Wonderful to have the forum up and running again. Was only a lurker, but visited and read avidly.
New for me since the forum took a pause?
Bit of back-story: restarted fishing May last year after 30 year pause. Decided on carping, ‘cos a colleague got me a membership of a low-stock hard-fished water. And between equipping, learning (slowly), had a slow and frustrating 2023.
Joined a new syndicate from January, 4 big lakes, very little info. Having a wonderful time (between the atrocious weather). Had some really nice fish. Best session was a short day session taking two commons and two leathers between 22 and 28lbs.
So during the forum pause, I feel that I actually became a carp fisher.
New for me since the forum took a pause?
Bit of back-story: restarted fishing May last year after 30 year pause. Decided on carping, ‘cos a colleague got me a membership of a low-stock hard-fished water. And between equipping, learning (slowly), had a slow and frustrating 2023.
Joined a new syndicate from January, 4 big lakes, very little info. Having a wonderful time (between the atrocious weather). Had some really nice fish. Best session was a short day session taking two commons and two leathers between 22 and 28lbs.
So during the forum pause, I feel that I actually became a carp fisher.
In reply to Post #1
Awesome, well done on the fish
Let me know when you next need to fish and I'll turn the site off again...
Awesome, well done on the fish
Let me know when you next need to fish and I'll turn the site off again...
New lawyers in place..... 
Moved house, new bivvy, new lake, (plus staying on the old one).
Still can't catch a fish for toffee and Sheffield United are still crap!
Still can't catch a fish for toffee and Sheffield United are still crap!
New extension to house started and my Mrs has turned it into an episode of Grand Designs, so I'm skint and have no money to buy fishing gear 
In reply to Post #1
Finally after lots of walking, watching & a little baiting have somehow managed to be one step ahead of the fish rather than two steps behind, roll on warmer weather!
Finally after lots of walking, watching & a little baiting have somehow managed to be one step ahead of the fish rather than two steps behind, roll on warmer weather!
In reply to Post #2
Patiently waiting to prebait the canal ready for beginning of may but keeping an eye on weather at minute if I don't think it's good enough I'll jump on lake by canal
Split up with girlfriend, new rods, going to be going fishing a lot more this year, 2 trips booked already, visiting Mr bowers tomorrow to sort out a couple of new baits for this season. Getting the buzz back after a bit of a hard time in recent months.
In reply to Post #1
Made my last cast.. now an armchair (wheelchair) angler.
Good luck to all of you this spring!
Made my last cast.. now an armchair (wheelchair) angler.
Good luck to all of you this spring!
found out I've got 2 kids with the wife and we're going on holiday to Turkey since the forums been down
In reply to Post #4
Chris Wilder doing his usual magic, we called him Chippy when he was with us (Oxford United), as he was such an angry miserable sod.
I lived in Sheffield for 11 years, it is a great city.
Chris Wilder doing his usual magic, we called him Chippy when he was with us (Oxford United), as he was such an angry miserable sod.
I lived in Sheffield for 11 years, it is a great city.
In reply to Post #1
Actually done more fishing in the last 4 months than I done in the whole of last year. Nothing to do with the Forum being down. Just been more motivated to go recent. Hooked up with a pal I haven't fished with for 25 years plus. It's reignited a flame in me. Got to the age of 50 and got more reason to look back.
Actually done more fishing in the last 4 months than I done in the whole of last year. Nothing to do with the Forum being down. Just been more motivated to go recent. Hooked up with a pal I haven't fished with for 25 years plus. It's reignited a flame in me. Got to the age of 50 and got more reason to look back.
New UK PB and some new alarms..........
Started a new lake in March and broke my pb 3 times in two sessions, its now 36.4
Global Angling power wheel on my big boy carp porter. Mega bit of kit.
Global Angling rear wheels finally arrived for my Trakker Galaxy, the higher handles from BCUK too, both seem good quality but by god, I hadn't realised how heavy the extra wheels make the barrow. I've modded the handles so they go into the frame further (personal preference).
On a sad note, you know when you have good friends but you don't keep in touch regularly.
I thought I'd get in touch with a chap I used to go fishing to France with in the early 0's, last on the bank with him 2 years ago...found out Covid had taken him some time ago...some great memories, RIP Herb :-(
On a sad note, you know when you have good friends but you don't keep in touch regularly.
I thought I'd get in touch with a chap I used to go fishing to France with in the early 0's, last on the bank with him 2 years ago...found out Covid had taken him some time ago...some great memories, RIP Herb :-(
golf handicap went up by 2, deja vu on the arsenal and put on a few kilos 
Ordered new car.
Changed bait company
Put on half a stone.
Bought some pop ups i dont need.
Grand daughter started talking.
Got a pay rise.
Council tax went up.
Sky put their price up
BT put their price up.
Spotify put their price up.
Paid thousands for other daughter's wedding.
Now got double figure golf handicap.
Life.
Changed bait company
Put on half a stone.
Bought some pop ups i dont need.
Grand daughter started talking.
Got a pay rise.
Council tax went up.
Sky put their price up
BT put their price up.
Spotify put their price up.
Paid thousands for other daughter's wedding.
Now got double figure golf handicap.
Life.
In reply to Post #17
Sad that and sorry to hear. RIP fella.
Sad that and sorry to hear. RIP fella.
In reply to Post #20
Treated myself to a dedicated surface rod , getting kit sorted for summer.
I AM getting one of those big 30's off the top this year !!!
Treated myself to a dedicated surface rod , getting kit sorted for summer.
I AM getting one of those big 30's off the top this year !!!
Wife cheated.
Need to get a divorce.
Eating disorder has ruined me & I've lost a scary amount of weight
Caught 2 tench with my daughter.
Bagged my target carp from a very tricky venue.
Catching my target so quickly has left me feeling a bit lost.
Tench and carp were caught on a bait of my own making which made it more special.
Oh started back at the gym as well
It's been fun
Need to get a divorce.
Eating disorder has ruined me & I've lost a scary amount of weight
Caught 2 tench with my daughter.
Bagged my target carp from a very tricky venue.
Catching my target so quickly has left me feeling a bit lost.
Tench and carp were caught on a bait of my own making which made it more special.
Oh started back at the gym as well
It's been fun
In reply to Post #22
Been there with the cheatin and the divorce........ you'll be sound , sh1t but it gets better , promise ya that
Been there with the cheatin and the divorce........ you'll be sound , sh1t but it gets better , promise ya that
Four months older
In remission from cancer.
Smashing fish out, not that the cancer stopped me.
Smashing fish out, not that the cancer stopped me.
Bought a new house
Booked a holiday in Thailand.
In reply to Post #25
Snap Dickweed, the fights not over but to hear the consultant say them words 😢
Snap Dickweed, the fights not over but to hear the consultant say them words 😢
In reply to Post #25
Thats great to hear mate, you too Gooner, keep up the fight
I got the all clear late Jan, chemo last April, cell counts as of 2 weeks ago mean I can go fishing again.
Started the fight with another very slow grower tho, how's your luck, I'll try and forget about that until the check ups!
Edit,..and more importantly, 17th March 2024 was my 20 year forum anniversary
Thats great to hear mate, you too Gooner, keep up the fight
I got the all clear late Jan, chemo last April, cell counts as of 2 weeks ago mean I can go fishing again.
Started the fight with another very slow grower tho, how's your luck, I'll try and forget about that until the check ups!
Edit,..and more importantly, 17th March 2024 was my 20 year forum anniversary
New delks as my txi pluses must be nearly 20 years old and new syndicate to have a go at.
Got married again to a lovely lass after losing my wife two years ago to cancer
Daughter decided she's not so keen as a teen to come fishing with her old man
Bought 4 new rods and haven't used any of them yet...
Daughter decided she's not so keen as a teen to come fishing with her old man
Bought 4 new rods and haven't used any of them yet...
I actually got to fish Horshoe, only 2 nights, but it's somewhere I've always wanted to fish.
Travelled over with by best mate which was a bonus.
Snapped my 2 ECU alarm cases too....ffs!
Travelled over with by best mate which was a bonus.
Snapped my 2 ECU alarm cases too....ffs!
In reply to Post #25
All the best mate.
All the best mate.
In reply to Post #33
Thanks mate.
The fortunate thing is I had no side effects from it or the treatment. Worked full time, gym, overnights even on school nights. Mentally very hard at times, effing hard tbh. I must be one of the lucky ones. Could write a book on the experience but I won't but I need to raise awareness of skin cancers that spread to other areas of the body. ( in my case the liver).
All I can say is be very aware and careful when out fishing. I always keep out of the sun and it still got me. Over 100 hospital trips over 3 years is not what I had ever thought I would experience tbh. It's one club I never thought I would be in.
Definitely worth getting anything suspicious checked out. Never leave it.
Thanks mate.
The fortunate thing is I had no side effects from it or the treatment. Worked full time, gym, overnights even on school nights. Mentally very hard at times, effing hard tbh. I must be one of the lucky ones. Could write a book on the experience but I won't but I need to raise awareness of skin cancers that spread to other areas of the body. ( in my case the liver).
All I can say is be very aware and careful when out fishing. I always keep out of the sun and it still got me. Over 100 hospital trips over 3 years is not what I had ever thought I would experience tbh. It's one club I never thought I would be in.
Definitely worth getting anything suspicious checked out. Never leave it.
In reply to Post #34
Congrats to those in remission.
I got the all clear June 2020 after having Hodgkin's Lymphoma discovered March 2020 (after 3 months of bouncing around hospitals having tests/scans/biopsies).
I was also lucky and had a pretty easy ride getting better (other than puking during/after chemo a few times). Not the ideal time to have zero immune system either, just as COVID became an issue.
It does make each fishing trip feel like a bonus/extra one now so I appreciate things more
Congrats to those in remission.
I got the all clear June 2020 after having Hodgkin's Lymphoma discovered March 2020 (after 3 months of bouncing around hospitals having tests/scans/biopsies).
I was also lucky and had a pretty easy ride getting better (other than puking during/after chemo a few times). Not the ideal time to have zero immune system either, just as COVID became an issue.
It does make each fishing trip feel like a bonus/extra one now so I appreciate things more
In reply to Post #35
4 months off , someone still pushing the twig ( rat trap) , iv joined a water , Luton been relegated 🙄
4 months off , someone still pushing the twig ( rat trap) , iv joined a water , Luton been relegated 🙄
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