I've noticed in the last few years I've been becoming increasingly disillusioned with carp fishing and after starting back in 1994 I've decided to call it a day.

It's shame as I loved it once, but the love isn't there anymore. I'm a member of a syndicate with 3 lakes and over the last 2 seasons have fished just 4 nights I think. In fact none of the last few lakes have grabbed my attention or given me 'the bug'.

I think about it a lot but I just don't have the desire anymore.

I may keep some course fishing bits and go now and then with a float but the thought of going carp fishing now just doesn't appeal to me.

Point of the post was to ask if anyone has done the same and if so, what hobbies you have taken up instead? I do still love the outdoors... although I was always a terrible golfer

Also, has anyone any tips on selling my 30 years worth of fishing gear?... Not sure I can bothered to go through anything... but I have amassed quite a lot... 3 or 4 bivvys and at least 4 sets of rods for example! But I just want it gone!

Thanks in advance all

In reply to Post #1
You could take a gander at Arsebook Marketplace , there'll be folks there who buy set up but possibly offering at a **** price though, there's also a dedicated site, but I can't recall its name, that sells all branches of fishing kit but mostly carp orientated and set ups get sold there too.
Edit, the site is called Tackletrader.

In reply to Post #1
I wouldn't sell it,you get next to nothing back and you might get the desire to go again in the future

If you can't be bothered to go through what you've got I'm not sure anyone will give you a price for it....would you? The only other option is to get someone to come to you and look through it, if your o.k with that (I wouldn't be). As has been mentioned, those who buy complete set ups are looking to make a good mark up, you'll get a crap offer in other words.

Carp fishing isn't just about nights, barrows and s**t loads of gear, prep & syndicate. You can have just as much, if not more fun doing days, in fact I know I'm a better angler because of it.

Why don't you keep some stuff back and just put the odd rod or 2 out while on a day's float fishing, that way you can sell your gear as and when you fancy, or not if the bug grabs hold again.

In reply to Post #4
I didn't mean I couldn't be bothered to go through it (I meant in the sense of separating it all for individual sales as it would take too long) But I guess I may have to do that. It may take some time!

To be honest. I've got no desire to continue carp fishing again. I don't have access to any lakes which get me remotely excited and despite being on waiting lists for many years I'm not getting any younger and the cost of said lakes continues to rise well above inflation.

I do think carp fishing has started to become a rich man's sport if you want to fish anywhere worth fishing!

Why not try going to France for a week. My biggest pick me up of the year.

In reply to Post #1
Over the years the love has come and gone. About 10 years ago I spent to seasons course fishing, then returned to Carp, and then 6 years ago I started fishing the rivers for Barbel (traditional watching the tips, roving the river etc) as well as some carp fishing.
If I'm honest I enjoy the river fishing more than Carp, now and hen I am carp fishing tend to do mostly days, which I find more enjoyable and a lot easier with not much equipment required.
As for other hobbies I did play golf for a couple of years, but for me it couldn't match the enjoyment of fishing.
Hopefully you find what your after, but just maybe hang on to your gear for a year?

Some of my mates have loads of gear and I think it just gets overwhelming and sorting it all out etc takes the joy out of it, also looking on social media etc is a bit of buzz killer.

Maybe just have a break, strip it right back and go when you get the urge?

It'll comeback I'm sure

Thanks for the decent advice and I appreciate a lot of you saying hang onto the gear but it's the gear being in the house and me not going / wanting to go that is annoying me. I've been feeling like this for a good few years now but it's just got stronger this year. I've not wet a line since May and haven't missed it.

I have gear in the loft, some under the stairs, some in a car boot and half a shed full of it, so perhaps I will consider trimming it all back first. I've got enough terminal tackle to last me another lifetime I would guess.

I actually saw a guy on Friday when I was working who said he and some mates had booked up to go to Las Graviers in France next October and would I like to go if they have a space... It should be a dream but I just thought instantly what excuse can I make not to go! I'd rather spend my money on my family than spend a week fishing.

I think maybe if I had some decent lakes to fish, perhaps things would be different but with even the syndicates are so busy these days I just get fed up with it. If I want to go fishing it's because I want to get away from people these days. Miserable old git

In reply to Post #9
Honestly, have a trip or two on the rivers roaming with a rod or 2 catching whatever comes along. It's a totally different ball game, enjoyable and only needs a few hours of your time (at least until the bug gets you)

In reply to Post #6
Yep , even one trip a year is better than sitting on crowded lake in a swim you would not fish given a better choice .

In reply to Post #1
Dont sell your gear - or at the very least keep some of the essentials rather than ditching the lot . . .

I've only done about 10x sessions this season; spent a fortune on tickets / bait (most of it still in the freezer) and an expensive new sonar unit for the bait boat that had failed . . .there have been other 'life' related reasons why I simply 'cannot be *rsed with carping' but have enjoyed sea fishing on holiday / rivers for barbel a lot more than going through the motions to catch a biggy etc etc

For me the bug comes in phases and once I'm doing it it becomes an addiction; however I do think you need to keep it interesting by changing venues / trying new (or old) disciplines / focussing on days only with limited gear etc ie. mixing it up.

Someone once told me in my late 20s/early30s (when I'd fish for carp as much as I possibly could including the depths of winter when the chances of a bite were pretty much zero) that 'lifes too short for carp fishing' . . .I scoffed at such a noddy comment at the time however 20+ yrs on I've come to realise how accurate that statement is . . .

Embrace your doubts - take up another hobby / excel at it and move on - when the fishing bug calls you again dust off your tackle and have another go!

In reply to Post #5
I do understand, as I always say on here 'fishing is different things to different people".
I've been where you are but from a time perspective, didn't go fishing for 4 years. I sold a lot of my gear but kept some sentimental stuff and some other stuff as I simply wouldn't sell it as I would get next to nowt for it, glad I did really. I can imagine if you're anything like me the thought of going through your stuff is daunting!

I wonder how many of the younger generation who have only known modern Carp fishing will simply stop fishing having never enjoyed other species, must be hard for them to think of Bream etc in a positive light, a real shame

I've personally got to disagree with your last coment as a generalisation of the hobby as 'worth' is a very personal perspective, but as I said each to their own.

My hobby when not fishing....was thinking about fishing. I did do more hill walking but that was about it, so not much help there.

Good luck with it mate whatever you end up doing

Although I stopped quite a while ago I've still got the float tackle for day fishing for carp.

I've not yet sold my set up but shall do shortly.

I found that when I'd got tired of carp fishing in the summer (too packed and plenty of loud louts) I turned to fishing in the depths of winter and really enjoyed it.

In reply to Post #1
I sold most of my stuff last year as I'd just had enough. Every water was too busy and most matches were being won by cheats so I just gave up

I kept an old set of rods, the XTs that my parent bought me for my 18th and the rx digitals that they bought me for my 16th so that I had enough for a social

That social happened in late September. I didn't enjoy the angling aspect very much but everyone was jealous of my awesome old gear that I kept for sentimental reasons, and always will

In reply to Post #1
Keep the gear, just swap the hair rigs for Pike traces and learn how to float fish for them. That'll be the thing that keeps me going over the winter until the sping returns, and I get the bug to start doing overnighters again.

I've sol up twice once match fishing once carp. Both times for different reasons. Regretting it both times.

You won't get anywhere near value selling a job lot. Don't do it.

Just keep one complete setup and off-load the rest. Its probably that you have too much gear that getting it together for a session is putting you off. I did the same and now its so much easier getting ready for a trip.

What I have done is reduce all the non essentials ,that take up a lot of room in your armoury..

I see a lot of people overwhelmed by all the gear ,either in storage at home or actually taking the kit to fish with, angling is a simple pastime, but we are all told you need this n that,you don't..!
So just keep the basics ,rods,reels etc after a while if the angling mojo doesn't return ,you know what to do..!

I got a decent general course set up, just minimal ..when I'm not bothered about carping I get float fishing ,tenkara,fly fishing etc ..just a change up..it makes a big difference to your mindset.

In reply to Post #19
I have never been one for taking the kitchen sink, yuk, that is not my game but each to their own.

Carp fishing is far too commercialised for my liking and as a result too popular, with a lot of lakes been packed out, deffo not my scene, I struggle to find somewhere I want to REALLY fish nowadays, the fish, the water etc.

There are still a few waters I know and fish but I have been on the rivers more over the last two years and have loved every single second, lot more laid back, same as most folk you meet, plenty of places to fish too if you know where to look

Also done a bit of spinning in the sea and again, really enjoyed it. Variety is the spice of life if you are not feeling it, if it's in your blood it's in your blood.

In reply to Post #1
In the same boat, done a few trips this year but hearts not really in it anymore. Can't do more than about 30 hours max including set up & pack down did try one 48 hour trip but was bored & itching to go by the end.

Did do a bit of floater fishing which was a bit more enjoyable as its a few hours, got coarse gear as well but the river fishing locally isn't up to much.

Did do some mullet fishing a few years ago which again was short sessions & is a possibility.

Reality is i'd rather go for a good walk these days, will be selling off the gear soon i think, done that before & come back but it feels like the end this time.
Shame as i've enjoyed it over the years but nothing stays the same for ever things change, time to move on.

In reply to Post #21
For my two penneth worth , I'd keep the basics of a set up ,you can go if the feeling comes. Thin it out , get rid of some etc .....I kind of get where you are . I hate the modern carp scene, social media and the commercial aspect of it has made it a victim of its own success. Folks booking a peg , camping essentially all weekend .... If that's all I had mine would be gone as well

Definitely keep a set of gear just in case mate. I've sold up twice over the years and regretted it both times further down the line. I've been back into it for a few years now and am as keen again as I was as a kid. I am lucky as I now live in France and am having a great time exploring the rivers and big public lakes, I'm not sure how I'd be with the uk carp scene of today though to be fair.

In reply to Post #1
About 10 years ago I was in the same boat having spent 30 years chasing carp and gave up fished out and disillusioned with the whole game.
Even though I fished a cracking syndicate I just stopped enjoying it and went from 2-3-4 nights a week plus weekends to a fortnightly then monthly over-nighter; even the buzz from sliding the net under a few nice fish didn't last.
There were other factors but yeah for sure the bug had gone, I half heartedly put the tackle in the motor a few times and never fished. The last time I actually fished I was relieved to have a dry net to put in the car.

I fished and shot..well at least I shot at a few pheasants when the lakes were frozen. That reversed- I went shooting and owned a lot of fishing tackle

I'm just starting to get ready to return to the bank..with a better balance in mind.
Not sure if I can face the day-ticket waters or the waiting list for my old syndicate.
Guess that will change when the Delks warble for their first time in a decade.

In regards to selling up; having sold up before and started from scratch I didn't make the mistake again and put the lot in the loft.
Not as if the cash raised from used prices would be still to hand or come close to the current cost of Century rods, reels, alarms, bivvies.
Save a good set-up, might not be the same all consuming 'bug' you've lost but you'll never know when it will bite again.

Maybe sit down and think about what angling situation would make you happy, then try and get to it, I did this many years ago and have not looked back.

Put the gear in the attic and don't sell I wish I listened to these words.

9 years ago I felt like this and now I'm looking at buying my kit back for 2 annual trips to France and a couple of over nighters.

In reply to Post #1
When you're sat there in your Bivvy and thinking to yourself “WTF am I doing here?” I'm afraid you have just realised how bloody boring and monotonous static Carp Fishing can be, there's no way back from that realisation I'm afraid, only cure is to diversify (As suggested by many)


I fish to the weather – right now its Pike fishing with bare minimum gear or even Fly fishing for them, Trotting Maggots for Grayling, Chub etc, might nip on the Rivers for the Barbel/Chub with again absolute bare minimum if the weather deems it viable to do so, and I mean proper Barbel fishing with no Alarms, actually having to concentrate and Fish for them!


Come spring (March 15th) Weather permitting its Wild Brown Trout time wandering miles of untouched natural river & stream banks I never see a soul, you don't realise it at the time but you're like a sponge soaking up skills, skills you can never gain sat on a bank like a spare part on a shelf. But as soon as the leaves start to grow on the tree's it's time to also think about going for the Carp – quick over-nighters only with minimal gear (Don't need to use a Barrow) I'm lucky as the waters I fish the Carp don't rely or even need to show any interest in Anglers baits, making them very hard to fish for– and if you're in the right mind set will keep you thinking and trying different things/ approaches, which in turn stops it becoming monotonous.



I'd go and diversify if I was you Barry and start enjoying yourself again.

In reply to Post #27
Brilliant post.

In reply to Post #27
Best post of last few years..truth and wisdom spoken..

In reply to Post #28
2nd

not sure about no way back but agree that you need to rediscover what it was that attracted you in the first place & concentrate on that as opposed to all of the other stuff that gets introduced which distracts you.

weirdly enough, reading Dave Lane's first book was one of the worst things that I ever did when it comes to carp fishing. whilst I love the stories & the captures along the way, I got distracted by the mentality of how important the fish were to him, the sacrifices he made & how hard he worked to catch them. it made me think I needed to emulate what he was doing to achieve my goals when in fact what made fishing so special to me wasn't any of those things at all - carp fishing to me isn't meant to be work - I don't go fishing to need a break afterwards & it's very easy to mess up that balance.

I fell in love with carp fishing as an escape from competitiveness, stress, the fast pace of life & the real (corporate) world we live in. Despite what the mags / social media / youtube tells me, there is so much more to fishing than catching & even more than catching fish to impress others for likes & fame. I get my enjoyment from sitting back & being present in the moment - appreciating everything around me for what it is rather than wishing for more.

as Rod said "remember to smell the roses along the way"

(PS - don't sell all of your kit. keep back some - "never say never" as you don't know what the future holds)

In reply to Post #31
there is so much more to fishing than catching & even more than catching fish to impress others

And that for me is where a lot go wrong, Not once have I ever done that, but that seems to be the whole point of the pastime for some people, attention, they must be missing something in their lives? I do t get it, and I really question what they get from fishing other than desperation and frustration if that is the case.

Fishing for me is about self enjoyment, a get away from normal life, for pleasure, anlways has been and nothing else. Fish for yourselves and nobody else

In reply to Post #32
I have barely been fishing since August, and that was because I realised I used fishing as a means to escape rather than to relax. I put so much emphasis on putting my free time into my fishing that I was ignoring the problems I had indoors.

"Indoors" has now been sorted, I have a better relationship with my kids, am stress free, have got 4 holidays booked this year, and D-Day is in May. Fishing will never fill the void I had in my life the last 15 years. The right people and enrichment via travel and purpose fill those needs.

I go fishing now when I want to, not because I feel I have to.

Obsession isn't healthy. Fishing is like your diet, too much of one thing is harmful to both your physical and mental health. The problem is, social media and written media over the past lord knows how long romanticise the many damaging aspects of that obsession.

In my experience the guys that become dissolusioned and pack in angling are nearly always those who get caught up with the whole bigger is better and pb malarkey. Often jumping from water to water, forever chasing 'the dream'. If you only fish the waters you like/love being at, for nice fish regardless of them being huge or not, with decent people around you, I can pretty much guarantee you'll be an angler for life.

In reply to Post #34
There's a thread in the U.K venues section about the embryo waters and I was going to say much the same, a advantage of the modern pb hunter is good turn around of waters.
I stayed on a syndicate for over a decade just because I liked being there, a water I presently fish is exactly the same, the biggest fish 24lb.
I enquired about a local club the other day as I dropped the chance to join due to illness at the time, this time it's a 10 year waiting list I wish they'd look at age when deciding that

In over 50 years I have never given up fishing, but then I'm unsure I ever ‘took it up'

The older you get the more you see time differently- f I didn't fish for 3 months now, then I haven't given up I have other things to do. It means different things to different people and certainly at different times and as such advice is probably too personal to be relevant.

I am lucky enough to have waters that I can fish for days only and be in with a chance, I look at the guys setting up for 48 hours and think why - is this really the best use of time - do you really want a photo of a mid 20 at 3am on a freezing night - but then Who am I to judge. I used to pack up and go to work twice a week - I could easily do a couple of nights a week now, with a lie in and still work efficiently but choose not to.

Other species I have no real interest in, but can remember when that wasn't the case, I think I am now so lazy I want the fewest bites for the biggest fish available. Most of my fish now are unhooked and released without removal from the water - not through arrogance as I enjoy every fish I land, but just the question of why would I need to show off a mid double or ltwenty. For me getting to the stage of going fishing when I wanted to, waking up an hour before the alarm really got my buzz back. Fishing alone but chatting with randoms son the bank takes my stress away from fixed plans and the like.

Far too many people taking themselves far to seriously and talk of working in the ‘industry' - for old gits like me you can't put the genie back in the bottle. The awe and envy my generation had at the 80s slide shows and talks will never return. Celebrity anglers catching fat fish to sponsors delight - well done, have the photos at your funeral.

The only reason I would ever sell my gear is if I absolutely had to financially or if health meant I could never again go. To do it out of dissolution for me a a petulant act of cutting your nose, if you truly loved it. Like the ads for full set ups due to taking up a new hobby.

I still have my football boots and shin pads in the cupboard not because I think m gonna play again, but because I don't want to admit that I will never.

''Far too many people taking themselves far to seriously and talk of working in the ‘industry' - for old gits like me you can't put the genie back in the bottle. The awe and envy my generation had at the 80s slide shows and talks will never return. Celebrity anglers catching fat fish to sponsors delight - well done, have the photos at your funeral.''

Quote of the year so far imho....

Regards Tad.

Targeting individual big carp is actually quite easy...IF you are willing to make huge sacrifices, be obsessive, and have naff all else to try and achieve, or desire in life...

Once you can understand that fact, then decisions are easy to make...

The brain is a muscle, the more it's exercised then the stronger it gets...

Depends what you fish for, why you go, why you want to go....

Fun, fame, self-fulfilment, challenge, achievement, love, romanticism, escape...

Being disillusioned, unsatisfied, not enjoying it... That's a massively personal call...

It's an internal thing; most have breaks, most have time away, most lose motivation at times...

Your life, take your pick... Feel it, go... Don't feel it, don't go...

Literally no-one will care if you blank at home with family, or down the pub, or walking in the hills, or doing whatever... NO-ONE. Why try to force yourself to do something in what time is spare, when you could be doing other things..?

In reply to Post #33
Been there and agree

Variety is the spice of life. Fishing is a great way to relax but the reality is, there is more to life if you want it. If you don't, just go fishing and find a style that you love to do

In reply to Post #36
Celebrity anglers catching fat fish to sponsors delight - well done, have the photos at your funeral.

Made me laugh that and it really puts things into perspective

Nice post as mentioned. Reality check

In reply to Post #38
Literally no-one will care if you blank at home with family, or down the pub, or walking in the hills, or doing whatever... NO-ONE. Why try to force yourself to do something in what time is spare, when you could be doing other things..?

So true

In reply to Post #36
“I still have my football boots and shin pads in the cupboard not because I think m gonna play again, but because I don't want to admit that I will never”

Me too!! I always say, I haven't retired, my body won't do it, but the mind won't admit it!!

Having tried to get out of fishing twice, including a 7 year gap, I think I realised I can't leave it. Now I resolve myself to the few trips I get. I have a young family and a busy job, I have to prioritise my time. This in a way has kept the desire to go fishing strong. I have very limited time on the bank, so I cherish the opportunity. I meet up once or twice a year with an old fishing mate for a social on a day ticket somewhere between the two of us. I have a local water I can get to for the odd session. I'm not worried about anything else, or anyone else, just doing it for the love of it.

I hope you find your solace

Pick up a float rod and head to a river..... it will remind yourself that its more absorbing and instantly frees the mind from everyday worries.... unfortunately carp fishing can clutter your mind if you let it.

In reply to Post #43
That is very true Thicky

Carp fishing shouldn't have that effect but unfortunately it does at times (most of the time!!!)

It's nothing but a merry olde dance this fishing malarkey

I've changed from doing weekends to fishing days only and haven't used a barrow for ages and as said grab a float rod or a tip rod try something you have never done before or revisit were you started you fishing

Imo the problem with a lot of todays carp fishing is there what I class as instant carpers and what I mean by that is that is the point they entered into angling is carp fishing

Most over 45s will have served an angling apprenticeship starting of on the local pond,canal,river float fishing honing there skills on perch roach ect then work up through the bream tench to eventually ending up looking for the elusive carp as they was back then

Now we fast forward to today's generation take a mate camping on a runs water he bags a couple of doubles or a twenty or even a 30 and he's having a bit of this volar the instant carper is made (just add water)

This is where the magic twig the munga the 60 wraps with 4lb test curve rods are all aimed at weeks on Drayton res for 2000lb of fish that is enough to make us all delusional of a certain age

I now spend most of my time on a 60 plus acre lake days only fishing for fish up to 30lb really enjoying my fishing again without having to put up with matey bivvyed up with his 50kg of munch baits 10 cases of Stella all his klara tackle telling me how he's had a fish show at 300 wraps on top of his baits last week

Totally agree about the stress in carp fishing. I know friends of mine who've fallen out of love with it who say the thought of carp fishing is better than the reality. There are times when I have to agree with them, but I've never felt that way about fishing the rivers in the winter. The reality of trotting and touch legering is always so much better, and I think it's because you're fully immersed while only needing 3-4 hours for a good day's sport.

Not that it's evidence of much, but I wear a Garmin watch which tracks stress and heart rate variability through the day and it's at its worst for me while carp fishing even compared to work and exercise. It's really noticeable how much night fishing takes it toll.

I tried predator fishing last year. quite by accident really, i was in the local tackle shop last year and he had some ready to go perch set ups abu rod reel ready spooled with braid and a hand full of lures for about £85. rocked up at the local park lake. and had a great time and caught a very nice perch. no sitting around

I think I mentioned on a previous thread that I have my carp fishing end of life fishing pre planned.

I am what I would like to think an ‘old school' not ‘Old Skool' angler.

I started in the early 70's as a ‘ spezzie' angler. I targeted the biggest fish on waters available to me at the time so a 3lb perch from a small brick pit was as important as a 2lb roach from a lake or a 7lb barbel from a local river. Obviously at some stage carp became a quarry as they were bigger and surprisingly in most venues which had “ no big carp in here young lad”

I enjoyed the 70's, the secret squirrel, home made tackle ( still do it today), making do and adapting.

So fast forward to now 2025. I am left totally cold and unmoved by blogs, vlogs. Instant media etc etc. In my mind it is just noise and clutter that is turning my hobby into a multi million pound sport, in which only a few will prosper. I have no part in that life so continue to plow my lonely furlough in carp life.

It's been many years since I looked at the last ‘Mike Cavanach' rig in Carpworld - now defunct. Likewise although it's virtually impossible to escape the influence of Korda et al in carp fishing, I occasionally glance but not fully immerse, so to my younger contemporaries, seem Ill informed by comparison. My go to rig for the last 15 - 20 years is a Merlin/Amnesia multi rig ( black or clear depending on venue) simple blow back semi shrunk shrink tube ring and horror of horror a modern ( ish) Ronnie rig which is just a more friendlier update to the 360* of yesteryear.

But time marches on. I'm now 68 years old. I can't continue this for years as the punishment on the body is too much. I now fish my old syndicate of 15 years, a proper syndicate lake rented from a farmer and run by us, not a glorified commercial concern with ‘membership. But the future of how longer I can continue has started to become apparent.

In stark contrast to everyone else and their advice, I fish for a week at a time. With the dog ( 2 stops for walks, water and a wazz) it takes 4 hours to get there, so a quick overnighter isn't viable. Also out of 15 swims only 8 are accesable by land the rest require a boat. So I go for the week with the dog and kitchen sink. During the week 99% of the time I have the lake to myself and view the initial setup location as ‘ base camp. If fish are showing then I'm on them if not then a swim based on experience, previous knowledge will be picked. If I see fish elsewhere on the lake I will move on them, leaving the ‘base camp' stuff in the swim and taking a small brolley. In the unlikely event of another member being on I would check first 👍

I love my time on the lake and left to it my fishing is as exciting as the 70's, I just ignore the other crap that carping brings. However, the realities of life can't be ignored and stiff limbs for days afterwards, plus the potential problems of a bad fall on a remote lake ( happened in France last year but had mates with me) have to be taken into account.

So a few years ago I started a hobby within the hobby and got interested in vintage gear. I now make my own rods and as much tackle as I can ( did a thread on here but got lost in the big Forum glitch). I make carp rods amongst other gear and when it gets too much for carping on the lakes I will hunt for all sorts of species in ponds, lakes and rivers. I plan to sell my car and get a small van with bed in the back so I can visit and sleep in comfort many venues such as the Severn in Wales for big barbel, not that I'm averse with later life and a lift in disposable income to stretching to hotels and B&B's as I ‘downscale my angling'. Add to this taking my grandchildren fishing, I will probably end up doing more time on the bank, more ‘true' fishing and exploring the rivers which has always for me been the missing bit of carp fishing.

Bring it on .

In reply to Post #48
Love it, enjoy your fishing Neil

In reply to Post #48
What a lovely thought provoking and being true to one's self that is ..

I'm a little younger than Neil,but in many ways I'm similar in thoughts and approach ..The last year or so has found me avoiding many places that I once enjoyed, perhaps I subconsciously see the shift in angling towards overt commercialism..I detest it,I want no part of it at all,but also I find myself fishing places that have little human intervention ,run down ,ottered ,no big fish of note ,anything that's wild or possibly hardly fished ,I'm on it.

I mentioned before ,years ago ...I had a list ,a list of waters that remained quiet ,now they are horrid commercial venues,so my list is small ,and decreasing quickly ..so my retirement, waters are less..

Similarly, the actual people that angle have changed, brainwashed by Danny ,YouTube,dont get me started on what I think of short arse , the one from OMC, and a lack of apprenticeship and appreciation of the smaller,and often more viable species than carp.I find those that I do cross paths with ,should be nowhere near a lake ,river or whatever,the trail of litter,fag ends and stinking of weed backs up my theory tenfold .

My local tackle shop,well I should be happy ,that I have a shop ,but you go in and it's wall to wall of plastic packaging ,some products have nothing to even do with carping or indeed angling as a whole...All the different companies, selling the same crap ,of which it is overpriced..

So what am I doing about it?

Firstly I've long been a minimalist, but I'm getting my carp kit down to the absolute basics,so that I can do nights ,but no frills,no silly or stupid ,gadgets,gizmos and absolute no cheating tech toys...I don't need ever ,to buy another expensive carp rod etc..My plan is to get a general course set up ,which I've now done ,so I can go proper angling more regularly than I do now.


The other thing is the countryside its being damaged and destroyed at a fast pace,where I live ,many from towns ,londistan etc have moved in ,this in my view has destroyed my peaceful way of living ,I detest them ,and their way of thought processes,the way they view nature and the people in rural areas..

I'll carry on angling until I physically cannot ,or until some stupid woke political party does something untoward to my way of life,you see...fishing, angling has been my chosen way of life since I was young ..same for grandfather ,uncles ,father and now my son and me..

So in many ways ,although I too sometimes is very unhappy with how angling is going it's not the actual fishing,its people ,yes ..the people within angling ,they are the ones who I point at ..money ,greed and social media ...

In reply to Post #50
Great post, a lot of resonance there for me.