Am I the only one struggling post lockdown? Prior to lockdown I was doing well, a continuation from last year location, bait and rig wise. Post lockdown, 1 fish in 8 nights, almost unheard of for me on this water. A few fish are coming out but I cannot buy a carp, bream yes, but carp...anyone else struggling?
In reply to Post #1
I've not done to bad, definitely not as consistent as this time last year, my mates are all really struggling on lake's that normally produce a few each session.
I've not done to bad, definitely not as consistent as this time last year, my mates are all really struggling on lake's that normally produce a few each session.
In reply to Post #1
Not just me then. On my first trip in 4 months on what I would consider not a difficult water by any stretch. 6 nights in and not a touch. Baliff in a swim a 50 yards away has also done a week for one fish.
Well the place was shut for ages, very hot weather and then a massive change in weather and air pressure, angling pressure, loads of bait going in all of a sudden,plus the fish have spawned a couple of weeks ago.
Have I found enough excuses for not catching yet.
Not just me then. On my first trip in 4 months on what I would consider not a difficult water by any stretch. 6 nights in and not a touch. Baliff in a swim a 50 yards away has also done a week for one fish.
Well the place was shut for ages, very hot weather and then a massive change in weather and air pressure, angling pressure, loads of bait going in all of a sudden,plus the fish have spawned a couple of weeks ago.
Have I found enough excuses for not catching yet.
Fish are social distancing.
In reply to Post #4
Perhaps Cyprinus Carpio are smarter than us, or perhaps just me, I have found they have always kept themselves well
away from me.
Perhaps Cyprinus Carpio are smarter than us, or perhaps just me, I have found they have always kept themselves well
away from me.
In reply to Post #1
Yep me as well, managed 1 carp in 5 short sessions so far lost a couple, can't catch a tench for love or money, done 4 sessions for them not seen or heard of one come out yet from the water yet last year 5+ in a day was very easy to achieve
Yep me as well, managed 1 carp in 5 short sessions so far lost a couple, can't catch a tench for love or money, done 4 sessions for them not seen or heard of one come out yet from the water yet last year 5+ in a day was very easy to achieve
In reply to Post #1
Yes, blanked 4 times in a row now (apart from 1 bream...)
Don't recall blanking 4 times last year...
Yes, blanked 4 times in a row now (apart from 1 bream...)
Don't recall blanking 4 times last year...
In reply to Post #7
My mate and 4 others just done a 72 hour session on Elphicks, granted it's been getting harder over the years, fish are older and wiser, but only had one fish between them, not even any other runs. This time of year, post spawning is normally more productive.
My mate and 4 others just done a 72 hour session on Elphicks, granted it's been getting harder over the years, fish are older and wiser, but only had one fish between them, not even any other runs. This time of year, post spawning is normally more productive.
In reply to Post #8
cheers gents, makes me feel slighlty better esp as last year i did well, and continued up until lockdown, and since returning, things have just stopped dead. I'll be out again tonight for another blank
cheers gents, makes me feel slighlty better esp as last year i did well, and continued up until lockdown, and since returning, things have just stopped dead. I'll be out again tonight for another blank
In reply to Post #9
Me too, having observed fish in the margins they are just not feeding confidently just picking up the odd bait and moving off , often not coming back again !
Me too, having observed fish in the margins they are just not feeding confidently just picking up the odd bait and moving off , often not coming back again !
In reply to Post #10
This always used to happen after the close season. The leads go out, couple of captures, then shut up shop.
There are just too many lines out on most waters, the carp are running scared. The water I'm fishing was literally dead midweek this time last year. Now it's rammed every day with furloughed anglers.
This always used to happen after the close season. The leads go out, couple of captures, then shut up shop.
There are just too many lines out on most waters, the carp are running scared. The water I'm fishing was literally dead midweek this time last year. Now it's rammed every day with furloughed anglers.
I did a short day session about 10 days back and took out 3 to about 8lb - the place was packed and had been since reopening. the fish were about to spawn (closed the next day) so I was not hugely surprised.
did a long day on Sunday on a different venue with much bigger fish but a big expanse of water and far fewer carp - blanked. Water levels were low and the pike were about...
maybe the carp are still social distancing....?
Think Yonny is right that everywhere is getting battered at the minute
did a long day on Sunday on a different venue with much bigger fish but a big expanse of water and far fewer carp - blanked. Water levels were low and the pike were about...
maybe the carp are still social distancing....?
Think Yonny is right that everywhere is getting battered at the minute
In reply to Post #11
This is part of the problem, my syndicate is seeing 10+ anglers every night at the moment and that's on a 7 acre lake. Usually this time of year there would only be 2-3 on at most during the week and maybe 5-6 at weekends. Fish are coming out if you're lucky enough to get on them but with the amount of anglers thats hard to do.
Fished a club water at the weekend and that was the same, at least twice as busy as it normally is and only two anglers caught out of 12 that were on. On that particular lake one swim has been doing 75% of the bites for over a year though and if you're a weekend angler there's no chance of getting in it.
This is part of the problem, my syndicate is seeing 10+ anglers every night at the moment and that's on a 7 acre lake. Usually this time of year there would only be 2-3 on at most during the week and maybe 5-6 at weekends. Fish are coming out if you're lucky enough to get on them but with the amount of anglers thats hard to do.
Fished a club water at the weekend and that was the same, at least twice as busy as it normally is and only two anglers caught out of 12 that were on. On that particular lake one swim has been doing 75% of the bites for over a year though and if you're a weekend angler there's no chance of getting in it.
In reply to Post #1
I'm struggling too. I had a bit of a touch on my first night back, I bagged one out of a particularly tricky water I'd only dropped onto as it was quiet. Since then I've been fishing somewhere usually a lot easier whilst i'm waiting for another ticket to start on 16th June, and I've struggled. One fish in 5 or so nights. That said my trips are overnighters only - so if they're doing day bites I'm missing that time.
I'm struggling too. I had a bit of a touch on my first night back, I bagged one out of a particularly tricky water I'd only dropped onto as it was quiet. Since then I've been fishing somewhere usually a lot easier whilst i'm waiting for another ticket to start on 16th June, and I've struggled. One fish in 5 or so nights. That said my trips are overnighters only - so if they're doing day bites I'm missing that time.
In reply to Post #13
Totally mate.
I've written off any serious angling until at least autumn when hopefully most of these guys are back to work.
Totally mate.
I've written off any serious angling until at least autumn when hopefully most of these guys are back to work.
I've struggled and blanked twice on the day ticket lake I have visited since we could fish again, although first night back on the reservoir I did catch a double figure mirror, which is a result at any time.
In reply to Post #1
I'm struggling to get out, due to personal circumstances. So firstly smile mate, you're fishing 🙂. But I do know what you mean. It's easy to get out of the groove. Having not lost a fish in years, I've lost 3 on the bounce 😒. One from a low stock venue in a 4 hour session. Never expected to get a bite and was so surprised when it went that I let it have too much line. Argghh
I'm struggling to get out, due to personal circumstances. So firstly smile mate, you're fishing 🙂. But I do know what you mean. It's easy to get out of the groove. Having not lost a fish in years, I've lost 3 on the bounce 😒. One from a low stock venue in a 4 hour session. Never expected to get a bite and was so surprised when it went that I let it have too much line. Argghh
In reply to Post #1
I think its all down to pressure myself. The banks are absolutly rammed everwhere. So much bait going in and hundreds of lines in the water have got them shutting up shop and being real finicky.
My mate watched two guys put in about 15 kilos between them on a well known day ticket last week. He was thinking they were filling it in and going to sit on it for a fair few days. When he woke up the next morning. They had gone.
I don't even think it will settle down till the autumn now when the banks start thinning out.
Rock on winter
I think its all down to pressure myself. The banks are absolutly rammed everwhere. So much bait going in and hundreds of lines in the water have got them shutting up shop and being real finicky.
My mate watched two guys put in about 15 kilos between them on a well known day ticket last week. He was thinking they were filling it in and going to sit on it for a fair few days. When he woke up the next morning. They had gone.
I don't even think it will settle down till the autumn now when the banks start thinning out.
Rock on winter
I bunked off work on the first day of opening after lock down and went for a few hours on a local day ticket venue.
Ended up losing two fish, which is rare.
Second trip i planned a 24 hour session on another venue, the day time was so hot and sunny i couldn't buy a bite and ended up with about 3 or 4 screaming runs throughout the night which turned out to be fish kicking into spawning mode and swimming through my lines.
Rods were reeled in and i was off home.
My last trip a week ago (another 24 hour) i was so despondent at expecting the venue would be rammed that i told my Mrs to expect me back home within a couple of hours if it was sewn up.
I turned up.... had the place to myself, and ended up banking the biggest common in the lake.
Ended up losing two fish, which is rare.
Second trip i planned a 24 hour session on another venue, the day time was so hot and sunny i couldn't buy a bite and ended up with about 3 or 4 screaming runs throughout the night which turned out to be fish kicking into spawning mode and swimming through my lines.
Rods were reeled in and i was off home.
My last trip a week ago (another 24 hour) i was so despondent at expecting the venue would be rammed that i told my Mrs to expect me back home within a couple of hours if it was sewn up.
I turned up.... had the place to myself, and ended up banking the biggest common in the lake.
In reply to Post #19
Just had my first carp since lockdown it was a nightmare i had to strip off and go in and get it much to the amusement of the other anglers after it shot off to my left picked up anothers guys line and got caught up in some tree branches. I managed to untangle everthing and free the fish I then proceeded to play it stood there soaking wet in just my boxers lol. It was only 19lb but ill take it.
Just had my first carp since lockdown it was a nightmare i had to strip off and go in and get it much to the amusement of the other anglers after it shot off to my left picked up anothers guys line and got caught up in some tree branches. I managed to untangle everthing and free the fish I then proceeded to play it stood there soaking wet in just my boxers lol. It was only 19lb but ill take it.
In reply to Post #20
I've been out 3 times since the lake opened,
First 24 hours had 3,
Second 24 hours, had 5 lost two and 1 tench.
Third trip I did 36 hours and only had one.
New lake and a new bait pretty happy with that!
I've been out 3 times since the lake opened,
First 24 hours had 3,
Second 24 hours, had 5 lost two and 1 tench.
Third trip I did 36 hours and only had one.
New lake and a new bait pretty happy with that!
I've been tearing it up. First session was a bit slow but since then it's been relatively easy. All down to competence I suppose
In reply to Post #22
It is not all down to competence, there are many many reasons.
Competence is only a small fraction of someone not catching.
It is not all down to competence, there are many many reasons.
Competence is only a small fraction of someone not catching.
In reply to Post #22
We all bow down to you oh master
We all bow down to you oh master
In reply to Post #22
Get over yourself lol
Get over yourself lol
In reply to Post #22
I can see why a solitary pastime suits you.
I can see why a solitary pastime suits you.
In reply to Post #22
What types of waters are you fishing?
A Commercial runs water is different to a low stock pit
What types of waters are you fishing?
A Commercial runs water is different to a low stock pit
In reply to Post #7
I'm fishing easy waters and just done my 120th hour on 4 sessions n not a run.
I'm fishing easy waters and just done my 120th hour on 4 sessions n not a run.
In reply to Post #28
When lakes first opened up, the Furloughed army turned up and never left , totally spanked the lakes first two weeks and most are still full now, when everyone returns to work the fishing might get back to normal but at mo they are being hammered, that is my excuse anyway as i blanked last night.
When lakes first opened up, the Furloughed army turned up and never left , totally spanked the lakes first two weeks and most are still full now, when everyone returns to work the fishing might get back to normal but at mo they are being hammered, that is my excuse anyway as i blanked last night.
In reply to Post #29
That's happening on one of the lakes I fish I just cannot get on there at the moment.
That's happening on one of the lakes I fish I just cannot get on there at the moment.
In reply to Post #29
Believe it or not the club i am on is very quiet 4 lakes and lots of members but not as busy as normal but still can't buy a bite . Odd fish coming out on floaters.
Same rigs same bait same spots as last year and ziltch. Bait i use is different to everyone else I've seen using. Last year only blank a handful of times. This year nothing.
Lots of others saying the same. Fishery been shut since November due to flooding and then covid. So wondering if they gone back to naturals.
They were feeding pellet into lakes during closure so tried a rod on pellets only on last 24hrs n still nothing. Tried zigs during day on patrol routes and nothing. Never had this in all my fishing life. AAAAAHHHHHHH
Believe it or not the club i am on is very quiet 4 lakes and lots of members but not as busy as normal but still can't buy a bite . Odd fish coming out on floaters.
Same rigs same bait same spots as last year and ziltch. Bait i use is different to everyone else I've seen using. Last year only blank a handful of times. This year nothing.
Lots of others saying the same. Fishery been shut since November due to flooding and then covid. So wondering if they gone back to naturals.
They were feeding pellet into lakes during closure so tried a rod on pellets only on last 24hrs n still nothing. Tried zigs during day on patrol routes and nothing. Never had this in all my fishing life. AAAAAHHHHHHH
In reply to Post #30
Unbelievable I've fished the same place twice in the last few weeks,apart from my mate who fished with me,seen no-one for the 3 days 
200 acres of solitude 
Unbelievable
I've fished the same place twice in the last few weeks,apart from my mate who fished with me,seen no-one for the 3 days 200 acres of solitude
In reply to Post #32
Mate of mine watched carp smashing fry in the margins on two completely separate and different lakes. Perhaps the first big blooms of naturals should be added to the challenges.
I haven't been able to fish at all since lockdown, as my syndicate didn't open until last night and I've been working throughout. Got three days off next week and hoping that it's not too busy. New lake excitement.
Mate of mine watched carp smashing fry in the margins on two completely separate and different lakes. Perhaps the first big blooms of naturals should be added to the challenges.
I haven't been able to fish at all since lockdown, as my syndicate didn't open until last night and I've been working throughout. Got three days off next week and hoping that it's not too busy. New lake excitement.
In reply to Post #16
The reservoir has been pretty quiet, but there is a lot of it. Set up Friday in the North end, with where the wind was supposed to go, instead I ended up getting very suntanned and Sky was uncomfortable in a suntrap for 3 days.
Blanked, although my view is I have learned another area.
The reservoir has been pretty quiet, but there is a lot of it. Set up Friday in the North end, with where the wind was supposed to go, instead I ended up getting very suntanned and Sky was uncomfortable in a suntrap for 3 days.
Blanked, although my view is I have learned another area.
Just wondering how folk are getting on - it seemed to be that a lot of us were experiencing a similar dip in bites for a spell.
I'm looking to get out a bit soon - are they picking up again?
I'm looking to get out a bit soon - are they picking up again?
In reply to Post #35
Nope - what's the opposite of a purple patch?
Even blanking for bream lately
Nope - what's the opposite of a purple patch?
Even blanking for bream lately
In reply to Post #36
Yeah even the Bream action has stopped for me, as for the carp, forget it!
From what I've seen I think they are preoccupied with naturals at the moment
Yeah even the Bream action has stopped for me, as for the carp, forget it!
From what I've seen I think they are preoccupied with naturals at the moment
In reply to Post #35
My last three outings have all resulted in a blank!
My last three outings have all resulted in a blank!
been blanking on the river since it opened apart from a swan 
Here in sunny Wales we were still in lockdown for travel until this Monday ( 5th July). My Syndi is on the English side of the Wales/England border so despite paying my fees at the end of March I've been unable to go there. The English based members have been on for a few weeks now and it is fishing really well. 
Now we are out of lockdown I'm packing up the car for a week session starting this Monday. Will I still be tuned in?? Who knows but it will feel brilliant just to be back on the bank👍
Now we are out of lockdown I'm packing up the car for a week session starting this Monday. Will I still be tuned in?? Who knows but it will feel brilliant just to be back on the bank👍
In reply to Post #40
Still struggling, I know it's not my bait as i've done well on it everywhere, just struggling to get bites despite some superb weather recently. Hoping that now the numbers on my waters slowly drop off, the fish lessen their guard.
Still struggling, I know it's not my bait as i've done well on it everywhere, just struggling to get bites despite some superb weather recently. Hoping that now the numbers on my waters slowly drop off, the fish lessen their guard.
In reply to Post #41
Look at it logically. I live near the oxford waters where people are literally living on the lakes, the bait is being piled in and the waters are not even producing very well. Every man turns up and spods but the fish just move on to the next piece of water with no lines in (if they can find it). I'm watching it right now, there is one swim closed and the carp are happily sitting 25 yards out and feeding on naturals but the rest of the lake is heaving with lads doing 5/6 night sessions and catching the odd fish. Just be quiet and use very little bait
And you can still nick bites. Baiting up should be limited in times like this. Look what's happened at bluebell
Look at it logically. I live near the oxford waters where people are literally living on the lakes, the bait is being piled in and the waters are not even producing very well. Every man turns up and spods but the fish just move on to the next piece of water with no lines in (if they can find it). I'm watching it right now, there is one swim closed and the carp are happily sitting 25 yards out and feeding on naturals but the rest of the lake is heaving with lads doing 5/6 night sessions and catching the odd fish. Just be quiet and use very little bait
And you can still nick bites. Baiting up should be limited in times like this. Look what's happened at bluebell
In reply to Post #42
Agree. Post spawning on the naturals, people canning the bait in making it harder and harder
Can't stop catching bream at the moment, seems to be an explosion of bigger fish where I'm fishing. Be hauling if I was a matchman
Bait limits are a very sensible thing to do for me, especially the buckets and buckets or particle ****. Years ago on one of my waters there was a group who used to blast it in, killed the fishing and they were catching virtually nothing
Not thinking about the fishing, habit, cane a bucket of bait out and sit over it, now and again it works, or it does for the angler who arrives 5 days later...
Look what's happened at bluebell
What's happened?
Agree. Post spawning on the naturals, people canning the bait in making it harder and harder
Can't stop catching bream at the moment, seems to be an explosion of bigger fish where I'm fishing. Be hauling if I was a matchman
Bait limits are a very sensible thing to do for me, especially the buckets and buckets or particle ****. Years ago on one of my waters there was a group who used to blast it in, killed the fishing and they were catching virtually nothing
Not thinking about the fishing, habit, cane a bucket of bait out and sit over it, now and again it works, or it does for the angler who arrives 5 days later...
Look what's happened at bluebell
What's happened?
In reply to Post #43
Judging by the birds on these lakes there is bait everywhere. Some of the anglers I speak to in the shop have reported bait floating around in the margins (weirdly the same make on 3 different lakes) and reports of slow fishing up and down the U.K.. July has always been a crap month for me and thank god im normally too busy to go through the summer but I'm told that bluebell started closing swims as the pressure had been so intense and people doing so much time that the fish were not looking good. That came from a lad who had been there for weeks so it's second hand info. I know another club water that the fishing has been almost non existent for the last month yet the bait is still being piled in.
Judging by the birds on these lakes there is bait everywhere. Some of the anglers I speak to in the shop have reported bait floating around in the margins (weirdly the same make on 3 different lakes) and reports of slow fishing up and down the U.K.. July has always been a crap month for me and thank god im normally too busy to go through the summer but I'm told that bluebell started closing swims as the pressure had been so intense and people doing so much time that the fish were not looking good. That came from a lad who had been there for weeks so it's second hand info. I know another club water that the fishing has been almost non existent for the last month yet the bait is still being piled in.
In reply to Post #44
To be fair I can understand people.wanting to go fishing after this lockdown crap so I can imagine places packed out, I started and pulled of.my water for the year, doing my bulb in rammed
Like you say, not a good time of year, need some oxygen blasting through the water, fish are lethargic and the fishing is in fits and bursts
To be fair I can understand people.wanting to go fishing after this lockdown crap so I can imagine places packed out, I started and pulled of.my water for the year, doing my bulb in rammed
Like you say, not a good time of year, need some oxygen blasting through the water, fish are lethargic and the fishing is in fits and bursts
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