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The worry with carp anglers having spent most of their lives targetting the one species there is always the danger that if the novelty wears off and they disappear from the angling world.... let me try and explain my reasoning... As a novice I never fished for carp as the gear was specialised and the knowledge wasn't there... carping was seen as an ascension to the highest level... now lads (and lasses) come into the sport and they are at what I thought used to be the pinnacle of the angling tree... the downside of arriving at the top of the tree means theres nowhere to go to get that big fish buzz... I suppose it follows why disillusioned/bored carpers turn to barbel and cats.... whereas old gimmers like me, started out with minnows and worked my way up through the ranks trying different codes and species... if I get bored with carp I'll toddle off to a river for some chub or perch, or fish a club match or two... rather than picking up a tablet or take up golf....

I captured a Kingfisher on my rods this year, finally, a really good pic too, only took me 20+ years lol

I love carp fishing... so do lots of other anglers... the problem is carping is a victim of its own success... every commercial that I know locally is stocked with carp even clib waters have had an influx of them... but there are times when I don't want to catch them... I have lost count of the times when I got a shoal of Perch on the go and the carp have moved in... bit of a bind on a float rod and 3lb line with a low double carp on the end

Going back to the kingfishers. My mate who fishes the same lake as me never sees them. He also doesn't catch many fish lol.

I have a little friend on my club lake... always comes to see me... nicks maggots out of my bait box if I have them, or micro pellets if I don't.. this is the sort of thing you miss with your nose stuck in a bit 'o tech

I'm going to a commy for this weekend for 36 hours. The plan is to fish for the perch in the daytime and stick the carp rods out before bed. Wouldn't be surprised if the carp make an appearance on the float rod. Had one of my biggest carp this year on the same method and a 4lb hooklink, while all the carpers were blanking away.

I wish I could manage a pic of a kingfisher! On the river last week I had a kingfisher perched in the tree above my rods, reach for camera and it was gone. I think carp fishing was the top of fishing when they were few and far between. Now they are 'just another'. I think we have had the discussion before about what tackle is available, it is mostly carp gear. It is often harder and more expensive to buy other coarse gear, and at the same time from clubs, to day tickets, most waters are stocked with carp. Obviously because of that people will start carp fishing.

Do you think the rolls have reversed these days ? Should carp fishing be seen as the pinnacle . If we all stop thinking carp fishing is the pinnacle , you won't see the same issues with people starting out carping over other species. Has the pinnacle for carp become more about certain fish from certain waters ? Over just managing to land one of those elusive carp . You really have to look at it as a complete beginner to fishing in this day & age of course your your going to end up carpin it's what's readily available. when I was young it was the rivers & the odd visit to a park lake .

Whilst Barbel fishing at Bewdley I had a Kingfisher land on my rod with a tiny fish whose head it bashed in on my rod then flew off... I took a photo of it.. been looking for it for ages.. if I ever find it I'll scan it and post it

I hear them before I see them , just as well really as they move so fast it gives you time to look , but knowing their flightpath is a huge advantage in spotting them . I just wish they would stand still close enough and long enough for me to focus my binoculars on them ! .

I use them all winter but I wouldn't consider them full on winter boots Vik. The lining is surprisingly warm for its weight but they'll not keep your feet toasty in really cold conditions. Imo the key to warm feet in winter is keeping your body warm. Once your body temps start to drop, blood will not be pumped to the extremities (fingers, toes) as effectively as it would normally. Rather it is used to maintain core temps. Therefore, if you can keep your core body temps up, the body will pump warm blood around the hands and feet keeping them warm. I've been through loads of options for keeping feet warm in winter (various socks and boots etc) but the most effective solution by a mile was thermal salopettes. They keep the legs/body toasty which in turn keeps the feet warm. You can get the Snugpak ones for less than 100 quid on the bay which seems pricey but once you've used them for a winter you'll think they're a bargain, believe me.

I personally don't think you can teach somebody Watercraft. It's all about the individuals perception and awareness of what's going on around them. Some people have it and some people don't.

1st fish this winter, hopefully do it again soon. With a bulldog lure!