Leaderboard

That's the thing buddy walking along the river and being out all day like you do you absolutely need dry and warm clothing to put on as and when you need it, being out in the boats you cant just say oh I'm cold and wet and not enjoying it very much can we go home? NO you've paid quite a lot to do this activity - make the most of it. I also saw the advantage for my carping, I can be out looking, baiting up, moving swims in all weathers whilst almost everyone else is tucked up inside bivvies. Money well spent IMO

As an aside , I woke up in the ICU yesterday morning, seems I’d fainted and lost consciousness. When my Mrs asked what had happened I said “I dunno love , last thing I remember I was on EBay looking at the price of Snugpak jackets & sleeping bags “….

At the other end of the scale but along the same lines --- I had just landed a fish when this very old chap who had been fishing not far from me came up to take a look and the conversation went something like this. “That’s a nice fish” he said “Thank you. Do you fish here often”? I asked “once or twice per month” “any luck? “Oh I’ve never caught a fish – I just like fishing”

https://www.geoffanderson.com/keep-warm-a-guide-to-dress-correct-3-layer-principle/ Had a look at the Site Kev recommended. The top range stuff might need a lottery win but the link explains the layering system well. I used to barbel fish on the Lower Severn in the winter quite a few years ago and it often required a long walk to get to the river. When the Severn floods, it literally can be a mile wide. It used to take me 15 minutes to yomp across the fields with a pack on my back, rod quiver and bait bucket. Even if it was cold, when I got out of the car I would strip down to my base layer and goretex jacket. When I got to the swims, I would be pretty warm from the exertion but once I cooled down, I would put on my jumper and then later on if the temperature started to plummet, put on a fleece. Once packed up, I would strip back down again for the long walk back to the car.

They're not cheap I'll grant you. I fell over looking at prices too. Having tried winter carping once many years ago, and freezing my wotsits off, I was willing to pay to keep warm though. Got to be the biggest factor in going I reckon. If I'm cold, I'll soon wish I wasn't there, stop enjoying it and lose interest. So for me, to keep going through the colder months, worth it I hope. If I put a fish on the bank in winter it will be. 🎣❄️

Worth a look at the lightweight boot too, I use those also, you can actually walk round in them, not as much sweat going on. Game changer/life saver for me was a heated gilet from Amazon - battery powered, I bought it purely for my winter boat predator fishing on Rutland and Grafham which can be a bit extreme at times, I take it winter carping and use it without the battery just for a nice extra layer.

Thank you for your beautiful post , Barry . I find that as I get older I'm getting grumpier , and too quick to jump to the wrong conclusions 😔 . I would like to think even I would have worked out what was happening , and now your timely post has given me a kick up the bum to put my brain in gear . 😃

Thanks mate I wasnt sure if the knot weakened after each fish etc. That's cool though I set should last me a while then 👍

I keep them set up ready to go at all times mate. They stay on the rods. No need to re-tie.

Thanks mate I will get some ordered. Just so I'm on the same page, you didn't reattach the leader with a fresh knot after a fish or anything?

I use these. I've used the same ones for 3 seasons now. They last longer than you need to worry about buddy.

Different waters Different results. For some reason some of the waters I've fished have still been night time waters, even in the depths of winter. Yet others the takes do switch to coming during the day, or at any time. Earith Virgina Water was very much a night water, all of my winter fish coming at night between 8pm and 8am. We had some cold wet nights when I was fishing there, and I was still doing 2night sessions. Nazeing Brackens produced fish between midday and 9pm, yet the lagoons could be anytime. Those big Southwesterlies can be very good to fish in, a proper system that seems to get the fish moving again, yet a steady period of high pressure, cold, no rain or snow can have the fish switch off. The carp can really hold tight in one area, so takes can come at anytime if you can find them. Near weed, snags, drop-offs and as @yonny mentioned, not always the deepest water. It's weird seeing 20carp huddled together in the rushes in water only 1metre deep. Again on Earith I had a lot of my fish in winter from a bloodworm bed in silt next to the base of islands. Catching plenty of upper doubles saw me getting noticed, and when another angler started fishing the spot, I moved areas, and found a few bigger fish from a snag at the other end of the island. Even in winter fish will show, at any time, although I've noticed it more from lunchtime until just after dark. Hearing big fish jump in the dark at 6pm, looking for the origin of the ripples... It is that showing that saw me catch some very good fish from the Nazeing Central lagoon, just after a thaw. So much water coming in the inlet that a 3oz lead wouldn't hold bottom near it. I walked around, and 'thought' I saw a roll or show, so set up on it. Over the next 4 days I had 26, 26, 20 and 16lb fish, and all on one rod. The middle rod fished metres away produced nothing, same bait, same rig, but the fish were tight to the end of the gravel bar on Bower bank Long Island swim.

OK as you've said that maybe check this company out 'Geoff Anderson', fishing clothing made purposely for fishing in the cold - pricey but this is top end gear, you get what you pay for - absolutely no regrets buying this gear I am having more when I've saved up. 👍

Visited the same venue today - Something to note is that I forgot to subtract my net weight on these carp until today, weighing my net today it was exactly 2lb (wet) - which means today's carp was 8lb, the 2 carp in the OP pictures are therefore 6lb'something and 7lb'something, so still no double from this venue yet. I'm going to a different venue tomorrow with the potential for some 20lb+ fish and also some big ghost carp known to be up 18lb.

Thank you all for your replies. I have taken your good advice to heart, looked at various options and placed an order for some Fortis salopettes and an FJ6 jacket along with some Skeetex boots. That should keep me nice and warm in the worst of winter! I'll order some seed based base mix and pop up mix next and start introducing a winter boilie. Roll on autumn!

Lefty and proud of it, power to the people

Hang on Trotsky …

I'd say "proper carp fishing", in the UK at least - implies static rigs on the bottom - boilies and size 6 or bigger hooks - 9 out of 10 times, 15lb+ mainline, rods on buzz bars with alarms / baitrunners, 42" landing nets, probably a bivvy, etc etc. "proper" is a poor choice of word, but it's also completely understood if you're not being pedantic - when you look at a "proper" carp angler on the bank, you instantly know exactly what he's doing, as opposed to an angler holding a float rod who could be doing anything of a number of things - you wouldn't really instantly know what flavour of fish he's targeting. "proper" wasn't a word to discredit other approaches - although I can definitely see why somebody might conclude that it is, like I said - poor choice of words, it was intended to imply the instantly identifiable approach to carp fishing.

You know what ? That exact thought crossed my mind when I was posting yesterday…. But decided against mentioning it for fear of offending , as , as you say it means different things to different people . But while we’re on the subject 🤣…. Under normal circumstances I’d be adamant that on a pond like this , where the fish go to 11lb , the approach with the heavy artillery, 15lb line 20lb hooklink etc hook size unknown , would be massive overkill and , for me , would take all the fun out of playing the fish . However on this occasion I’m certain that this is merely a practice run , as it were, for B33troot trying out his new set up etc . He said himself above that he is already doing his homework, seeking out appropriate (runs ?) waters actively as we speak in search of larger quarry and he has been angling and been around angling for many years so knows the score . Indeed I would be the last person to try and teach grandma to suck eggs Hope you aren’t offended B33T 👍🏻

"Proper" carp fishing means different things to different people. There is nothing improper about float fishing for carp.

Excellent post mate . I wish every Angler on the bank felt the same way as you (and I). The wildlife indeed helps . Tj took this whilst he was fishing 👍🏻

slightly different experience but similar subject and an experience i want to share here, i was having a cheeky day session on my local water and towards the end of the day a young lad possibly mid teens and his dad turn up. i was the only person on this small lake but they set up opposite me (30m) and the dad looks my way and waves sort of apologetically as his lad starts throwing a line in (float) and begins flinging it about like an excited toddler. i see what is going on and from the looks of things this is a lad that has suddenly taken to fishing with all the hyperfocus i have encountered with my friends kids and also from what i do for a living and is diving all over their side of the bank with such enthusiasm flicking his line here and there every time he sees a fish leap or show on the surface. the dad is a supportive spectator of all of this action and keeps looking my way to sort of say sorry and i tell you now this was one of the most beautiful and heart warming things i have seen in a long while. the pure enjoyment radiating of this lad was wonderful and i thought if this works for him and his dad then fair play as it was a joy to watch, when i wrapped up they were still there and after several thumbs up to the dad i shouted good luck and really just wanted to stay and watch as this whole thing had me quietly cheering the lad on the whole time. i was desperate for him to land something but from what i could see this was something both had done before and the support and encouragement from the father was something i thought as wonderful. i think fishing is something that all can enjoy and would and have never had any problems sitting and explaining what i am doing with inquisitive children and have accompanied chldren of friends with very very short attention spans and often have just reeled in and walked around the venues with them chatting away then back to the rods and a few more minutes of intense fishing before another short break. hats off and respect to anyone that starts this hobby/passion/life as it brings its own rewards with memories and time away from pressures in life, i remember when i started taking my kids it was instant results that were wanted to hold thier interest so it was a whip pole and red maggots all the way just so they would catch something, now me and my daughter can sit peacefully for a while before the wandering and focus loss kicks in but then as she is older a quick walk around with a camera taking pics of wildlife works for her and we are then back fishing again. sorry if off topic but this experience has stayed with me and wanted to share it and wish good luck to everyone that wants to share their passion with their children but worried about what others may or may not think, if you ever encounter me on a water in Suffolk never worry about your kids enjoying the hell out of a hobby i love and want others to feel the same way.

KIR

My grandson has autism When we go he’s ok for about an hour or 2 at the most then he starts to fidget so we stop and have a bite to eat and a walk around then he’s ok for another hour then it’s time to go home. he wants me to take him Night fishing lol might just have to camp in the garden first before I lug all that gear around for an hour