Decided to start looking at a way to keep my luggage down but not really sure how to go about it, do people use big carryalls to avoid having lots of little bags? do you storage your baits with your tackle and other bits all in one bag . Just trying to find a way to be more organised and room efficient. Any advice would be much appreciated?

In reply to Post #1
It's all about mindset mate.

I can fit everything I need for a day session in my seatbox. Rods, banksticks, net and handle, unhooking mat. Maybe a carrier bag with flask and food. All done. One walk from the car to my peg and I'm away. Light day shelter if its rainy but no need on clear days (never understand those putting up bivvie on a sunny day session...)

Obviously for a longer / overnight job there's more to consider, but if you start with just essentials and keep in that vein you'll easily cut down

In reply to Post #1
Buckets buckets buckets - bucket 1 has an inner tray with all my terminal, the rest of the bucket has PVA / catapult / tub of pop ups / 'dry stuff' . . .bucket 2 is for bait. On longer sessions I do take a compact carryall for tech stuff and a separate food / cooler bag for grub but that's it - seriously considering dumping at least one of these for another 17l square bucket . . .they're easy to stack / protect whatever they're carrying are compact / rodent proof and also act as a brilliant bivvy tables - they're also probably lighter than even a compact carryall . . . as well as being easy to carry / load on a barrow . . .

In reply to Post #1
I use a 35 L hiking rucksack (aiguille alpine midi 35 L for reference). I have a buzz bar bag in there so my alarms don't get smashed up as I'm not the most delicate person - this bag also contains two 12" bank sticks. I have a large lead bag which houses my terminal tackle - of which I have barely any - and a few part-made/made up rigs. I have another small bag (Cotswold Aquarius micro stubby bag I think) which has a few spare batteries and spare polarised sunglasses alongside some other stuff that I don't need to hand. The only other luggage I have is a cool bag for food and a bucket for bait. That's it.

In reply to Post #2
They could be using it as shade,I hate sitting in the sun for long periods

I use a 40 litre ESP rucksack ,that's it..everything I use or need goes in it..I don't do a bag for a bag ..only thing is my buzzerbar bag ,and that's it..

So it's
4x 12 inch solar bank sticks
Trangia 27ul
Meths
6x leads
Tiny ,tiny tackle pouch
Catapult..

Bait..

Tiny korum scales
Headtorch

That's it...nothing else, I use it all ,everytine cept for scales as I don't really weigh fish much,oh...and camera phone,ditched dslr..

But in my 4x4 is spare clothes for when I fall in or get low in bait ,all hidden away ..

In reply to Post #5
Fair point.

I have a lovely parasol with unicorns on it

Large Trakker carryall that everything goes in. Once ive got everything out that i need, its stashed behind my bedchair until its time to pack up.

In reply to Post #7
I believe you

In reply to Post #1
Small rucksack that contains all of my main fishing tackle. Job done

Overnight add medium carry all that is left stocked up, cooking gear, stove, all the usual bits, just add food and water

Camping, change to XL carry all

In reply to Post #1
There probably isn't a 'right' answer, just finding a system that works for you. Certainly easy to buy a bag for everything these days it seems.
For me I have a Trakker compact carryall for all my tackle/bits. Buzz bars fit in there also. Then I've just bought a Sonik 3 rod compact sleeve which allows me to put 3 made up rods, bank sticks, marker rod and net handle in there.

I take a barrow so those 2 bags on top, then unhooking matt and any chair I take is underneath. In the under barrow storage I have sling, tripod, coat, sleeping bag as needed for the trip.

I'd like to get a Fox explorer barrow to give a few more under barrow bags to take other items and help with organisation further. A barrow is so easy to push around I'd personally prefer to take one even for a day session just to save carrying bags. Easier for when you spot to climb a tree etc.

I can fit everything I need in a 40l rucksack and a bucket, terminal in top pocket, scales in front pocket, odds and ends head torch pop ups etc side pockets, main rucksack stove gas spare jacket and food, amazes me what some of my mates take with them, big 2 man bivvys bags with in bags and bags for them bags.

In reply to Post #12
I've seen people great big barra bag with about 5 bags inside 40 leads loads of bits a pieces he can hardly lift it no barra over shoulder and breaks rods down takes reels off like we did float fishing when we where kids
I said why do you bring all that gear for a 6 hour day session he said I can't see how I can cut down anyway I might need it
Someone else takes around 4 carryalls and its amazing a large air dry bag full of tubs of pop ups around 20 ish loads of different boilies around 20 kilo fishing a puddle for one night

I think bags within bags is where things get bulky

Trouble is there is now a bag for this, a bag for that etc

If you just put the lot inside one bag and the stuff you need to get to easily in the outer pockets that reduces the load quite a bit

I mix pop ups, wafters or hard hookers in the same tub if they are the same or similar flavours so that helps

Oh and just taking a few leads if only going for the day or night is another big weight saved

Like a lot on carpforum ,I've been carping a long time.

I think the advent of mainstream usage of the carp porter barrows revolutionised carp fishing with the ease and portability ,however with this new found 'one trip only ' freedom became doomed ,as suddenly more and more gear was deemed essential,that really is unnecessary..

It only seems like yesterday ..it was .

Rucksack
Rodbag
Bedchair,which really was both..a bed and chair, I still have a ratchet bedchair,and prefer it..anyway
Sleeping bag ,at bottom of Rucksack
Water in a 2 litre bottle around my neck via a old leather belt..I'd walk halfway round my local 40 acre ressi no problem..
A shelter

Bit of bait n food..

Somewhere,somehow we have ALL lost the way,gear is massive ,oversized and very bulky...

Like I've said regularly, it's overkill...we are mugs ,well I'm not because I've been a minimalist for years..lol,even so it's a lot,if your carrying gear that requires two journeys to your car .using a barrow..for just a night sess.

Take a look at what you hope to achieve,and by golly think and evaluate..I don't fish commercial waters often,but I'm literally gobsmacked with the total crap they carry ,just for a night..

Manufactures of kit ,must be laughing their heads off..!

In reply to Post #15
I also go light, it works for me. But imo there's no need to call the chaps that like to take the kitchen sink mugs. Some guys just like the comfort associated with these massive bags, beds, bivvys etc etc. Each to their own innit. Whatever works for the individual.

In reply to Post #15
I take loads of gear with me, by choice

In reply to Post #15
You have to remember that not everyone has the luxury of local syndicate tickets or decent club waters to go at.

There are plenty of people who go to day tickets where they are generally fixed to the same peg for their full session.

In this case there isnt much of reason to travel light and barrowing over once to their peg with 'the kitchen sink' isnt really a big deal.

In reply to Post #16
Each to their own cannot disagree with that, at what point though ,or at which stage is carp fishing, camping, glamping or fishing ,maybe the lines have become blurred somewhat along the way .

Personally I go fishing to catch some fish,and enjoy the countryside, but don't want to be controlled by lots and lots of unnecessary kit ...that dictates swim choice potentially or other factors..

In reply to Post #19
I completely agree with what your saying.

There is a time to fish light and a time when it's not necessary. The same as there's a time when fishing with a lot of gear is overkill and doesn't do you any favours.

If I was fishing a low stock pit and needed to move around the lake throughout my session to find them I would 100 percent take less gear.


Conversely, if I was going to a day ticket where I am stuck on the same peg for 48-72 hours I would take a a fair bit more because.... Why not ?

Fishing has changed, technology has moved on and that comes with the luxury of new elements of gear that hasn't been available to the angler in the past.

People should just enjoy there own fishing and stop worrying about what others are taking with them and how heavy their beds are.

Yeah,some relevant points made for sure..

Carp_Glamping,...with Nashy soft slippers !

About sums it up ...🤣