Struggles?

[jules007]

I am having a bit of an issue with getting new rods, the lake i am fishing is proving to be dam near impossible to catch a carp, been at it since october and so far nothing and spent a small fortune on replacing my gear/new end tackle and so on, but there is the smaller pool on the complex that has plenty of fish and are catchable!

Starting to feel like i should just call it a day on big lake and stick to small pool, and stop spending on all this gear, that said the Hutchy Sceptre rods are very well priced, decisions decisions

[elmoputney]

 

 

1 hour ago, jules007 said:

I am having a bit of an issue with getting new rods, the lake i am fishing is proving to be dam near impossible to catch a carp, been at it since october and so far nothing and spent a small fortune on replacing my gear/new end tackle and so on, but there is the smaller pool on the complex that has plenty of fish and are catchable!

Starting to feel like i should just call it a day on big lake and stick to small pool, and stop spending on all this gear, that said the Hutchy Sceptre rods are very well priced, decisions decisions

I went through that too when I restarted. I've had about 5 sets of rods in the last 6 or 7 years, sonik, wychwood, daiwa, sonik, free spirit, 

In my opinion you are best off just buying the set you really want now and save yourself going through loads of cheap rods. I had 10ft 3lb soniks and within about 6 months of use they had gone a bit soft. 

Also the weather is now turning in your favour, just stick at it, find the fish, bait them and you will catch them, 

[salokcinnodrog]

2 hours ago, jules007 said:

I am having a bit of an issue with getting new rods, the lake i am fishing is proving to be dam near impossible to catch a carp, been at it since october and so far nothing and spent a small fortune on replacing my gear/new end tackle and so on, but there is the smaller pool on the complex that has plenty of fish and are catchable!

Starting to feel like i should just call it a day on big lake and stick to small pool, and stop spending on all this gear, that said the Hutchy Sceptre rods are very well priced, decisions decisions

I had that on my syndicate lake, for almost a whole year. 

I joined in September 2020, and did not catch a carp until August 2021, just before renewal when I had a double and a 20 in the same night. It was a stressful struggle. I got to the stage of if it could go wrong, it would go wrong.

The next few years were gradually learning the lake, a few more carp, and pike in winter or on the occasional pop-up, but getting to understand the place. That learning, just when you think you have it sussed, it turns around and sends you gremlins.

 

[jules007]

51 minutes ago, salokcinnodrog said:

I had that on my syndicate lake, for almost a whole year. 

I joined in September 2020, and did not catch a carp until August 2021, just before renewal when I had a double and a 20 in the same night. It was a stressful struggle. I got to the stage of if it could go wrong, it would go wrong.

The next few years were gradually learning the lake, a few more carp, and pike in winter or on the occasional pop-up, but getting to understand the place. That learning, just when you think you have it sussed, it turns around and sends you gremlins.

 

Well said mate, good words of wisdom, its odd i used to fish this lake way back and felt i knew the lake but just seems every session is a new learning curve, will stick with it

[framey]

old school

Pay the lake … 👍👍

 

[salokcinnodrog]

On 21/04/2025 at 09:21, jules007 said:

Well said mate, good words of wisdom, its odd i used to fish this lake way back and felt i knew the lake but just seems every session is a new learning curve, will stick with it

The funny thing is that the lake I'm on gives so many difficulties; 185 carp in 45acres, with loads of natural food, so not overstocked. It is very weedy, and has plenty of birdlife, which the swans can be a right pain as it is not particularly deep.

The carp aren't spread equally, the water can be devoid of fish in certain areas, and they don't show regularly. It has a pretty much East to West orientation and the east end is the shallowest, so a westerly wind doesn't push them all the way.

Then we have the syndicate, I can be the only person on there for a whole week, and see absolutely nobody. I walk Sky round almost every day I am there, as it's a 2mile circuit, a slow walk so I can watch the water and look for fish.

Then we have bait, the fish don't need it, but you might need to bait heavily to compete with naturals, or the hi-viz attractor bait. BUT, don't bait up on them as they are wary and will move away.

I should say that this is the hardest lake I have ever fished, but you know when it comes right.

 

[Barney2]

Hard lakes break your goolies mentally yes

you question everything you do including even being there at all

just remember to smell the flowers and enjoy the camping side which is very good for you

as for gear well just enjoy the process and let things happen, if you want something posh use Klarna, Clearpay, PayPal pay in 3 etc

but don’t go too mad and keep using all that for endless bundles of little things or it can bite

we all have our own style or develop it, I don’t care much about test curves I just want enjoyable actions and happened to find that in and end up with nice (very old) Harrison’s which I rebuilt myself

Edited 1 hour ago by Barney2