I had a great opportunity to go fishing for the first time in about a month this afternoon... but did I go... NO!
To be honest, I feel tired at the thought (only 48) my gear is all over the place, a few bits in the shed, a few bits in the loft, under the stairs etc. since we moved house and don't have a garage I've just not found the time to sort it all out I think now I just lack the motivation.
I have tickets for three different complex's this year with two completely new waters totaling 6 lakes I can fish, so the opportunities are there. I'm just lacking the motivation, not sure why... but today the thought of loading up the car then driving an hour and barrowing around the lakes to repeat the process in reverse tomorrow morning just didn't appeal.
I'm becoming more and more disillusioned with the modern carp scene, which doesn't help I guess. I started to think maybe I should just sell up and do something different. I just can't see me going much anymore the way tit's going.
To be honest, I feel tired at the thought (only 48) my gear is all over the place, a few bits in the shed, a few bits in the loft, under the stairs etc. since we moved house and don't have a garage I've just not found the time to sort it all out I think now I just lack the motivation.
I have tickets for three different complex's this year with two completely new waters totaling 6 lakes I can fish, so the opportunities are there. I'm just lacking the motivation, not sure why... but today the thought of loading up the car then driving an hour and barrowing around the lakes to repeat the process in reverse tomorrow morning just didn't appeal.
I'm becoming more and more disillusioned with the modern carp scene, which doesn't help I guess. I started to think maybe I should just sell up and do something different. I just can't see me going much anymore the way tit's going.
Don't sell up.
Take a break, get everything sorted; get rid of some stuff if needs be.
Do it on your terms.
Personally, I only do days now, and have reduced the gear significantly - works well for me, and I have contemplated throwing in the towel more than once.
Take a break, get everything sorted; get rid of some stuff if needs be.
Do it on your terms.
Personally, I only do days now, and have reduced the gear significantly - works well for me, and I have contemplated throwing in the towel more than once.
In reply to Post #1
I have had periods of inactivity mostly due to personal circumstances which put my angling on the back burner for a few years - being a single dad, women, kids, work etc, but for something to work you do need to put the effort in.
If all that gear was in the back of your car 24 hours before you were due to go, would you still have binned it off?
This year, most of my sessions will be 4/5 days - 12 such visits planned. Plus I'd like to do a couple of weekends.
I can't wait to get out. I should have gone to one of my club lakes for 3/4 days this Easter Weekend which I'd been planning since January but my car ended up in the garage with a fault that couldn't be fixed until next week.
It is a PIA going for very short trips as no sooner your there your packing away again.
IF I were you, I'd organise some longer trips to make it worthwhile. A few of those and you'll be fine again.
Good luck mate.
I have had periods of inactivity mostly due to personal circumstances which put my angling on the back burner for a few years - being a single dad, women, kids, work etc, but for something to work you do need to put the effort in.
If all that gear was in the back of your car 24 hours before you were due to go, would you still have binned it off?
This year, most of my sessions will be 4/5 days - 12 such visits planned. Plus I'd like to do a couple of weekends.
I can't wait to get out. I should have gone to one of my club lakes for 3/4 days this Easter Weekend which I'd been planning since January but my car ended up in the garage with a fault that couldn't be fixed until next week.
It is a PIA going for very short trips as no sooner your there your packing away again.
IF I were you, I'd organise some longer trips to make it worthwhile. A few of those and you'll be fine again.
Good luck mate.
In reply to Post #1
I'm with rkb
Scale down, do a few days. Put a smile on your face
I'm with rkb
Scale down, do a few days. Put a smile on your face
In reply to Post #1
Do some "flask and butties" fishing, just take what you can carry, small brolly and recliner chair, fish for doubles and low 20s and enjoy being on the bank.
Evenings and short nights, less camping, more fishing.
Do some "flask and butties" fishing, just take what you can carry, small brolly and recliner chair, fish for doubles and low 20s and enjoy being on the bank.
Evenings and short nights, less camping, more fishing.
In reply to Post #1
So what is it about the modern carp scene that is keeping you away from the lake? I've also felt the same at times, it will pass and the motivation will return. I decided to start going for a walk around the lakes after work or when I had a couple hours spare and believe me once you breath that air by the lake it clicks and the motivation returns.
So what is it about the modern carp scene that is keeping you away from the lake? I've also felt the same at times, it will pass and the motivation will return. I decided to start going for a walk around the lakes after work or when I had a couple hours spare and believe me once you breath that air by the lake it clicks and the motivation returns.
In reply to Post #1
I have been busy with other aspects of my life all year... and have felt a similar dread.
I decided over the weekend that i need to get myself going and start doing a bit... first job to get the motivation going it to start to sit and do some fishing related reading every night for a hour (new subsurface mag) so that i develop the itch and get the mind going.
Next will be to to walk around a lake, sort my gear and roll a bit of bait, planned for next weekend. Then ill get at least one night out next week - the decision will be to go to my syndi (harder but a beautiful lake) or jump on a better stocked lake.
Just a series of small steps to get over what i perceive to be a bigger problem. I'm sure after a night on the bank and hopefully a fish or two the hunger will be back
PS - stay away from the bait section on here - your disillusionment will become even worse
I have been busy with other aspects of my life all year... and have felt a similar dread.
I decided over the weekend that i need to get myself going and start doing a bit... first job to get the motivation going it to start to sit and do some fishing related reading every night for a hour (new subsurface mag) so that i develop the itch and get the mind going.
Next will be to to walk around a lake, sort my gear and roll a bit of bait, planned for next weekend. Then ill get at least one night out next week - the decision will be to go to my syndi (harder but a beautiful lake) or jump on a better stocked lake.
Just a series of small steps to get over what i perceive to be a bigger problem. I'm sure after a night on the bank and hopefully a fish or two the hunger will be back
PS - stay away from the bait section on here - your disillusionment will become even worse
Been there fairly recently, my big advice, do not sell up. I told myself in October I was taking the winter away from carp, and taking a break,whereas normally I'm out every other week if not every week. Had just reached the point I couldn't be bothered, wasn't waking up early to get to the lakes and was just casting out as soon as I found something gravelly thinking that will do.
Truthfully, I made it as far as January before I missed it, but that couple of months did me the world of good. A few sessions trotting for Grayling and Chub on a local river helped.
Maybe try another form of fishing for a month or so? See if you do miss it?
Truthfully, I made it as far as January before I missed it, but that couple of months did me the world of good. A few sessions trotting for Grayling and Chub on a local river helped.
Maybe try another form of fishing for a month or so? See if you do miss it?
In reply to Post #1
I think modern carp fishing has given us unreal expectations.
I don't just fish for carp, but have gotten back into other species, pike fishing in the winter, a day out for roach, Chub or tench.
It helps to mix it up.
I think modern carp fishing has given us unreal expectations.
I don't just fish for carp, but have gotten back into other species, pike fishing in the winter, a day out for roach, Chub or tench.
It helps to mix it up.
Depression on any level is an awful thing. Lack of motivation when you know if you get out you will feel fine is horrible.
As said try some short sessions or bank walks or combine the two and try some stalking.
Dont take a trip to a tackle shop though and spend hundreds like I do then feel bad for doing it.
The other option is on a bookable water you pay for up front.
As said try some short sessions or bank walks or combine the two and try some stalking.
Dont take a trip to a tackle shop though and spend hundreds like I do then feel bad for doing it.
The other option is on a bookable water you pay for up front.
In reply to Post #1
I went through the same thing around 5 years a go or so. I decided to go pursue other things in life/fishing until I decided I wanted to fish for carp again. I was also prepared to never do it again if that's how the chips fell. I've now decided to start carp fishing again and the reason is because I've decided on definite goals. The first goal is to become comfortable fishing very large lakes (100+ acre). Once I achieve that then I might shift my goal to becoming comfortable fishing for canal or river carp. The key for me is to put myself in uncomfortable scenarios and enjoy the journey rather than the end result. I believe that putting yourself in these uncomfortable scenarios and constantly learning as a result stops something from becoming stale.
I went through the same thing around 5 years a go or so. I decided to go pursue other things in life/fishing until I decided I wanted to fish for carp again. I was also prepared to never do it again if that's how the chips fell. I've now decided to start carp fishing again and the reason is because I've decided on definite goals. The first goal is to become comfortable fishing very large lakes (100+ acre). Once I achieve that then I might shift my goal to becoming comfortable fishing for canal or river carp. The key for me is to put myself in uncomfortable scenarios and enjoy the journey rather than the end result. I believe that putting yourself in these uncomfortable scenarios and constantly learning as a result stops something from becoming stale.
In reply to Post #11
Nail on head...
You have to test yourself,even if its not the greatest rewards,sometimes like you say,the journey is the reward in itself..
'Some times you have to go backwards,to progress that's what Hardy needs to do..
Nail on head...
You have to test yourself,even if its not the greatest rewards,sometimes like you say,the journey is the reward in itself..
'Some times you have to go backwards,to progress that's what Hardy needs to do..
In reply to Post #1
Felt like this before in the past a few years back, had two good lakes to fish at the time but just didnt have the motivation to get out and go and almost just lost interest in fishing altogether!
I decided to go back to basics to get the enjoyment again, so got out the float rod and went out to a decent match lake, nothing can beat the excitement of watching a float go under, even if it were for a few hours fishing, it brought back the memories for me and reasons why i took up fishing in the first place! Never looked back since and have got the motivation back for carp fishing!
If you can i'd recommend just taking a float rod out, but failing that find an easy runs water near you to get back into it just a for a day session
Felt like this before in the past a few years back, had two good lakes to fish at the time but just didnt have the motivation to get out and go and almost just lost interest in fishing altogether!
I decided to go back to basics to get the enjoyment again, so got out the float rod and went out to a decent match lake, nothing can beat the excitement of watching a float go under, even if it were for a few hours fishing, it brought back the memories for me and reasons why i took up fishing in the first place! Never looked back since and have got the motivation back for carp fishing!
If you can i'd recommend just taking a float rod out, but failing that find an easy runs water near you to get back into it just a for a day session
Do what I did and get our surface fishing or float fishing .
I lost interest in hardcore carping after being well and truly back stabbed on a syndicate.
A lot of my carp angling is now on park lakes , short sessions at the crack of dawn or evening and I've caught as many as the lads that live in the lakes .
Little and often keeps you interested and stops you selling your gear .
I lost interest in hardcore carping after being well and truly back stabbed on a syndicate.
A lot of my carp angling is now on park lakes , short sessions at the crack of dawn or evening and I've caught as many as the lads that live in the lakes .
Little and often keeps you interested and stops you selling your gear .
In reply to Post #1
Might be an idea to start slowly sorting your equipment out so when the next opportunity comes along you are ready to go, nothing else to do but grab some bait.
Maybe have a think about the way you fish and your waters. Is there a way of making it different & more interesting, change of tactics, days only. Local waters that could offer other challenges & way of fishing.
The motivation will come back once you find a suitable solution for yourself, best of luck with it.
Might be an idea to start slowly sorting your equipment out so when the next opportunity comes along you are ready to go, nothing else to do but grab some bait.
Maybe have a think about the way you fish and your waters. Is there a way of making it different & more interesting, change of tactics, days only. Local waters that could offer other challenges & way of fishing.
The motivation will come back once you find a suitable solution for yourself, best of luck with it.
Variety is the spice of life 
Fishing is like a drug for me, when you need to go, you need to go, thankfully I'm not an addict anymore
Last year I bought a spinning set up for an holiday and have done a bit of dabbling this winter, few small pollack and bits but hey ho, I enjoyed it. Carp fished mainly early mornings until dinner time when I have through the winter other than a few socials with mates. Unless the water has true winter form I ease off It now, other things to do than sit in a tent for hours on end, bit of mountain biking in the colder weather etc.
I have two waters hopefully to myself this year and plan to fish a few day tickets on socials this year too, see how the other half live
Fishing is like a drug for me, when you need to go, you need to go, thankfully I'm not an addict anymore
Last year I bought a spinning set up for an holiday and have done a bit of dabbling this winter, few small pollack and bits but hey ho, I enjoyed it. Carp fished mainly early mornings until dinner time when I have through the winter other than a few socials with mates. Unless the water has true winter form I ease off It now, other things to do than sit in a tent for hours on end, bit of mountain biking in the colder weather etc.
I have two waters hopefully to myself this year and plan to fish a few day tickets on socials this year too, see how the other half live
In reply to Post #1
Been there, we aint robots, I usually paint the house or kick the cat
Been there, we aint robots, I usually paint the house or kick the cat
In reply to Post #17
Depends on your priorities i think,im similar. Long way from my shed to the car, all the food to plan etc.....
That's why fishing with ya car behind you or at least very close and I'm happy. Not all about catching for me,far from it, relax. Relax. Relax. Get up when the birds start chirping. Bbq and a bottle of wine at night, many here will mock but it's all about meeeeeeeeeeeee
Depends on your priorities i think,im similar. Long way from my shed to the car, all the food to plan etc.....
That's why fishing with ya car behind you or at least very close and I'm happy. Not all about catching for me,far from it, relax. Relax. Relax. Get up when the birds start chirping. Bbq and a bottle of wine at night, many here will mock but it's all about meeeeeeeeeeeee
I feel like this sometimes I'm only 27 as well. I gave up carp fishing when I was about 18/19 for 6ish years when the gym had my attention... Obsessive really too much time spent there.
I start3d going again a couple of years ago for the odd day here and there and found the bug again! I never do more than 48 hours and only do 48 hours if I'm with a mate or two because I just get bored if I'm honest but doing days and quick overnighters when you don't have to take loads is much easier and less hassle and you can go on a whim without too much planning.
I wouldn't sell up though, maybe really lighten the load as others have said, try and go somewhere not as busy and do some stalking surface fishing kind of thing... Something fun rather than sitting behind motionless rods for four days with loads of tackle. 👍🏼
I start3d going again a couple of years ago for the odd day here and there and found the bug again! I never do more than 48 hours and only do 48 hours if I'm with a mate or two because I just get bored if I'm honest but doing days and quick overnighters when you don't have to take loads is much easier and less hassle and you can go on a whim without too much planning.
I wouldn't sell up though, maybe really lighten the load as others have said, try and go somewhere not as busy and do some stalking surface fishing kind of thing... Something fun rather than sitting behind motionless rods for four days with loads of tackle. 👍🏼
In reply to Post #1
yep, i've been where you are mate, i changed it up, i ditched doing nights and focused on travelling light and doing short sessions, you'd be amazed what you can catch when you actually go after them rather than just sit and wait
i like a change of scene too, barbel fishing is really good and i like a bit of lure fishing too and i'll chop and change as the mood takes me, once i ditched bedchair life i started enjoying my fishing again
yep, i've been where you are mate, i changed it up, i ditched doing nights and focused on travelling light and doing short sessions, you'd be amazed what you can catch when you actually go after them rather than just sit and wait
i like a change of scene too, barbel fishing is really good and i like a bit of lure fishing too and i'll chop and change as the mood takes me, once i ditched bedchair life i started enjoying my fishing again
In reply to Post #1
Just grab one rod and go floater fishing on one of the smaller waters for a couple of hrs. Me and one of the boys do it often because he can't get out overnight that often. We went on Friday 6pm to 8pm scratched his itch and caught more than most who had been there all day.
Just grab one rod and go floater fishing on one of the smaller waters for a couple of hrs. Me and one of the boys do it often because he can't get out overnight that often. We went on Friday 6pm to 8pm scratched his itch and caught more than most who had been there all day.
In reply to Post #20
This is exactly how I pulled myself out of it when I lost enthusiasm. I found that when I got married and had my daughter I couldn't bring myself to go fishing, I think through some sort of guilt. I felt that I should be at home helping with the family rather than just swanning off for a day or two. My heart really wasn't in it. Then I started fishing short sessions after work, a couple of times a week. It stopped me feeling guilty, as I was only out for a few hours, and also as I had less gear I would move onto fish more and make more effort to capitalise on my time. I can honestly say that after carp fishing for 30 years, it changed the way I fish and I find it much more enjoyable, plus the results have been great!
Now feel like I have a good balance between fishing, family and work, and I probably catch more than the divorced Bivvy tramps! 👌
This is exactly how I pulled myself out of it when I lost enthusiasm. I found that when I got married and had my daughter I couldn't bring myself to go fishing, I think through some sort of guilt. I felt that I should be at home helping with the family rather than just swanning off for a day or two. My heart really wasn't in it. Then I started fishing short sessions after work, a couple of times a week. It stopped me feeling guilty, as I was only out for a few hours, and also as I had less gear I would move onto fish more and make more effort to capitalise on my time. I can honestly say that after carp fishing for 30 years, it changed the way I fish and I find it much more enjoyable, plus the results have been great!
Now feel like I have a good balance between fishing, family and work, and I probably catch more than the divorced Bivvy tramps! 👌
In reply to Post #20
Similar thoughts to me, if you know that water and bite times an hour in the right spot is better than 24 or 48 in the wrong one, unless people like the camping of course 
Being mobile is they key, but not just chasing shadows
Similar thoughts to me, if you know that water and bite times an hour in the right spot is better than 24 or 48 in the wrong one, unless people like the camping of course
Being mobile is they key, but not just chasing shadows
Thanks All!
Some great advice, I've started having a clear out and getting rid of a load of gear.... it's amazing what I've amassed in the last 30 years!
Some great advice, I've started having a clear out and getting rid of a load of gear.... it's amazing what I've amassed in the last 30 years!
In reply to Post #20
I haven't even looked at my gear for the best part of a year.
I keep thinking of selling it all, but I know I'll get the bug again one day.
I haven't even looked at my gear for the best part of a year.
I keep thinking of selling it all, but I know I'll get the bug again one day.
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