Like the title says, does anyone else get or feel like this? I love reading and watching stuff about carp fishing, and I enjoy getting my kit ready—sorting out my bait and rigs—but I just can't be arsed to actually go. I'm sat here at work, should be finished soon, and I've got a week off ahead of me. I've got something to do Wednesday morning, but apart from that, the time is all mine—the kids and missus are at work or college.All my gear is in the garage, ready to go: fuelled, charged, and sorted. But I'm sat here feeling almost anxious about the whole thing. At the same time, I don't want to get to next Friday and realise I've sat at home all week and done bugger all. Am I alone in feeling like this? Do I need to give myself a kick up the arse?
My situation is very much the opposite. I'm desperate to go but don't have the time (work, children etc)
So if I were in your fortunate position I'd be on the bank asap
So if I were in your fortunate position I'd be on the bank asap
Just go for a walk bud, trot around a lake or two with the gear in the boot or on your back.
If you fancy it have a go, if you don't then enjoy being outside.
Gotta be better than sitting at home duffing yourself up over something that doesn't really matter that much
If you fancy it have a go, if you don't then enjoy being outside.
Gotta be better than sitting at home duffing yourself up over something that doesn't really matter that much
In reply to Post #1
I get like that sometimes, but never regret it once I'm on the bank and the rods are out. Have a word with yourself and get out there, you'll be glad you did!!
I get like that sometimes, but never regret it once I'm on the bank and the rods are out. Have a word with yourself and get out there, you'll be glad you did!!
In reply to Post #1
Go for a short day or 2, then if you fancy it do a 24 or 48.
I went out 2 Fridays ago, set up for 0830, talked to the owner for 2 hours at my swim, at 1430 packed up, bored, the fish weren't having it and rain was coming.
Last Friday same again, set up for 0845, got a 20lber @ 10am, then a 18lb 8 @ 1340 which was trailing 2 rigs, wiped out my other rods, same again, rain coming, packed up, couldn't be bothered getting wet, then it opened uo on me on way back to the car...soaked
Should have stayed as it was sunny by 4pm...doh.
In any case, cant wait to go out again now
....might even stay in the rain this time 
Go for a short day or 2, then if you fancy it do a 24 or 48.
I went out 2 Fridays ago, set up for 0830, talked to the owner for 2 hours at my swim, at 1430 packed up, bored, the fish weren't having it and rain was coming.
Last Friday same again, set up for 0845, got a 20lber @ 10am, then a 18lb 8 @ 1340 which was trailing 2 rigs, wiped out my other rods, same again, rain coming, packed up, couldn't be bothered getting wet, then it opened uo on me on way back to the car...soaked
Should have stayed as it was sunny by 4pm...doh.In any case, cant wait to go out again now
....might even stay in the rain this time
I get like this sometimes, I haven't been since end of June. I'm self employed so can make the time but I just CBA at the minute! I sorted out all my stuff three weeks ago, loaded it all into the van, got some casters and food en route for 48 hours, got to my lake, few people fishing, I know it's been hard there recently so that was on my mind with nothing of note coming out, had good lead around in three swims...weed was chokka, I could fish in it but not how I wanted to with nice little caster parcels etc so I thought fu*k this! I'm wasting my time, so went home.
I'm going to do a couple of days here and there to try and get into it and also so the thought of loading the van with all the night fishing stuff doesn't put me off.
I'm going to do a couple of days here and there to try and get into it and also so the thought of loading the van with all the night fishing stuff doesn't put me off.
In reply to Post #1
I actually think watching too much fishing stuff on YouTube dulls my desire to get out fishing.
The other thing that makes me less likely to go is if I've got into the habit of taking too much gear with me, trimming it back down so that I feel like I'm going fishing rather than camping helps massively.
My sessions are rarely over thirty hours, usually less than twenty four and I think it helps keep my fishing fresh.
This is a rare week, where I haven't wet a line at all, but that's purely through being too knackered from work.
I actually think watching too much fishing stuff on YouTube dulls my desire to get out fishing.
The other thing that makes me less likely to go is if I've got into the habit of taking too much gear with me, trimming it back down so that I feel like I'm going fishing rather than camping helps massively.
My sessions are rarely over thirty hours, usually less than twenty four and I think it helps keep my fishing fresh.
This is a rare week, where I haven't wet a line at all, but that's purely through being too knackered from work.
The old adage applies...
"You can't catch them sat at home"
"You can't catch them sat at home"
I can get in that mind frame too. It's such a time intensive pursuit and as I get older I feel guilty that I could be spending that time with family instead, especially this time of year when it's wet and miserable. The fire always returns though. A nice compromise for me is turning my attention to the rivers for chub, perch and pike for a morning or afternoon.
I have felt the same for the past couple of years, post covid tbh! I think busier lakes and balancing time to get out on the bank it's easier to get down about not being able to get on fish and just head home or not even get the gear out the car.
Just got to break that cycle and get out again, doesn't matter how much you prep or sort your kit it's never the same to when you're doing it on the bank.
Just got to break that cycle and get out again, doesn't matter how much you prep or sort your kit it's never the same to when you're doing it on the bank.
In reply to Post #1
I'm in a similar position due to a new job and a potential house move. Add to that the kids' interest it's all a bit much and fishing is what needs to give. Planning my annual Xmas 48 hours with my son but otherwise looking at spring before I get out to my syndicate. Like you though, I'm not as bothered as I thought I would be, quite happy spending more time at home with the family. As the saying goes, sometimes a break is as good as a change
I'm in a similar position due to a new job and a potential house move. Add to that the kids' interest it's all a bit much and fishing is what needs to give. Planning my annual Xmas 48 hours with my son but otherwise looking at spring before I get out to my syndicate. Like you though, I'm not as bothered as I thought I would be, quite happy spending more time at home with the family. As the saying goes, sometimes a break is as good as a change
This is when I get on the rivers for barbel and chub. Carp will kick off in April/May.
I think some people fish too often and get fed up with it. I go once a month, friday morning to sunday. Gives me ample time to get myself in a fishing mood, stock up, cook some dinners etc.
Same, not been much over the last year simply cant be bothered with loading all the gear into the car even though its all sorted & ready to go.
Did do a day recently as it was the last day before my ticket expired so felt i should, on the road by half six fishing by half eight, bored by half two, nothing much happening pack up gear back in the car for a two hour drive home.
Result..three & a half hours driving for a few hours on the bank, haven't renewed the ticket.
Thought i'd try local only but haven't been yet, truth is i'd rather just go for a good walk, out in nature but not lugging a ton of crap around
Did do a day recently as it was the last day before my ticket expired so felt i should, on the road by half six fishing by half eight, bored by half two, nothing much happening pack up gear back in the car for a two hour drive home.
Result..three & a half hours driving for a few hours on the bank, haven't renewed the ticket.
Thought i'd try local only but haven't been yet, truth is i'd rather just go for a good walk, out in nature but not lugging a ton of crap around
In reply to Post #1
A very common problem in my opinion.
You fall out the groove, and it seems a hassle to get back into it - but you feel you should go and want to go but only in hindsight. I hardly ever night fish but -
I do the following.
I never say I'm ‘going' fishing in advance, but I say “I might go” it means if something better comes up, I don't feel like I'm missing out. Some of the mights turn into going, some don't.
I try and fish waters that are no more than an 30 mins - hour away - that means if I'm not feeling it no worries.
I'm also really quite into ‘not fishing - fishing' sometimes sat in a car park overlooking a lake thinking if one jumps I'm having it - eating a meal deal like a weird dogger!
Just walking round with a bucket, again looking for a sign from the baby Jesus to cast a rod (that is still in the van'
Last winter I used singles pretty much everywhere- it liberated me, zero investment in a spot, no real clutter and quite often a rod or 2 wound in and in the butt ring waiting for something to raise the belief.
I've always loved my own company and being by the water - I treat fishing as a by product so I look less of a pervert sat out in all weathers. I like a newspaper or a book, and I like being in control - as you get older I think you get more selfish - you stop excusing yourself and when someone says ‘why didn't you fish Saturday' instead of saying ‘oh I had to fix the kitchen cupboard' you say ‘I didn't want to'.
The only pressure is from within you - I have carp fished for over 40 years - but only in the last 10 years have reacted to the ‘I don't fancy it today' by either not going, or lobbing the rods on the barrow and sacking it off' - all my memories of fishing over the last few years have been pretty good - because if I'd prefer to be doing something else - I'd be doing that.
A very common problem in my opinion.
You fall out the groove, and it seems a hassle to get back into it - but you feel you should go and want to go but only in hindsight. I hardly ever night fish but -
I do the following.
I never say I'm ‘going' fishing in advance, but I say “I might go” it means if something better comes up, I don't feel like I'm missing out. Some of the mights turn into going, some don't.
I try and fish waters that are no more than an 30 mins - hour away - that means if I'm not feeling it no worries.
I'm also really quite into ‘not fishing - fishing' sometimes sat in a car park overlooking a lake thinking if one jumps I'm having it - eating a meal deal like a weird dogger!
Just walking round with a bucket, again looking for a sign from the baby Jesus to cast a rod (that is still in the van'
Last winter I used singles pretty much everywhere- it liberated me, zero investment in a spot, no real clutter and quite often a rod or 2 wound in and in the butt ring waiting for something to raise the belief.
I've always loved my own company and being by the water - I treat fishing as a by product so I look less of a pervert sat out in all weathers. I like a newspaper or a book, and I like being in control - as you get older I think you get more selfish - you stop excusing yourself and when someone says ‘why didn't you fish Saturday' instead of saying ‘oh I had to fix the kitchen cupboard' you say ‘I didn't want to'.
The only pressure is from within you - I have carp fished for over 40 years - but only in the last 10 years have reacted to the ‘I don't fancy it today' by either not going, or lobbing the rods on the barrow and sacking it off' - all my memories of fishing over the last few years have been pretty good - because if I'd prefer to be doing something else - I'd be doing that.