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I’d just like to take the time to thank you lads, it’s a tiny little percentage of the internet this forum but just what I needed... I may not have the bottle to post to much on here but love reading the stuff you lads post... 👍

I lost my best mate when we were at the age of 16, in the following 6 yrs I lost 2 more mates, all 4 grand parents, 2 aunties and 2 uncles. And like you say us men are deemed insensitive and I did indeed hit drink and drugs hard. It was fishing that ultimately took me away from all that which is why I owe a lot to fishing and i hope and like trying to give something back, be that with advice on here, helping mates you meet on the bank etc. And totally agree, a permanent thread like this could be invaluable. Just knowing you're not the only one suffering, going through things that others have or are enduring can help massively.

Really thought provoking, heart warming conversation. We as men are assumed to be insensitive to the effects of life. Quite often turning to drink or drugs as a coping mechanism. I for one would like to see a thread like this continue for any member to air there woes. It is good to talk & most on here are very considerate in their responses. Respect guys👏

If my posts help anyone then that makes my happy buddy😁👍

Yonny,Emmcee please except my condolences,never nice loosing a family member. I was 32 when cancer took my Dad I was lucky that I could spend his last few months with him. My life was a complete mess leading up to it so perversely losing my auld fella was also the start of a new life for me. My mum was housebound and totally reliant on my dad and I did some growing up real fast and made me a lot better person. My mother died 2015 and that was a blessing as she had been ill for a long long time. In 2016 my brother who had been troubled for a good few years due to a marriage breakdown hung himself,he was my older brother,my only family member as there was only me,dad,mum and Mike. I was so angry at him for doing what he did and was also racked with guilt as he’d been staying with us for the 6 wks prior to his suicide and I thought I’d helped him out of his hole but obviously not. We was close,my kids adohored him and seeing the upset of my children cut me in two. It’s safe to say it took me 18months to get over Mike the guilt will NEVER go away and without the help of my wife and the love of my children I don’t know where I’d be,it took me a long time to realise the courage it took Mike to end his life but time is a great healer and for the past few years I’ve been at peace with myself. 7 weeks ago I had a massive heart attack,I’m only 50 and have a 12 year old boy and 17 year old daughter and my heart attack really has put my life into perspective,again a life changing moment for me. I’m so glad that the forum is a help Grim up North but do me a favour,mate,if your ever struggling never do it in silence,mate,msg me anytime you want bud or talk to a friend or a councillor but NEVER suffer in silence. As most know I’m a massive Liverpool fan and as the song goes “ You’ll Never Walk Alone” x

My condolences to yonny and emmcee, support to itsgrimupnorth.

Sorry to hear about your recent losses guys, nothing I can really say that will help but my thoughts are with you, it's nice to see you all opening up and being honest about things that effect you, I am also dealing with anxiety and depression quite often these days and sometimes it's a struggle and as you may have noticed it sometimes makes me overthink everything, when I look back its been with me for many years only I didn't really understand it and just felt like a bit of a freak,last few years I've really tackled it though but one thing I've come to the conclusion of lately these symptoms are more common than you think, talking openly about it has helped me no end, Keep posting its grim up north, some of your photos have been really Inspiring, and also just keep talking, it really helps take the pressure off, Tight lines all Elmo

I feel for you mate. 6 days ago I lost my dad to cancer also. Puts things into perspective doesnt it. It's a hole that will never be filled. Head up. Keep going.

Your one of the best mate, the amount of knowledge you give away on here is great. Keeps this place going. We all know how secretive this carp game can be 😂👍

I feel for you mate. From my late teens til well into my 30's I suffered from severe anxiety. I still get it now but I'm in control of it much better now. It stopped me doing untold things in the past but with the help from counselling, amazing family and friends I've all but conquered it. On Wednesday my dad passed away after a long battle with cancer, years ago this would have had me going into complete meltdown and having all kinds of negative thoughts and dare I say doing some stupid things. But through the counselling its taught me so much about coping strategies etc .I was holding my dads hand as he passed, something that would have been impossible in the past. My mum said I've been her rock throughout my dads illness but especially in my dads last weeks, days. Hope you conquer whatever you're dealing with.

Fishing certainly helped me I'd say. Like you say learning to deal with things in your own time in your own way is a good thing. But there were many occasions I went fishing because I told mates I'd be there and it's the last place I wanted be due to my anxiety, which they didn't really understand (not many people do). So I've learned to do things for me, don't please other people because you feel you have to but because you want to. I found out who my true friends were in my dark days, they gave me all the space and time in the world if I wanted to be alone but also straight there if I wanted a chat. A few mates I didn't see for over 3yrs but when we did meet up they acted like it was only yesterday.

I lost my mam last year mate, she was 55 and full of health. We found out she had a rare brain disease called vcjd. It was a big shock for me at 28 she was my rock even tho I’m married 😀. It was a big eye opener for me tho and I’d like to think I’m more of a man for it happening. I watched my sisters and my dad care for her and seen how strong they were. Basically made me realise we get one life and you don’t realise what’s around the corner. Big reason I got back into carp fishing, I think being alone and getting comfortable with your own thoughts helps a lot

It's a great forum. Its quiet recently but the members are great. Always good for a debate.

That's a very sad read , Stevo , but at least Liverpool are turning it on for you this season ( even if you beat Spurs in the Champions League 😩) . My Niece committed suicide , and I know exactly what you mean about the guilt and the anger . 🙂

Sorry for your loss mate. And yes it sure does put things into perspective. True words spoken yonny.

I was originally affected in 2012, a good friend lost to an IED in Afghanistan. Thanks for the helping hand anyway. It’s a breath of fresh air this forum from the bullsh*t of the other social media sites. A big thing I’ve learnt to stay away from.

Out on the local canal with matey boy it’s been a few months since our last session so it was good to have a laff with the big fella. Ended up with 2 jacks that more than made up for the soaking we got 😂😂😬😎🎣

with pike being a predatory fish do they produce anticoagulant ??? if they do that's why your cuts bleed more

Twilight with yellow lenses , really does make a difference , I found it when I was float fishing under some trees , one minute could hardly see the float glasses on and BOOM so easy to see the float ,

They help in low light , quite well actually , not sure they would be much use in the dark though

and therein lies missed opportunities... your having a bad day on lead clip/runner combo's, so you go home and have whinge to yourself when a change of approach may have changed your fortunes... in my kit I have a tube of floats... just in case... if summat's not working change it... and my club waters have a lovely head of wildies.. perhaps I'm fortunate and most of my club water fishing is done by freelining or with a single swanshot... but and here's the kicker when a lot of the lads on our waters are packing up and moaning about the water not fishing, I've usually had a bit of sport.... And old gear is my thing... Proper Old School and Old School methods... they still work...

nice looking fish by all ive not fished for pike scared of getting cut by those teeth

I found an amazing stalking spot under a large tree on my mates side of the swim at Parco, completely overgrown and un-fished. I climbed up and could see a good depth of water and no branches under the water and more trees to the right, the depth in the edge right under me was 6-8 foot, dropping down to a shelf of prob 10-12, then the abyss. With a little bit of work it was more than fishable, I excitedly climbed down and told him to come and see. My mate spent the rest of the trip up that tree watching monsters feeding inches from the bank at times, smashing 20k of feed between a small number of fish each day, just as the light started to fade. When he could see well enough to select a fish he lowered freelined corn onto its nose - can you imagine, fish to high 60's, it freezes, the lips move, the bait vanishes, the gills flare and WHAM set the hook and hang on for dear life! 10 hours standing on a branch watching, no food, drenched to the skin and just 10 mins fishing each day saw him catch some stonkers in the best way possible IMO - selective stalking, and freelining - it doesn't get any better. What scenes, experiences that will stay with us forever, sheer magic!