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Morning anglers, I'm fairly new to the sport and have been fishing for carp sine 2018. One thing I have noticed is the pressure in the angling community applied by the big brands and manufacturers and sponsored anglers. The truth is other then your rods and reels and having your rig amongst hungry carp the rest is irrelevant. I been using cheap lines, home made rigs, variety of bait that some anglers wouldn't think to use and the results were the same as for those having to remortgage their house for a days fishing 😅. From personal experience and I'm no branded scientist who can speak carp if the fish are hungry they will eat. How often do you open your fridge and don't find what you like and you eat what's there anyway because you are hungry. Obviously the introduction of certain baits does make carp fussy but I found using what never works on a venue for most anglers keeps catching me fish. I fished for carp in the States I had no idea about boilies pellets etc and all we used was a tin of corn and I caught more then I do sometimes on the boilies pellets etc. It's all very well watching monster carp and seeing 70lbs being pulled in like there is no tomorrow, but what they don't show is all the sonars and fish finders they use prior to the amazing footage on TV. Carp fishing is meant to be a hobby, relaxing inexpensive way to forget about the world. Instead it's a expensive competition between anglers. Don't get me wrong it's all personal perception and each individual will feel different about it. In my personal opinion it all comes down to luck. You can have the most attractive bait, best rig in the world etc and you can blank or catch the same way I use whatever I can get my hands on (always safe for the fish) and catch or blank on my basic gear. Just yesterday I fished next to a nash angler who was sweating like mad trying all his tactics and god knows what whilst me and my pall had 5 kg of home made bait never used on the venue before and we were hauling carp in like there was no tomorrow. If you ask me, yes we probably were landing on a shole of fish but then why did t the expensive bait reel them in of our spot? I stand by luck on the day more then the bait and rigs and glugs etc. Ps. Feeding carp bait in a tank in a controlled environment doesn't determine success of the bait. Tight lines everyone. Stay safe out there.

It's not luck, it's about having the right rig/bait/ trap in the right place at the right time, if you catch one it's because you have done all those things right, yes there may be elements of good fortune, you may have just walked round the corner at the right time to see one lump out or show you a sign, but you still have to tempt it to take your hookbait, some people just sit for days in the same swim and hope they come along, I never have the luxury of time so I prepare before a session and sometimes it pays off but it's never wasted time I don't think, learning what you have done wrong is as if not more important than learning what you did right 👍

That is great effort mate and something I truly admire. I don't particularly go hunting for the fish, so far I been picking a spot where fish were showing and I introduce bait. Scater it rou d and in the spot creating almost like a scenario where they have to move around whilst feeding and with any luck they will stumble upon the mighty rig. I love watching anglers climbing trees and spending more time walking around then by their rods and then it comes a screaming run and the hard work pays off. I'm the opposite, I truly believe if it's 50 percent luck and 50 percent work. Having caught fish on a single hook bait with no baiting up and no signs of fish on the spot its anyone's game. Watching monster carp last night and their last trip in France fishing in cold water at 11 ft not a bite and as soon as the water warms up they move to a spot with 6ft depth and fish are coming out that's not what I do. Probably why I don't catch in winter an awful lot. Saying that I have pulled lakes biggest catch by just using my method, rightly or wrongly it works. Its amazing how different anglers use different approaches and in a way train the fish to react to it time and time again. However we all fish is irrelevant to the end result. Seeing the bobin go up and rod tip bend is an amazing feeling when you spent hours doing your absolute most the get them there. For me it's about the tranquility and peace when I'm at the lake. Blank or.not it's always a good day.

My reality of fishing has changed quite a lot lately, I fish for me, I like the peace and quiet, I'm not an antisocial angler and will talk to anyone that walks past but if I don't see anyone or can't see anyone around me and it's me vs the fish that's when I love it the most, I like making plans, getting the weed rake out clearing spots, walking around prebaiting, looking for signs, some of the most amazing fishing for me this year was just watching fish feeding on a spot I made, I only got to fish it once before it was overgrown again(10lb mirror and a tench) but I baited it for a few weeks and would regularly see big carp feeding on my spot and I saw the first one I had caught from the lake when I rejoined, it was just as good as fishing for me which is handy because I've only managed a few trips this year,and I am still smarting from the 2 lost fish from last time,, 😭 I'm hoping for a big autumn campaign. It seems my time of the year, so that's what I am already planning for, I know I won't be top rod there a lots of younger keener anglers, who have time and youth on their side and the drive, but if I can do enough to make me happy then that's all I need, actually I am pretty certain I've lost 2 30lb carp from this lake now, i am also pretty certain I deserve some redemption, but none of it will be luck, but effort and hopefully that will bring reward 👍

My cane rods are approx 2.75lbs test curve at 9'3"... they handle 20's with little or no effort and I was in the process of playing one of Ashmead's 'A' team on one when the hook pulled... this little chap went 22lb 6 oz on a little 8 foot stalking rod

As an angler who uses cane rods and centerpin reels do you honestly think I would stoop to such a travesty as a bait boat...?😛 You'll be accusing me of being a drone pilot next...🤣🤣🤣

Very good bait back in the day. I'd love to think it's the same recipes but I doubt it if I'm honest. Alan would qualify as one of carp anglings true legends. RIP. No mate. If they're feeding on the bait and you're not getting takes it's more likely a presentation issue. Hitting single beeps is imo clutching at straws and not addressing the real problem (whatever that may be).