A massive thrill since childhood in angling was the unknown mysterious lure of beneath the surface of the water and piecing together my own picture of below through basic watercraft and marker work to build up the pieces to cracking a water but it always left that air of mystery still which I find exiting, my point being with the prevalence of fish spy and deeper tactics becoming a main stay much like when the baitboat entered the scene, I'm of the opinion that personally it serves only to dilute the essence of mystery and am interested in others views.

In reply to Post #1
There's already a thread like this running involving drones

In reply to Post #1
I don't think any of that takes away the mystery at all bud, I use my deeper for deep and feature finding that doesn't help towards figuring out the inhabitants of a lake im fishing but yes I think in this day and age you can pretty much find out what lives in each lake I'd go to which is a shame really

In reply to Post #3
Ive got an exclusive lease on a lake and only I fish it. I don't know whats in there so every bite is a surprise for me, unless Ive seen the fish take. Its a joy and a privilege that ive become used to. I went fishing with a pal on a busy club lake as his guest. It was utterly sole less and I quite sad. I couldn't see the point, until I realised most of the anglers were simply trying to avoid a blank. We discussed whether it was the very bottom of fishing until my pal described another lake where the committee had killed off the weed to make catching and landing the fish easier and I knew he was describing hell.

In reply to Post #4
Your own lake sounds very interesting bud, you are very lucky to have such a unique opportunity I don't think I'd be able to stay away

In reply to Post #1
Angling is whatever you want it to be, whether you use things like a deeper, or lob out marker floats. I generally dont worry about others, that normally keeps the fire ticking over

In reply to Post #4
I know what you mean,one I have had sole use of for over 30 yrs,I never bore of the place,the ecosystem and wildlife,and another,3 acres of again sole use, and I dont really know what's left in the place...sometimes I go to a doubles runs type lake,I enjoy it,but it makes me appreciate the other two places,and a rock hard old school syndicate I'm in too..

I'm lucky...very...the fish dont have to be monsters, but the anticipation has to be big ...or no point in going..

In reply to Post #6
Fishing can be anything you want, trawling, seine netting, harpooning, anything that catches a fish. Cameras, sonar, aerial surveillance, sat nav/chart plotting are used. Then create bespoke fisheries, stock them to the max and feed the fish in marked swims. I could go on but that's enough.
ANGLING is not anything you want it to be, it is a contest between a fish and a man/woman. You pursue the fish in its natural environment to overcome the advantages that this gives the fish with its acute senses and the ability to learn. There is a sporting contract based on respect for the fish for what it is, not its weight. A rod, reel, line, hook, maybe a weight a float and bait are all that is needed for angling. All the tech is disrespectful to the fish and to angling. You can find out anything you need to know using angling gear, learn some skills. If you haven't got the soul to be an angler, all you are is a fisherman. Very different thing.
I know I'm p*ssing in the wind but that's how I feel. Much of modern carp fishing is a parody of skilled angling

In reply to Post #8
Tbf, I generally dont take any notice of other anglers, I dont see why you need to, I'll watch a few on YouTube but I wont judge them. Angling is a solitary past time, I honestly dont care about others, I think too many people do, especially carp anglers.

In reply to Post #9
Not a problem, not sitting in judgement. Fish how you want to fish, be a fisherman and enjoy it. Angling is a different philosophy with different values and I don't like to see it devalued.

In reply to Post #10
I recently bought a deeper, I was very much in 2 minds about it. I enjoy mystery and working for my fish. However I'm not blessed with my own private lake to fish, I'm also very lacking in time due to having a small child, better 3 quarters, full time job and part time masters to complete.

The deeper saves me valuable time as I can quickly find likely spots without having to thrash the water with a marker float and lead. I do not use it as a fish finder instead I still rely on my water craft and experience to locate them.

For me the mystery is still there and the deeper doesn't detract from that. It just allows me to optimise my limited time.

In reply to Post #8
Aint that the truth. Spot on.

In reply to Post #1
The only difference I see between a Deeper, a float or climbing a tree looking down on the same area that the Deeper is scanning or float trawling is that both the Deeper and float are varying degrees of exactness whereas looking from a tree, you might be able to see obstacles, weedbeds etc, depth on the other hand is going to be a guesstimation. All three methods remove mystery to one degree or another. You can take it one step further and say that counting your drops is removing the element of mystery, making the unknown known.

I suppose it comes down to what you're happy with. Are you happy with an imagined representation in your mind's eye using a float, a bird's eye view from a tree, or a digital snapshot using a Deeper?

Unironicly, the only real possibility of any real sense of mystery I'd say would be to blindly cast out without any aid or any knowledge of where you're fishing and just hope for the best.

In my experience of running a water mystery seems to be the last thing potential members want. Almost everyone asks "what's the biggest in there" as their first or second question. Tell them that you don't know exactly what the numbers and sizes are and they think you're lying.
Deepers, Fishspys etc. are just fishing aids you can choose to either use or not, I remember people thought that using a marker float was cheating, as for using an old roach pole for lowering a rig under a tree well.........

In reply to Post #14
'I've got no time so it's fair'

Waraloadash1te

You're missing the point and always will. I hope you find it in golf, although you'll use AI to make it easier...

In reply to Post #15
Considering you know diddle about me or my angling that a pretty moronic reply.

@post 15
The Christmas Spirit didn't last long then

In reply to Post #1
The essence of mystery for me is in my mind and that will never change. Even just visiting waters gives me the same feeling, even if I'm not fishing, or anywhere I clap eyes on a water. If that feeling ever went I think I'd stop going, the guessing of what's going on continues even with all the aids.

I think a lot has been said to justify results, they patrol this because, they go here because....where in truth no one really knows and no aid will change that.

I like using aids, it doesn't change my enjoyment one iota and quite frankly after all these years I no longer give 2 plops what anyone else thinks.

In reply to Post #15
I'm assuming this was aimed squarely at me. Many anglers are time limited and if I'm spending a £500 a year on a ticket then I want to make the most of my time.

The lake I'm now on the waiting list for has mystery to me, I don't know anyone on it, I don't know the biggest fish, I don't know the best spots or swims or going baits. I will be starting blind, I can fish maybe twice a month for 24 hours per session. The deeper doesn't make it unfair to others and only helps optimise my short sessions.

In reply to Post #1
It is what you make it.

If you turn up at a day ticket and slot into the car park swim because it has "always done a bite" or "because I caught from that one last week" then you're making a rod for your own back.

I have no issues with deepers. They are a good tool for prep if fishing a new water, drawing maps etc. What makes me laugh is when people use them on heavily stocked waters to find the fish. Just use your feet and your eyeballs. It's all part of the fun of it, and the sense of achievement knowing you earned it, rather than dropping a rig on a group of fish with the aid of sonars and boats.

There are still LOADS of lakes with unknown fish in. People just don't want to do the legwork, despite moaning that their usual haunts are busy. If you want to set out to catch the scattered lin or whatever the pet you're after is called, then good luck to you, just don't moan that dozens are doing the same.

In reply to Post #1
I think many of us would like to be transported back to a time when it was one big adventure and learning curve, no mobiles or internet, information gleaned through hard graft and meetings with other like-minded individuals, the fun we had.
Times change and it's full throttle these days, too much information at the touch of a few buttons, you either go with the flow or remove yourself from it, I choose the latter and am thoroughly enjoying myself again.

Hi Terry

For me mystery has always been one of the first words in a sentence that also includes adventure.
There are 100's of thousands of lakes out there that hold carp and there are 100's of millions of uncaught, unweighed and documented fish we have no idea about.
The adventure only starts, continues and ends when you say so....
Or when you give up on the journey......
Give it a rethink
Best
Jon

In reply to Post #22
The adventure only starts, continues and ends when you say so....
Or when you give up on the journey......

Nice thoughts Jon

In reply to Post #9
my angling is all about adventure.. currently fishing a lake with unknown stock previously up to 30lb been out.. locals are tight lipped very hush hush .. no swims just a few dug out areas .. it's mega

In reply to Post #7
I'm very lucky, just managed to get on a new syndicate, on a lake that hasn't been fished for 30 years. No one knows whats in there.

In reply to Post #25
Heaven!

I fish for myself.
I know what the largest landed fish is in my syndicate, I know some of the depths, some swims, yet every cast is a mystery, 'will I get a take or not?'

Same on Nazeing, on Earith Virginia, and on Brackens at Nazeing I had pictures of the lake when it was drained. Yes, I caught some of the big known fish, and on the Central and South, but each cast is a mystery.

I have fished busy day ticket lakes, and as someone else has said, they seem soul less and expensive and I don't enjoy it. I could fish Suffolk Water Park, or Melton, even Alderson or Causeway run by GAPS, again, no soul, or the wrong atmosphere.

I must admit, no numpties on my syndicate is a bonus

In reply to Post #27
That was one of the most mental pictures I'd ever seen after Bracken's was drained. Crazy water.

In reply to Post #28
That guy Standing knee deep in water next to one of the bars, with the overhang above him, like you say, Crazy.

Shame about Sams fish and Digit dying in an oxygen crash.

I watched them start to spawn, then within minutes thunder storms and heavy rain stopped them. For a whole week, sunny spells with thunder and showers held them back, then they started going belly up. I Think 12 fish died, although Rocky survived.

In reply to Post #26
Most certainly is, hardly fished for last 2 years as Somerset very limited and all muddy commercial holes in the ground.