OldBoy

Not a doubter mate, does make me think when you reach a 'certain' age.... whatever that is but you will know, night fishing in winter probably not a great idea tbh. Completly understand a days pike fishing with heated stuff, also I remember having a Zippo hand warmer when winter day fishing in my younger days.

** just as a correction - Actually Wychwood 101's

Sorry mate if it sounded like a dig at you, it deff wasn't intended. Just seems to me that if people feel the need to buy this stuff, shouldn't they question if they should be fishing in colder weather at all? As for a Throwing stick, used to use an origanal Cobra one, long sinced binned, flying rats soon put pay to that, and where I fish now not needed at all. I still use a spomb on occasions to get particles out.... actually made 'spods' out of gardner boilie gun tubes and shampoo bottles back in the day. Bait boats not relevent for me as they are banned on the lakes I fish, if they were allowed, would I spend money on them? I think not. Carp reels, yes Shimano bait runners, rapidly found at the time before 'big pit' reels were 'invented' that a change to sea fishing reels - Ryobi Project - I think were a vast improvement on anything 'carpy' at the time. Not sure about 'specialised' ringing thet we now use? Hutchy horizons didn't seem to have them, oh I obviously don't use them now, long gone. Just use a fairly cheap pair of Korum 2.5 test curve rods, I love them. Anyway, take care in your fishing and stay safe in the cold weather, at my age I just don't do it anymore, not my idea of enjoying my time on the bank anymore 👍

Whatever next..... oh maybe heated bivvie slippers!!! 😂 Probably WiFi controlled from a massive power bank with iPhone and iPad connected too? Really, if you want to get out in winter, which I never do anymore why buy this rubbish?? Just man up! If anyone doubts my winter fishing credentials, i did post a few pics of me at Horseshoe lake with snow on bivvie, a fox bed chair, argos sleeping bag and blanket over the top.Sometimes I do despair about the modern generation of 'Carp Anglers'. Good luck with you Halo heated blanket tho! 😀 Oh and don't forget some heated gloves if you actually get out of the bivvie to land a fish? Sorry to be so cynical but......

For what it's worth, pva bags in colder weather probably not a good idea, also the preping them up with anything with oil in them does stop the breakdown. Just an alternative idea for winter, why not try the old idea of pva stringers? I used to do the 3 bait stringer thing many years ago, it actually did work back then but too old now to get on bank before next spring 😂

Just had a nose at the blurb on Gov site, guessing now, no need for net dipping, not sure that was actually to effective tbh. We won't know what fisheries were affected and no need to worry about it now then, hopefully Angling clubs are aware of this?! Here is a sample of what is being said: Why the approach is changing Over time, Cefas scientists and epidemiologists have undertaken multiple reviews of KHV controls, drawing on more than 15 years of outbreak investigations and epidemiological analyses. These reviews consistently show that: KHV is endemic and widespread in recreational fisheries in England and Wales outbreaks occur regularly and are influenced primarily by environmental conditions and stress, with good fishery management and biosecurity practices helping to reduce likelihood and impact. affected fisheries present a low risk of onward spread, due to limited live fish movements statutory controls at these sites have not demonstrably reduced disease frequency or spread the virus persists in sub-clinically infected carp populations in recreational fisheries and wild populations, with carrier fish often showing no obvious signs of disease Taken together, this evidence shows that applying statutory disease controls at recreational fisheries does not materially affect the overall epidemiological situation and spread of KHV. On this basis, Defra has endorsed a revised, evidence-led and proportionate approach to statutory disease control in recreational fisheries.

As @salokcinnodrog has said, just google and search, a very quick check by me seems to dig up a few results there 😂 You do know this is Carp Forum tho? Perhaps, try a barbel forum? However I suspect they are even more secretive than any Carp forum?

🙄 😂

With age, unfortunatly comes cynicism, suspect @salokcinnodrog, is probably right. @BackInTheGame, why do you actually feel you need the shorter rods? oh and the rest of the stealh stuff that is probably associated with them too? In perspective, I still have a 9 foot Wychwood extractor, I used it at a small Dorset lake years ago for margin fishing with a centre pin, probably the most enjoyable carp fishing I have had for years, but on everyday carp fishing I do now, just not an option and can't see the point really? 👍

I remember a 'sort of quilted themal onesie' I had from Catchum, it actually did the job..... however that was in my younger days! 😁 Think that really sums it up for me too, unfortunatly can't turn the clock back, have to enjoy the time on the bank hopefully away from too many kn*b heads 👍

@framey With respect mate, not sure what your point is?? Old fashioned tackle... well I guess we all now use fixed spool reels that were developed in the 1900's ? Anyway, don't want to intrude on the OP post, but guessing it was about the general lack of the old days mentality, imo sadly lacking now

Were things better? That's a very good question.... I am of an age when 'social media' really meant Carp Talk and Carp World... then that cheeky newcomer Rob Maylin with Big Carp, from memory not long after the magazine shelves in Smiths were rammed with Carp mags.In my opinion, it is now like so many other things, ramped up by so many social media outlets, does it affect me, no I might look at the odd YouTube thing that catches my eye. But to actively follow 'fisherman' just seems a bit wierd to me, let me be honest I did start to watch a 'Sir' Pete Springate one but turned it off after 10 mins, actually very boring... and he was old school. As for very early days, I still remember my first carp caught, cat food and groundbait paste from a small farm pond on the IOW. I didn't get seriously into carp fishing for many years after that, concentrated on club match and pleasure fishing in the surrey area, think my point is that I didn't suddenly go straight into the Carp thing.I do feel slightly sad that the joy of catching a dace, chub or even gudgeon seems to have been lost, assuming any rivers now actually are able to support them any more? Finally, to get back to your question... In my opinion, I think manners and respect for other anglers were very higher than they are now. Were they better, I think so but guess in reality things are so different now and most of us have to live with it.

Tigers and hemp - never buy hemp anymore - poor quality imo and price gone through the roof too. I sometimes use an alternative that looks like it tho, Not tried Kidney beans but have made a mental note 👍 Chickpeas I use in my spod / spomb mix, and mix natural and coloured ones together. Might even sneak them on a hair rig too! 🤫 Blackeyes are very underated and many many years ago I used them float fishing at a Kernow venue with great success. @greekskii and @yonny I accept you might find my posts on here a bit 'provocative' but as said before I have really seen and heard it all before, just for info I should be off to a lake tomorrow, method feeder and particle hook baits, will I catch, I hope so, at my age just love getting out on the bank now. Tight Lines all