In reply to Post #13
Well said fella, I had 10yrs out, family, running my own business etc and fishing took a back seat, got a little more time now and getting back into,
Well said fella, I had 10yrs out, family, running my own business etc and fishing took a back seat, got a little more time now and getting back into,
In reply to Post #1
Absolutely 100% agree with you and I'm in the same position.
Even though work has been much less hectic (only working 9 to 5, 5 days a week for the first time in 30+ years), I can always find an excuse for not going, normally because I'm too knackered and can't face it.
Seems silly to admit it but I miss fishing with someone. My fishing buddy died last year and I really miss the banter we used to have on the bank.
On the plus side I have just had my Nevilles refurbed (hopefully they arrive back tomorrow) so that's one less excuse for not going and another friend has just joined one of the lakes I fish and is keen to go so that should give me the kick up the backside I need. He's my lucky charm as the last time we went together I had my first 40!
Absolutely 100% agree with you and I'm in the same position.
Even though work has been much less hectic (only working 9 to 5, 5 days a week for the first time in 30+ years), I can always find an excuse for not going, normally because I'm too knackered and can't face it.
Seems silly to admit it but I miss fishing with someone. My fishing buddy died last year and I really miss the banter we used to have on the bank.
On the plus side I have just had my Nevilles refurbed (hopefully they arrive back tomorrow) so that's one less excuse for not going and another friend has just joined one of the lakes I fish and is keen to go so that should give me the kick up the backside I need. He's my lucky charm as the last time we went together I had my first 40!
Nothing wrong with taking a break from it for a while. As others have said, keep your gear and see how you feel. Might be a week, a month or a year.
No rush, only go if you fancy it.
No rush, only go if you fancy it.
In reply to Post #1
Exactly in the same boat to be honest. From April to end of June I was baiting the river every 2 nights. Saw carp in the area etc. You may remember we had that torrential rain around the 20th of June. Woke up at 4am ready for my first ever session on the river and a huge branch had Floated downstream onto my spot. After 3 hours of getting drenched in the rain trying to remove the snag I went home and spent my next 2 days off doing sod all.
Completely lost the buzz for it, Although I have started baiting again starting today. Doesn't help the lakes everywhere are really busy. Maybe try the river if you have one local to you? Just a thought
Exactly in the same boat to be honest. From April to end of June I was baiting the river every 2 nights. Saw carp in the area etc. You may remember we had that torrential rain around the 20th of June. Woke up at 4am ready for my first ever session on the river and a huge branch had Floated downstream onto my spot. After 3 hours of getting drenched in the rain trying to remove the snag I went home and spent my next 2 days off doing sod all.
Completely lost the buzz for it, Although I have started baiting again starting today. Doesn't help the lakes everywhere are really busy. Maybe try the river if you have one local to you? Just a thought
I need to order bait for my holiday fishing in August. I'm struggling to find the get up and go I normally have. Also doubting my self about whether to go with particle. Or boilie and if boilie which size / sizes to order. I don't normally feel like this but with lakes busy and not fishing well and high pressure likely in August I'm struggling mentally. May just buy a pair of black flip flops and cut them up to save myself a fortune.
In reply to Post #1
I feel a bit like this too.
I do the odd overnighter, normally 7pm to 7pm, but mainly fish day sessions as I hate dragging bedchair, bivvy, pots and pans etc. Day sesh I just don't need them and can fish nice and light.
But to be honest, on an overnighter I'm only really going so that I'm there at first light.
I will fish until it gets dark, and then bring my rods in. Lot's of snags in my lake and I sleep like a log. By the time I've heard an alarm in the middle of the night, come to my senses enough to get to my rod, I dread to think where the fish has ended up. Trying to sort that lot out in the pitch dark fills me with dread, and I don't want to put the poor fish through it thank you very much.
But I'm an early riser. No need for an alarm clock for me, I can guarantee I'll be up before dawn.
That's the bit I go for. First light, until about 11am. Then I start losing interest again. I'll sit the session out, just because I'm there, but by 4pm I'm ready to pack up and go home.
I'd booked an overnighter the week before last but cancelled at the last minute. temps were forecast to his 30 degrees and I just didn't fancy sitting there during the day in those temperatures.
I didn't miss it at all.
I feel a bit like this too.
I do the odd overnighter, normally 7pm to 7pm, but mainly fish day sessions as I hate dragging bedchair, bivvy, pots and pans etc. Day sesh I just don't need them and can fish nice and light.
But to be honest, on an overnighter I'm only really going so that I'm there at first light.
I will fish until it gets dark, and then bring my rods in. Lot's of snags in my lake and I sleep like a log. By the time I've heard an alarm in the middle of the night, come to my senses enough to get to my rod, I dread to think where the fish has ended up. Trying to sort that lot out in the pitch dark fills me with dread, and I don't want to put the poor fish through it thank you very much.
But I'm an early riser. No need for an alarm clock for me, I can guarantee I'll be up before dawn.
That's the bit I go for. First light, until about 11am. Then I start losing interest again. I'll sit the session out, just because I'm there, but by 4pm I'm ready to pack up and go home.
I'd booked an overnighter the week before last but cancelled at the last minute. temps were forecast to his 30 degrees and I just didn't fancy sitting there during the day in those temperatures.
I didn't miss it at all.
In reply to Post #21
That's the bit I go for. First light, until about 11am. Then I start losing interest again. I'll sit the session out, just because I'm there, but by 4pm I'm ready to pack up and go home.
I think as you get older you make fishing work for you and not the other way around 
I tailor my local fishing around bite times and weather conditions, when you have been at it a while you get a feeling for when you really need to be there
I've done crazy stuff when I was younger, used to finish nights, straight to the lake, rods out, bed for the day 4 times a week, exhausting stuff. Same with day shifts, finish at 2pm, set up fishing for 3 and in bed for 9, couple this with getting up in the night to land fish and packing away at 4.30am it's exhausting stuff but if it's under your skin, it's under you skin. Do whatever suits you is my advise, ain't no rules, it's all personal preference and this can change throughout your life. Not to mention when I did continental shifts and I used to live on the bank most midweeks
Make fishing work for you is my advise. Find the right water and fish the right tactics.
I have different sets and of gear, day gear which covers all my fishing
Overnight gear which is a medium carryall packed with what I call my essentials
Session gear, Euro carryall as above
Pick the shelter I need, add bed and bag.
All I do when I've finished, chuck it all in the shed when I come home and then in the week when I'm doing nothing I will re-stock.
That's the bit I go for. First light, until about 11am. Then I start losing interest again. I'll sit the session out, just because I'm there, but by 4pm I'm ready to pack up and go home.
I think as you get older you make fishing work for you and not the other way around
I tailor my local fishing around bite times and weather conditions, when you have been at it a while you get a feeling for when you really need to be there
I've done crazy stuff when I was younger, used to finish nights, straight to the lake, rods out, bed for the day 4 times a week, exhausting stuff. Same with day shifts, finish at 2pm, set up fishing for 3 and in bed for 9, couple this with getting up in the night to land fish and packing away at 4.30am it's exhausting stuff but if it's under your skin, it's under you skin. Do whatever suits you is my advise, ain't no rules, it's all personal preference and this can change throughout your life. Not to mention when I did continental shifts and I used to live on the bank most midweeks
Make fishing work for you is my advise. Find the right water and fish the right tactics.
I have different sets and of gear, day gear which covers all my fishing
Overnight gear which is a medium carryall packed with what I call my essentials
Session gear, Euro carryall as above
Pick the shelter I need, add bed and bag.
All I do when I've finished, chuck it all in the shed when I come home and then in the week when I'm doing nothing I will re-stock.
In reply to Post #1
I must admit Ive felt like that in the past. I just do part days now and find that keeps my interest better than even just a long day.
Part days might also address the too much effort theme as you wouldn't need so much preparation, at a push I can carry all the gear I take but normally use a shopping bag type carrier for ease of transport.
You might need more of a challenge or just more variety, try different lakes, hard, easy, big small, they all have their own particular quirks which if you are like me that's what was missing. Give floater fishing more time perhaps, getting them feeding can be a challenge in itself sometimes.
I must admit Ive felt like that in the past. I just do part days now and find that keeps my interest better than even just a long day.
Part days might also address the too much effort theme as you wouldn't need so much preparation, at a push I can carry all the gear I take but normally use a shopping bag type carrier for ease of transport.
You might need more of a challenge or just more variety, try different lakes, hard, easy, big small, they all have their own particular quirks which if you are like me that's what was missing. Give floater fishing more time perhaps, getting them feeding can be a challenge in itself sometimes.
In reply to Post #1
i recognise those signs mate, classic burnout, no motivation, can't be arsed going and not enjoying it when you force yourself to go.
you've a few options, a change is as good as a rest so try a different venue, there's something about learning a new water and working things out, starting from scratch it becomes more interesting and it stops you just going through the motions
try another branch of fishing, lure fishing and barbel fishing are my favourites when i've got a severe case of cba towards carp fishing
take a complete break from fishing, 'recharge your batteries' so to speak.
have a backup hobby you can turn to when you're feeling like this, if i don't want to go fishing i've got a drone i can go and fly and if the weather isn't suitable i'm also a radio ham so i can stop home and just chat sh*t with my fellow geeks
whatever you do don't sell your gear as you're likely to want it sooner rather than later
i recognise those signs mate, classic burnout, no motivation, can't be arsed going and not enjoying it when you force yourself to go.
you've a few options, a change is as good as a rest so try a different venue, there's something about learning a new water and working things out, starting from scratch it becomes more interesting and it stops you just going through the motions
try another branch of fishing, lure fishing and barbel fishing are my favourites when i've got a severe case of cba towards carp fishing
take a complete break from fishing, 'recharge your batteries' so to speak.
have a backup hobby you can turn to when you're feeling like this, if i don't want to go fishing i've got a drone i can go and fly and if the weather isn't suitable i'm also a radio ham so i can stop home and just chat sh*t with my fellow geeks
whatever you do don't sell your gear as you're likely to want it sooner rather than later
In reply to Post #1
Effort = reward.
I'd hazard a guess and say that the water you're fishing is playing a significant role in why your not that fired up, though I could well be wrong. I'd suggest finding a water that's a challenge, where there are less bods about.
Depends on the type of person that you are; I'm fishing a low stocked big pit that I've blanked on for 6 months, as have other anglers. The drive and determination never left me (can handle a blank) in fact, blanking that long had given me even more drive until I caught, which happened to be a fair few over the last few weeks.
I've fished those busy club and circuit waters and they can be draining. You turn up, the place is banged out and you think to yourself, what's the effin point...with a dead fish in the edge in the only swim left. Watching videos of competent anglers bagging up can leave you feeling empty, but what you didn't realize is the place is crawling with them... Berners Hall 700 plus carp in 19 acres anyone?
Grabbing a float rod and smashing the Rudd from a little pool can be almost heavenly. Whoops of laughter and lashings of ginger beer all round. Can't go wrong. Bosh.
Effort = reward.
I'd hazard a guess and say that the water you're fishing is playing a significant role in why your not that fired up, though I could well be wrong. I'd suggest finding a water that's a challenge, where there are less bods about.
Depends on the type of person that you are; I'm fishing a low stocked big pit that I've blanked on for 6 months, as have other anglers. The drive and determination never left me (can handle a blank) in fact, blanking that long had given me even more drive until I caught, which happened to be a fair few over the last few weeks.
I've fished those busy club and circuit waters and they can be draining. You turn up, the place is banged out and you think to yourself, what's the effin point...with a dead fish in the edge in the only swim left. Watching videos of competent anglers bagging up can leave you feeling empty, but what you didn't realize is the place is crawling with them... Berners Hall 700 plus carp in 19 acres anyone?
Grabbing a float rod and smashing the Rudd from a little pool can be almost heavenly. Whoops of laughter and lashings of ginger beer all round. Can't go wrong. Bosh.
In reply to Post #1
I found half my problem was having too much kit. Recently I've been doing some first light sessions rather than go overnight, and it's so much easier just grabbing the rucksack, rods, water, and bait, and I'm sure a bedchair, and bivvy wouldn't be much more effort.
But some of the crap we buy is getting stupid. Yes there's loads of gizmos and god knows what else to help us, but do we really need them?
I see bags to go in a bag, to go in another bag. In my Nash recon rucksack, I have my Korda tackle box, lead pouch, hook pouch, scales, stove, kettle, pan to do a breakfast, mug, PVA, popups. In my 2 rod scope holdall, I've 2 rods, (I could strap the spod and marker rod to it if need be), bank sticks with alarms on, a not so necessary pod and buzz bars.
What more do I need? I can't even think of anything else I'd put in if doing an overnight (bar bivvy and sleeping bag).
The biggest hassle is getting the bait out of the freezer and filling the water container, and I'm fishing more regular now than I have for the last 10 years.
I found half my problem was having too much kit. Recently I've been doing some first light sessions rather than go overnight, and it's so much easier just grabbing the rucksack, rods, water, and bait, and I'm sure a bedchair, and bivvy wouldn't be much more effort.
But some of the crap we buy is getting stupid. Yes there's loads of gizmos and god knows what else to help us, but do we really need them?
I see bags to go in a bag, to go in another bag. In my Nash recon rucksack, I have my Korda tackle box, lead pouch, hook pouch, scales, stove, kettle, pan to do a breakfast, mug, PVA, popups. In my 2 rod scope holdall, I've 2 rods, (I could strap the spod and marker rod to it if need be), bank sticks with alarms on, a not so necessary pod and buzz bars.
What more do I need? I can't even think of anything else I'd put in if doing an overnight (bar bivvy and sleeping bag).
The biggest hassle is getting the bait out of the freezer and filling the water container, and I'm fishing more regular now than I have for the last 10 years.
In reply to Post #25
Fish somewhere you like / want to be and the size of the fish or other people there or effort involved in getting there
will not matter
If you like being there you will enjoy it more and want to go. I have a few tickets and sometimes I just swap between them I like to catch as Im sure we all do but sometimes I just want to be somewhere nice.
That's how I approach my fishing.
Fish somewhere you like / want to be and the size of the fish or other people there or effort involved in getting there
will not matter
If you like being there you will enjoy it more and want to go. I have a few tickets and sometimes I just swap between them I like to catch as Im sure we all do but sometimes I just want to be somewhere nice.
That's how I approach my fishing.
In reply to Post #1
Variety is the spice of life, so I do all sorts of fishing, and my gear enables me to do that. In a two week period I caught Chub in a stream, float fished crust for small park pond mirrors, Tench fished a gravel pit with a small bucket of maize to do me for the 8 hrs I was there, then done two nights on my club ticket wading through the doubles with the off chance of a twenty.
You'd be amazed what a 1.5lb avon rod and 6000 sized baitrunner is capable of. Had fish to scraper twenties on it, and had just as much fun catching 2lb Chub on them too the same week. Can't do that with a 3.5lb broom handle.
Don't get me wrong, I have all the gear (and no idea) if I fancied a trip to France for a week, but I like to be able to decide in a split second on a tuesday night that I want to do an overnighter, and be on the bank and fishing within half an hour of opening the shed door to get the kit out.
Variety is the spice of life, so I do all sorts of fishing, and my gear enables me to do that. In a two week period I caught Chub in a stream, float fished crust for small park pond mirrors, Tench fished a gravel pit with a small bucket of maize to do me for the 8 hrs I was there, then done two nights on my club ticket wading through the doubles with the off chance of a twenty.
You'd be amazed what a 1.5lb avon rod and 6000 sized baitrunner is capable of. Had fish to scraper twenties on it, and had just as much fun catching 2lb Chub on them too the same week. Can't do that with a 3.5lb broom handle.
Don't get me wrong, I have all the gear (and no idea) if I fancied a trip to France for a week, but I like to be able to decide in a split second on a tuesday night that I want to do an overnighter, and be on the bank and fishing within half an hour of opening the shed door to get the kit out.
Thanks for the comments! Nice to know I'm not alone.
I think a break while I sort my gear out may be in order.
I think a break while I sort my gear out may be in order.
In reply to Post #29
Definitely other types of fishing. I'm sat on the Trent now with my son and a mountain of gear Barbel fishing, but one evening last week I had a walk up the local river with a lure rod, a net and a small rucksack. Similar floatfishing for Tench at a local pond, and to scratch the Barbel itch when I haven't got much time I take a Korum roving kit and fish the local river for a couple of hours. The lure bag and roving kit are packed up seperate ready to go, so if I want to go I can be off inside 10 minutes. It balances out the 1-2 hours of unpacking the car, sorting everything out, washing etc when I get home from longer sessions.
Definitely other types of fishing. I'm sat on the Trent now with my son and a mountain of gear Barbel fishing, but one evening last week I had a walk up the local river with a lure rod, a net and a small rucksack. Similar floatfishing for Tench at a local pond, and to scratch the Barbel itch when I haven't got much time I take a Korum roving kit and fish the local river for a couple of hours. The lure bag and roving kit are packed up seperate ready to go, so if I want to go I can be off inside 10 minutes. It balances out the 1-2 hours of unpacking the car, sorting everything out, washing etc when I get home from longer sessions.