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I know what you mean. Stick with your go to set up, don't change anything. It's been 3 years since I caught a decent fish. I've tried all sorts of different methods on a huge water. This year I went to a small venue with the missus and kids, ended up fishing a stiff fluro rig that smashed my original syndicate, due to nce clean bottom. It worked, so I used that rig at my syndicate reservoir. 1st carp out, is a new pb 35lbs. Followed by a nice little common, 22lb, I wish I could get a 30+ common! But always seem to get mirrors?? Hard earned, but regret not using my best rig from the start. Got the bug again, but family life is very restrictive at the moment. Social meeting there tomorrow evening. I live in hope to get bankside in the next few weeks, this is my favourite time of year to be out🥺

I'm out again this weekend for another 24hrs, I'm going to be trying a different club lake Well it's a Reservoir 20 to 25 ft deep a different challenge all together, my usual lake has got a charity carp match on it which Highy is fishing and good luck to him, So I thought I would give somewhere else a go, I have pike fished it and once for the carp with nothing. But it will make a nice change. Here are a couple of pictures.

This is exactly my plan, I know what the bottom is like so I know my usual multi rig approach will work fine, the main difference is fishing a much deeper water. Unfortunately my 24hrs has turned into a day session on Saturday due to being greedy and working overtime on Sunday. But it will still be great to get back on the bank. 😁👍

My frying pan, plate and spatula all go in the interior pocket at the back of my rucksack, the stove, gas canister and saucepan go in the main body. My ruckbag carries my coffee, sugar, food and electrical bits; tablet, chargers/powerpack, along with a couple of books. Suffered tonight with food, for the first time in years it was bacon, sausages and fried eggs, followed by a 5 pack of Jaffa cake bars.

Forgot my password for a while so never got round to putting up a report of my 2020 carp. This year a few problems distracted me but here finally are a few recent carp photos. I was fishing for barbel, but always take my carp rod. When I saw the river at perfect flow and felt it was warming in the sun I felt confident there might be carp about. Put the heavy rod out at long range downriver whilst I fished the feeder rod for barbel. The 26lb fully scaled came first, then the 29lb "ugly" carp took on my feeder rod. Last was a massive 42lb fully scaled river carp - Dream Fish! I did not take that last one up the bank, released quickly as it had put up a really good fight in the current. I will find a few photos after lunch of last years carp.

They go up to mid twenty and the odd high twenty which rarely come out. And old pics mate taken in 2019.🤣👍

Well, it has been some time since I caught a carp! Summer drought conditions since mid-June and fishing has been a struggle. Very early morning sessions I managed a few barbel, mostly small. But I did have a couple of decent barbel just before the canicule heat spoiled my chances.... The weed growth did continue during the heatwave - both in the river and along the river banks. Long stretches covering my favourite swims solid with Japanese Knotweed making them unreachable! I lost three big carp over a couple of sessions due to the river weed. It made me rethink my hook-length and leader materials. Having made a few changes I tried again, my next mistake was telling my friend where I was fishing. He of course caught a 31 lb carp and a nice barbel - I blanked! But a few days later I noted some fresh flow in my local stretch, first for months. No idea where that came from! But I had a good idea where I might get a carp, unfortunately my friend came with me! This time I was determined to catch "MY" fish! had a couple of good knocks on the rod tip about 15 minutes after casting to my favourite tiny "hot-spot" where two currents converge over a slight depression. A little while later this great fish took off towards the opposite bank. A tremendous fight ensued, where the carp headed for every snag from boulders to sunken trees. My change of trace/leader material did its job and I got the carp to the net at the third attempt. Weighed over the water in the net, wet net deducted, gave a weight of 38.5 lbs. I had lost a couple from this swim in previous years so it was a great relief to finally get it right. Between the two of us we put the net across my thighs to protect the fish during the "trophy shot" moment. No time wasted the fish was back in the river and after a little rest it was away from the net. My tackle changes were not rocket science. I had to give up with mono, fluoro and uncoated braid and tried ESP tungsten loaded semi-stiff braid. Despite that fish going through the usual snags there was just one small area of coating damaged, the interior braid was still intact. That and changing my lead clip to a Korum type, it did its job and slipped the lead on the take. Oh, my fishing buddy blanked this time! 😂

Not at all mate , if I hadn’t seen the stocking photos with my own eyes I’d probably question it myself . But yes , all part of the puzzle . I said to Nick ( I think) only the other week that it’s the challenge that I’m enjoying so it doesn’t matter to me whether a catch a big girl this weekend or if it takes 5 years The important part to me is that whatever the plan , I’ll have the opportunity to implement it as I don’t have to rush to the lake after work in order to get a swim , ANY swim . I can casually turn up when I feel like it and pick & choose location. That fact , I’m delighted to say , is reflected in the title of the thread and is worth every penny of the annual ticket money regardless of the stamp of fish.

Only a suggestion, have you tried a completely different bait to target the bigger ones? Sometimes a small hook bait can catch the bigger fish Tigers? Corn? My old favorite, a matchbox size lump of luncheon meat in armor mesh. (you may get the odd predator take that though, had a decent pike out of yately on that & a 22lb stocky) It's all part of the puzzle you have to get your head round. By the way, I presume that there is larger carp in there & your not just catching the average stamp? Sorry if that is a stupid question

I have used tapered leaders for sea fishing, and the leader lasts multiple sessions. I would suggest checking it every time you reel in, habit for me, but mussels, gravel etc, can take chunks out of your line.

Just got a few minutes, here are last years. All between 14lb and 20lb for me. But my friend wanted to catch a carp so I had set him up with tackle and he got the biggie at 34lb. Fishing with friends not always recommended!!!!!