elmoputney

I've still got some money from recent sellings, and I quite fancy a bushwhacker pole? I think I could do quite well using it on my lakes I could really see the benefit of being able to get onto those hard to reach areas currently only available to the bait boats but........ Can anyone tell me if I should or shouldn't buy one? All reviews I read and see seem positive tbh, I understand I would need extra sections but that is where the Bush whacker comes into its own for me you can go pretty long, I can see a world of opportunity and a lot less disturbance, Infact in my head I am taking the place apart already 😂😂 Help?

No problem I don't take it personally, It was just difficult because I was agreeing with everyone, but possibly couldn't say what I meant properly 😂 Personally as long as I enjoy fishing that's what matters, now more than ever I can see the benefit of working harder at it, but sometimes it is nice just to be there relaxing with a tinny and listening to the silence and nature 😏

I totally get that and agree,👍 I used to have a really good shift pattern years ago that allowed me to finish a night shift on a Sunday get to the lake at 6am and fish til Thursday or Friday and still go on the lash all weekend before work Monday, if I had my head now on that younger body, I probably would be a lot more successful lol, but it was the 90s and 00's and I loved partying and fishing was a hobby, I was a fieldtester (team member😂😂) for the bait and feed company, along with Nick actually, we tested a good bait though and did I catch some nice fish, but actually looking back I probably didn't catch more back then, I still think last year was one of best years as I worked hard and actually think because it was time away from home I wanted to make it count, but I never progressed back then and never dared go on to the big boy lakes, St Ives had the Fat lady in at the time,I remember talk of Darrell peck being on there and I could never find the big boy pants to try and have a go, Infact I think then my shifts changed, life changed, and that was when I stopped That is exactly what I meant 👍 It was nice when I had no responsibility, I used to fish a lot more, I didn't realise at the time but I had totally sussed out feeding times on this farm pond, even learnt how to catch the big ones but I didn't realise what I had learnt lol 17lb pond record holder though for a long time 😁 And you 👍

I have previously mentioned the sacrifices these anglers make and have made in my previous posts, I am under no illusion they make sacrifices to do this, and If that is what they want fair play to them, I am not jealous of them having loads of time on the bank either good luck to anyone who can do it, I am merely stating that having money and time would make you a better angler, it would allow you fish to the best of your ability and give you more time, And those anglers I chose, I chose because I am aware of the time they commit and have done to get to where they are, bluelabel suggested to me that most top anglers fish less than I do, I have also said I think a syndicate ticket is a sacrifice worth making I'm really not disagreeing with anything anyone says but people seem to want to disagree with me 😭

It isn't about me though, I am in my situation because I have a family etc that comes first,I am happy with that too, family or fishing, family wins, fishing is a hobby a welcome break, the only person I care about being better than is me, I want to improve my skills, catch more and bigger fish but that's it,I have no desire to be the next Terry Hearn or whatever, I learn to do things better each time and always have watched the water constantly, I know I am far from the greatest angler not even the best on my syndicate, but I do what I can,with the time I have,I walk round when I can, find spots, bait up, de weed spots, sometimes when I get there i just go with my guts as I am too tired and just need a break, I think if I went 3 or 4 days a week I would be a better angler but I wouldn't enjoy it as I know my family would be missing their dad, and right now more money would be useful, my misses is on universal credit due to being made redundant after the impact of Covid and I could do with some overtime to make ends meet, we are getting by but it doesn't leave a lot spare for bait and tickets etc So money and time are important 😁

The very reason they don't get to fish is the same as any angler though they need money ? Which dramatically cuts time on the bank for everyone, But mainly they will have already put in a good amount of time when they were young and carefree, I think a lot of the big fish hunters put in a lot of time comparatively though, and fair play to them, if they have there lives worked out so they can then good luck to them 👍 Jim shelley does 5 days a week usually I believe then weekends off Dave Lane does 2-4 nights depending on Conditions etc Not sure what Terry hearn does but I bet its a few days a week Martin Bowler 5 days a week then does his writing at weekends, And just for the record I've not said watercraft isn't important 😭all I am saying is time and money are an important factor

I'm not disagreeing with you, I appreciate watercraft skills are essential but you still need the time,just because someone has lots of money wouldn't mean they are a bad angler, but a good angler still needs it, I was being glib mentioning about needing the best rods but if money wasn't an object I would buy them because I could 👍 but essentially nowadays it comes down to money and sacrifice of other commitments to make the time,

Which comes first though the watercraft or the time spent learning ? I agree some people are better more natural anglers, but I don't think that watercraft is something you are totally born with,I learn something most times I visit the lake, and it still takes time spent on the bank to gain the experience, if I could spend 3 days a week on my lake I would see more, understand more, learn more, and ultimately catch more, I never said I would be guaranteed to catch the biggest fish in the lake but I would probably be a lot closer to it 😏

I would rather fish a syndicate tbh, day tickets are painful to fish, a financial sacrifice well worth paying, even if I am still making do without fancy tackle, Although if I am being funded the bursary required isn't going to be cheap, I've already chosen to spend £4000 on 4 rods and reels lol 😁and naturally I would still need another set at least and a powered barrow, Bivvy, top spec bed, loads of bait, end tackle, top notch luggage, boats bait and proper, £20k is my starting price plus 3k a month and van rental to cover bills and bait 👍

Having money could Definately help though 😂 It would give you security, you could give yourself more time, more bait, less stress, obviously it depends on situation, most top anglers make lots of sacrifice, some have no other commitments, or a job that gives them more time,most seem to put a lot on the line for it, I think even if I did have enough money though these days I still wouldn't have enough time or probably even the desire or the single mindedness, you've still got to have the mental toughness to be able to stick it out, and the ability to be aware your own mental state, to live a good life you need balance, I'm not sure chasing big carp is ideal for that 😳 I agree with what you are saying though, there are no guarantees but if someone wants to bankroll me I'll give it a whirl I reckon I could get 2 or 3 nights a week If it was my job 😂

That's a serious toy dayvid 😳

Took all of these whilst having a family day out at Fen Drayton last year, such a beautiful place,

And you only went in for a look 😁

Have you got a collection of swivels to match?????

Must have left the middle rod at home that day 😳

Stick all those hook links in a Rucksack and walk it off 😂

Tungsten loaded needs mucho lubrication, that seems to stop it splitting, l got a little Gardner stripping tool the other week makes life so much easier 👍 Sink link is a nice uncoated braid, I only stopped using it because I ran out 😂

Glad you agree 🤣

Could be a new trend I think maybe a real blingy reel seat would look amazing 👍 a real juxtaposition of vintage and futuristic,

I am currently listening to Gotta get theroux this on audible, Great listen love Louis Theroux

I think you should rat look it lol, shiny new rings and a camo shrink wrap handle That would upset folk not enough of that sort of thing in vintage tackle 😂

PB jelly wire is the one I seem to go back to it's lovely to use, and I'm getting into Gardner trick link at the moment, I've tied up a few different rigs up this week, just to do something to chill out 😳 That being said I do own and will use a few others 😁 ESP tungsten loaded stiff and semi stiff (prefer semi stiff I think) Mouth trap Bank tackle semi stiff coated, not a bad braid tbh very usable and reasonably priced I would really like to find a really nice uncoated braid though still? 😂 ESP sink link was good, bank tackle kevlar one is OK, but a real nice soft naturally acting braid would be nice for my bags and bag rigs (which I tweaked last night with a different hook pattern 👀😬😀)

You could always look at mountain warehouse or ski type mounteneering shops they have similar clothes but usually go a bit bigger

I did think that afterwards tbh I might test the stretch against the p line, I have no gripes with the hydrotuff I really want less stretch so I can stick it under trees more, 😂 Tbh the bushwhacker may have to go on hold for now as we've just been shafted by our local council, universal credit is only credit if you don't work at all, because I work my wife is entitled to basically sod all, makes me wonder why we both paid all our taxes for all these years,it's a one way street, I've written a strongly worded email to our local mp this morning, the system is corrupt and I intend to fight the power 😳

My kids went through a bag puss phase it was on amazon prime I think And morph