Stopped taking trophy shots & publishing them on social media, 3 years ago, but i still do weigh most of the carp i catch. Is this quite common or have i been at it too long Only pics i take are mat shots, just to weigh & confirm growth rates of the younger individuals.

I´ve been there, chasing & landing the A-Team, but that ain´t that important anymore, and i actually enjoy my somewhat deminished streefree sessions, of late. Is this a phase i´m going through, or is this a normal progression that every carper goes through ?

In reply to Post #1
I've been doing the same for a while now, I'll still take a shot of a notable fish and weigh them again for growth rates etc. A couple of snaps either side on the matt is good enough for me, I'll be coming up to 40 years carping soon, I still love the chase and being out there in all weathers but the era of trophy shots is over at least to me.

In reply to Post #1
Stopped weighing them ages ago..rarely will I weigh a carp now.

And photos, well since Xmas I've been very fortunate to remain consistent, I think about 10 pics of fish I have taken, not many of carp ..in fact I don't even take my four thirds anymore fishing,it's another thing to carry anyway..

I guess,to answer your very valid post,is,personally I have nothing to prove to myself or anyone,so unless it's a special or significant capture ,like the 8lb,1oz tiger trout on a boily I had ,then the above I won't bother..unless it's a mahoosive perch,then I'd get the kit out ..

In reply to Post #2
Been carping for around 15years now, and once i started, every other genre of fishing has now phased out completely.
Not by choice but due to health restrictions causing decreased mobility. The dwindling flame has taken a beating at times, but i bounce back & reignite the enthusiasm even more. Can definitely picture myself, sat in a wheelchair, 93 years old, rod bent into a lump, still buzzing

Wonder who´s the oldest carper, still getting it on, as much as the DON
Love watching the ol´boys still putting in the hours, like The Don & Ritchie Mcdonald

In reply to Post #1
I got back into (carp) fishing for very different reasons than those when I left.

Back then I was obsessed with writing little articles, taking all sorts of pictures keeping those who must be obeyed happy so the freebies kept coming and totally lost sight of why I loved fishing so much.

Now, it's about freeing my mind of mundane day to day stuff and just getting out there, I do still like to take pictures of my fish but I'm no longer on any socials and no one cares anyway so this is just for my records/pleasure.

I'm into my 40th(ish) year of fishing and find myself thinking more about what might come from a slightly over depth float than anything else even though catching a big lump from here or there does also still excite me - I just don't have the time, patience or inclination to go there again.

Hopefully, when I get to my 60th(ish) year I'll have figured out how to use a centre pin properly 🙂.

In reply to Post #1
I've not bothered to weigh or photograph fish for over fifteen years, may take a snap if I get an absolute stunner but would never share pictures or post on social media.

Still weigh them and take a couple of pictures myself, all depends on the fish, recaptures and smaller stuff, just release

Wish I had a chance to take a lot of them again though, especially the 35mm ones

I very rarely take shots holding the fish, and 99% of my photos are mat shots, i do weigh any fish over 20lb but all my photos and notes are for my own records.... I dont do social media as such, not got a face ache, insta or whatever accounts.... But each to there own...i fish for me and that's how ive always been and hopefully always will be....I'm out for a very rare 48hrs tomorrow,...still getting giddy getting my bait ready...spent last night getting my tackle box all organised... wife was telling me I'm like a school boy....I told her the day i stop looking forward to fishing ill sell all my gear

In reply to Post #4
Can definitely picture myself, sat in a wheelchair, 93 years old, rod bent into a lump, still buzzing

I wish I could put a video on here of my dad from last week for you. We have been doing a bit of tench fishing with the old man catching his fair share at 90 yrs old. We will do some carp sessions starting in a couple of months when it warms a bit..
I say does he want a picture or weight and he says “no I have had my fun” so I sneaked a video of him for myself.

In reply to Post #1
i actually cant remember the last time i took a photo of a capture

i dont bother these days, ive no interest in a hashtags nor free beanie ...

In reply to Post #1
I'm probably the opposite end of the scale now. When I was younger I didn't bother as much, in fact I didn't even take a camera a lot of the time. We just used to hope someone else would have one if we got a decent fish. But also I managed to somehow lose a load of photos I did have and was really gutted about that when I got older, so now I actually do try and take a pic of 90% of the fish I catch, which is easy as it's not that many per year! I've got young kids now so it's nice to show them... although I think they are less impressed than I am!

In reply to Post #8
I told her the day i stop looking forward to fishing ill sell all my gear

Happened to me afew years ago, but not by choice Thought i was a gonna, counting down to palliative care with no hope whatsoever. Sold off all my kit, which was a bummer. Powers at be thought i hadn´t caught enough carp, so managed to bounce back against all odds, and was given a 2ndChance

In reply to Post #4
Wonder who´s the oldest carper, still getting it on, as much as the DON

I know one old boy in his mid 80's still out most weeks night fishing on his own we call him Roy the Boy you wouldn't think he was that age to look at him.

Edit: and he still smokes like a good un

It's odd that it seems alot of people are using social media in one way or another, as an excuse not to photo fish, you can take pictures of carp and not put them on social media

In reply to Post #9
I like that, take a few pics and weigh a few but it's not that important

In reply to Post #1
Never really bothered about weighing & photo's for many years but have started again in the last 3-4 years, generally if they look 20lb+ or unusual markings, pretty, odd that takes my fancy.

Quite often I do photo's without weighing, might be on the mat but more recently I've been using my iPhone and a bank stick, only takes 30 seconds to setup and along with a lightweight sling, really doesn't take up much room.

Never posted pictures online, just share a few via WhatsApp with some friends, is this the same thing?

For me my priorities and approach changed, anglers I bump into don't ask to see my pic's as I don't theirs via phones, used to be exciting when turning the pages of the old albums to see what was lurking!

I have returned fish unphotographed for various reasons.


I had a personal best 28lb common which I did get pictures of, I didn't bother with pics of the 23lb common that followed it.

On Alton I had 3 20lb carp in one night, it was so wet and windy that I couldn't get any pics as my phone and camera were soaked. No-one wanted to or was able to come down to take photographs. Yet a week later I did get pics of the 2 20's I had.

On my syndicate we have to get pics to check growth rates compared to stocking etc. We also have our own fb page.
Strange thing is that we may recognise a swim from the picture, but it is rare for another angler to jump in the swim.

In reply to Post #17
Nick are u still banned, miss your dog

In reply to Post #18
Haven't had the interest to go back on there for carp.

I did a couple of pike trips over the winter, but the gates being locked at 4pm meant I was having to pack up at bite time.

In reply to Post #19
Take care

In reply to Post #14
Dave ... it´s got absolutely nothing to do with social media, in my case. This might sound strange, but, VANITY has somehow left me questioning this issue Trophy shot ... look at me, in all my glory, showing how good & proud i am of my capture Had a rethink, or midlife crisis, or both, causing this flashback.

I recently had a look at some trophy shots on a mate´s FB page, showing him proudly advertising his hunting kills, NOT SKILLS, of some poor defenseless game Rubbed me up the wrong way, and left a bad taste in my mouth. Hunting never has bothered me before, but now, nah, that ain´t right. Hunting & culling game, for the pure pleasure of it just ain´t right, no more. Hunting because you have to, in order to feed a family, well that´s another issue, but hunting, then stuffing & mounting your kill on the wall, for pleasure, is no longer kosher.

Not the same thing as taking a trophy shot of your PB carp, of which you release unharmed, but all the accolations that come with it, aren´t that important anymore. A somewhat skewed, perceived conflict of interest or temporary lapse of reasoning

Each to their own ... snap away

The last fish pic was a self take in 2012 for a special Northern fish!! Got to be honest it doesn't phase me just got back from a social on Mallard 14 fish to 29.12 didn't want any photos that doesnt reflect my fish care and release!! I think sometimes people can be dismissive with care due to size!!
Really happy to be the camera man for my mate who broke his pb twice and I'm learning the art of the DSLR in the last 2 years..

Yes I will do a pic if it's a special one or a pb to look back on but why keep a fish out the water for the sake of it...