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Gonna be concentrating all my efforts on the secret lake next year. I'm sure there is something very special in there and my mate a lovely mid double lin a couple of months back when we thought it was only commons. Gonna start the baiting on 1st of March and make a new spot to fish where nobody is gonna find us. Exciting times ahead.

My big boy rods have arrived, they are almost new I think, barely look used, still got the wrappers on well chuffed with them, I just went out to cast one they feel perfect, longer handle than the 10ft which I like and they feel beefier but responsive, that was a good lucky find, and being 12ft they won't look too short on the pod 😂😂😁

Planning to spend some time fishing a new lake next year on an abandoned estate. I need to install some stepping stones across the boundary stream so I don’t get wet every time, make the hole in the fence bigger but not so big it attracts attention and undesirables, hack a short cut through some very dense brambles and clear a swim to make it fishable.

I will be getting a ticket for my local club the same club as highy and maybe the night ticket, I keep saying I'm going to start doing some over nighters but never got around to it this year but I think the club water I'm fishing at the moment is perfect for me to do some over nighters and at £70 for the year I think it's a bargain. I'm also going to try and fish some of the other waters on the ticket, not carp but it will be nice too fish for some other species as well. 🎣🙂👍

I think we all are in the same boat... Obtain my same ticket again with the added night permit...plenty of 48hrs on them...also visit some of the other lakes on it. Target the 1 fish in the local lake @finchey it's a beauty...26lb DARK common... Hopefully the little en comes more. Start to accurate casting n spiffing. Few Nik Naks (not the crisp)...see what the year brings...

I just want to go more And just enjoy it without it being a chore I joined a lake 3 years ago and have been 3 times in total lol good job it’s cheap going to let one ticket go then play everything else by ear and see what happens

I doubt I am the only one that has already started planning for the year ahead? Next couple of Months head down trying to work hard and save up a bit of spare dosh, get new syndicate ticket and a few odds and sods 😏 then about march crack on for the year with a new challenge and a fresh start, this year has been a real steep learning curve for me, the highs and lows were good lessons to learn, I learnt I haven't got time for a real serious tough challenge and want to go fishing thinking I have a chance, I know I will mainly only be doing overnighters that seems the way for me, I want to go to catch fish not just one particular fish, so will be planning and baiting accordingly, working it out as I go, I am happy with my bait choice now you will be pleased to know so no more dicking about with that 😁 Targets 30lb +carp, and some nice shots and hopefully a good few for the photo album, but really I just want to enjoy it, to be able to relax and do it my way, take in the atmosphere, and be at peace with my surroundings ✌️😁 Lose some timber (mainly for happiness and mental wellbeing, not cos I feel Inadequate without a 6 pack ) 😁 Take the girls more, and try to maintain a healthy work/family/fishing balance Also I want to become more accurate at longer ranges, and also better at the other stuff and not worrying about rigs and bait I am pretty sure they work now it's more location, tactics, accuracy and opportunity, What are you guys planning for the new year?

Got to love full cork handles! Years and years ago I had my Greys Prodigys converted to full cork. Still using them, still loving them. Ian.

Absolutely mate, it's very easy to fall into that trap when you think you know what they're up to so you commit everything only to find out they're elsewhere! Ha! Of course you'll become obsessed. Don't worry about the times it seems less enjoyable. Those times are important. Without those lows you can never experience the extreme highs that come when it all goes right!

I perhaps worded it badly, I meant more when you have planned and planned and it doesn't go to plan that it feels like a waste of energy, it wasn't but it feels like it is, I will still spend time walking and prebaiting and making sure I have rigs ready etc and ideas planned and I will also still enjoy it, maybe I am just kidding myself I won't become obsessed 😁 But I want to make less solid plans be more organised beforehand with a few options and be more flexible to adapt to another situation upon arrival and not having made my mind up before I even get there because its become a routine to fish that swim, or because that's where I think they might be, That still sounds a bit waffly after all that but hopefully makes some sense 😁

I know I'll not be fishing that much in 2020 (it'll be more than I did in 2019 though). I'll be repeating the little autumn campaign on the days only club water I fished over Sept/Oct. That's if I'm not lucky enough to catch the biggun in spring (which is unlikely as A) I wont have a lot of time and B) the place sees miles more pressure in spring). But having walked the place all spring last year I might have a head start over some of the other guys. I know the spring areas and I know a couple of spots (which are at a premium as it's so, so weedy). I know where the biggun tends to get caught too. I don't think I'll get away with baiting due to how busy it gets in spring so my approach will likely be singles and zigs. Autumn I'll be piling it in, it was quiet last year. Of course all this assumes the biggun doesn't get ottered this winter! My main priority for 2020 is to obtain a ticket for 2021. I have a couple of fingers in a couple of pies so I'm quite hopeful.

I think that is the tough one lsnt it, I find I've spent the week building up to a session planning and prepping and thinking, then by the time you get there you are knackered as something won't be how you imagine it in the build up, then it all feels a bit of a waste of all that energy, for me I think the key is to try to plan less and be better prepared for more situations I am also going to keep a log this year so I can remember more and make the same mistakes less 🤔😳😳😳😳😳😊😁