yonny

Almost everywhere started spawning this week. We had some rain show up with that fresh north easterly last night over my way so it'll be interesting to see what happens today. Significantly cooler this next few days with cold nights. Looking like we might have one of those stop/start/stop/start years.

Interesting. I knew that the otter decline in France had slowed, but wasn't aware it was becoming a problem for fisheries?

I'd be livid! I'd be buzzing 🤣

Awesome. Made my day that has fells 👍👍👍👍

I agree. Big waters are a case of find them, catch them. Small waters, anglers are on them all the time. You need a little time to figure it out.

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Spot on.

I can relate to this massively. It was an 80 acre nature reserve with a very low stock that did it for me. I was nowhere near ready for it and blanked for a whole season before catching one right at the end (to this day one of the best I've ever caught). What a learning curve it was. The buzz from catching that carp set me on a path that I could never go back from. There are very few blanks that wind me up. As long as I learn something (i.e. literally anything) about the lake or its inhabitants on a blank, I'm not bothered. Every now I'll have a blank session where nothing is learned and that's the only time I'll be a little peeved. Best thing for that is get back down there and bag one!

I tend to fish harder lakes with very limited time so blanking is part of the furniture. Sure it can be frustrating, but it doesn't break me and I never question my tactics (unless I see something that tells my I'm using the wrong tactics which in itself I would consider to be a result.... critical info learned innit). Ultimately, I'm not going to get the buzz I seek from easy, heavily stocked waters. If that means I have to go for longer periods without catching then so be it. I'd rather spend my one night a month doing everything in my power to find and catch something special than queuing up on a day ticket to catch a fish that comes out once a week. Again - I don't get this. In years gone I've retreated to easier waters when it looks like a blank year is on the cards but the result is always the same - catch a few doubles or twenties that mean very little to me..... feel like I've wasted precious time that could've been spent chasing the proper ones...... go back to the hard lake and stay there until I've achieved what I wanted to achieve. Basically a pointless exercise. Of course it's all personal choice but for me: the harder the task, the bigger the buzz when it's job done. That's in all walks of life imo - not just fishing.

I'm still amazed that this trend has taken off. Don't get me wrong, I've no problem with high TC rods, but for me they exist to hit distance, and for that you need length too. If you don't need to hit distance then I cannot see why anyone would choose a higher TC. It's a compromise for casting because you don't have the length, and a compromise for playing fish because the TC is too high..... worst of both worlds!

Absolutely next level mate! Awesome! Edit: what a shot too. Fantastic photo of a fantastic carp.

Hoping @Pete Springate's Guns gives us the low down on his latest result!

Never had an issue with the figure of eight. I'd be looking at the boilie or maybe the hooklink if I were you. Assuming the link isn't too thick, the boilie must be too hard/brittle?

No doubt you will fella 👌

Just had a read back through this thread and one thing that's not mentioned (unless I missed it) is the size of the carp being caught. Catching small carp on big carp tackle is imo a prime cause of mouth damage. Even with lighter gear, care needs to be taken so as not to damage the mouth of smaller carp. I don't bother with superglue personally. Not sure why folks are getting wound up about the should/shouldn't of it. Most of my fishing is done with pop ups although I have experimented with very fine braids in bags. Never had an issue with mouth damage. I always use shrink tube to extend the hook shank which I think helps. I'm normally fishing for bigger carp anyway so mouth damage tends not to be a problem.

I bought something similar about 15 years ago. Problem is you use them, dry them, use them, dry them and after a week or two they absolutely stink of silt and god knows what else. I binned mine after a month. They were rank!

Tbf I'd support a ban on carrying them in public or even needing a license to have one. Although you'd not see me signing any petition!

Starts fishing for cats...... catches carp. I think it's clear if you want a cat you need to get the carp gear back out 😅

Both.... I still look at my gear and think "how have I got so much stuff with me?"!

Me too.... I bought a Pioneer Ultralight last year.... not used it once.... it's just sitting there. Like you I chase the weight. I'm always looking to save a few grams here or there (in fact I just bought a titanium cup for silly money (🤦‍♂️).... that's how anal about weight I am). I have several shelters but I always use either the mk1 Tempest Brolly or mk1 Lo Pro.. just because they're light. I still have an original Supa Brolly kicking about somewhere... also mega light. One thing that winds me up.... as new versions are released (Tempest mk2 and RS, Lo Pro mk2 etc etc) they ALWAYS put on weight. Thicker material etc. I hate that!

Not sure it's worth it mate. The Speedflex is 4.5 KG vs the 3.75 KG of the MHR. Might save you 30 seconds set-up time but not sure that's worth the extra kilo.

Caught my first carp of the year this weekend after a winter in which I did next to no angling for one reason or another. The weekend started well with 3 carp and a tench. Another bite resulted in a loss on Saturday morning but it was enough to have me blagging another night. Unfortunately, despite that warm sunshine, that cold easterly had them backing off and without a move on the cards I was stuck camping for the night. Still, a lovely weekend and I just hope I can get back out at some point soon. Here's the best of them. The linear is I think an original, typified by the little melted heart-shaped tail that most of the OG's in this water have. The common is I think a stock fish but no less welcome for it. Clearly one on it's way to being a real biggun.

Yeah. Not what I expected!

Scared the hell out of him!

When I say spotted one I mean nearly collided with it! Clear as day.