carp or other large fish from the shore. Perhaps the bankside areas are too disturbed and noisy.

I’ve learned all my fishing knowledge entirely online. I spend far more time studying fishing content on the internet than actually fishing on the water. That’s why I often get flustered and confused the moment I arrive at a fishery. I’ve come to realize that instead of second-guessing things on my own, I’d be better off asking seasoned anglers with plenty of real-world experience. They share advice with no commercial agenda, unlike me who only has book knowledge with no on-water practice.

I guess pre baiting is out of the question (which is a good edge), judging by the distance you travel? Is there nowhere closer to home to hone your tactics? As others have said before, your eyes are the best tool you have to try and locate the fish before you think of putting a rig out. Although its all guess work, if you can't see any signs of them. What makes you fish at such range and depth? Ive caught nearly as many fish in the margins. Benefits such as, easier to bait up and also determine if the fish are taking your freebie bait. Its all part of learning how to unlock the puzzle of the venue. Its called fishing, not catching😉

Sounds like you @OldBoyare the one who would be more at home on the other forum As yonny said, if you've not got anything constructive to say, then its probably best you dont in future??? Thanks in advance

Sorry, English isn’t my first language, so I try my best to learn your fishing tactics by asking questions, since I can’t express myself freely in English. I often fish at unfamiliar venues hundreds of kilometres away from home, which is why I had to buy a bait boat fitted with sonar. Even so, I frequently draw a blank. Take today’s spot for example: the average depth here is 4 metres, with the deepest points hitting 6–7 metres, while the bank-side water is only 2 metres deep. I chose the transition zone between the 2-metre shallow shelf and the 4-metre channel drop-off.

As for 'Newbie' "I use a bait boat to locate my swim and save the position as Spot A. I set up my rod pod with the three-point alignment method: rod pod, bait boat and a marker on the opposite bank. I put the largest quantity of bait at Spot A, and place one rod on each side of the rod pod with only a small amount of supplementary bait. What is the reasonable range for this whole setup? Are there any improvements I can make to my current baiting method?My bait boat has significant GPS error, and waves also stop it from staying in a fixed position. Should I use line stops to precisely control the line length from my reel? I’ve noticed some anglers use rangefinders and laser pointers to get accurate distance and angle for the bait boat. Is it necessary for me to buy these tools?" Dosn't sound like someone who is actually new to carp fishing to me if it's true?! 😂

Just as well he didn't post on 'another' forum, suspect his treatment would have been very much harsher than my probing msg for information 😂 If you think this place is 'Dead' why are you still here btw?

The guy has given us a paragraph explaining what he's doing and is asking for advice to improve. Give him a break. It's no wonder this place is dead when newbies get jumped on for no reason whatsoever. If you can help him, do so. If you can't, just move on.

Of course it is it, obviously, but..... what next? What hook size, what bait? Think it might be more interesting if this guy actually explained the waters he is actually fishing tho tbh! Sadly no info on any of that, just more questions that seem to be a bit boring, doesn't give any details of anywhere that is being fished, that's my problem. If he is really in Asia, could probably share some good information on fishing there..... I suspect not though ☹️ Hopefully proved wrong 🤞

Is that not what a forum is for?

Hello mate, From a previous post of yours : I'm from Asia, and our holy grail is landing giant common carp, grass carp, and black carp Not sure why you keep posting on here with so many questions? sorry mods. Maybe you can share some of your actual fishing experiences so far that you need so much advice? 😂👍

I use a bait boat to locate my swim and save the position as Spot A. I set up my rod pod with the three-point alignment method: rod pod, bait boat and a marker on the opposite bank. I put the largest quantity of bait at Spot A, and place one rod on each side of the rod pod with only a small amount of supplementary bait. What is the reasonable range for this whole setup? Are there any improvements I can make to my current baiting method? My bait boat has significant GPS error, and waves also stop it from staying in a fixed position. Should I use line stops to precisely control the line length from my reel? I’ve noticed some anglers use rangefinders and laser pointers to get accurate distance and angle for the bait boat. Is it necessary for me to buy these tools?

I only use backleads when margin fishing to keep line pinned right down. I slide them on. Small ones around .5oz. captive backleads are something I’m looking at for a big pit im fishing. Still trying to work out if they’d actually be beneficial or not.

I have various weights of the fox captive back leads. i don't use them religiously but when I need them they are in a lead pouch in the bucket ready to go along with the solar flying back leads back from donkeys years ago when Richard walker was a boy lol. don’t strike when using them either just pick up the rod and let the line tighten and mostly they then drop off. if weed has gone around the gate and stops it opening a little flick of the rod usually sets it free.

It's so long since I bought them I don't think that the 1oz version is still in the range. The only reason I used them at all was when I fished in the sailing club swims at Nazeing Meads on the Central Lagoon if boats were in use, which is over 7years ago. It was solely to take the line below boats hulls.