In reply to Post #15
@Nelbow
You are welcome pal,
I never use a heater, too risky for me and if you have the right gear you shouldn't get too cold. I find I get acclimatise to the cold after the first few weeks of being out in the cold and I don't mind it at all to be fair. The fishing is obviously very slow compared to the warmer months. The army softie jackets and trousers are very warm and very cheap compared to Carp gear.
Have a look on tackle trader for a barrow, there's normally plenty around for sale. There are also lots of sites on facebook now for buying and selling fishing gear. Then its just personal preference as to the size / type of barrow you want.
Generally I dont fish a lake for more than 1 or 2 seasons due to moving around with work, so watching and listening for the fish at night can be the key to success as well as logging past captures. If I cant find any fish I will pick a swim that gives me the best view of the lake to try and spot them for the following nights. It also helps to get friendly with the locals and share information on fish captures, bait, locations etc..
From personal experience I have found in shallow or bigger open waters fish react more to the wind. On smaller waters with a lot of protection from the wind, by trees or houses etc.. the fish can spend weeks in one area at a time so always best to spend some time looking for them first. So I always do a lap or two of the lake before pitching up and during the summer months I have been know to move swims 3 or 4 times before putting the shelter up for the night.
Sometimes I just fancy a social and its not always about catching fish for me. Just being out and enjoying yourself can be enough at times and if you dont catch well theres always another day. lol.
@Nelbow
You are welcome pal,
I never use a heater, too risky for me and if you have the right gear you shouldn't get too cold. I find I get acclimatise to the cold after the first few weeks of being out in the cold and I don't mind it at all to be fair. The fishing is obviously very slow compared to the warmer months. The army softie jackets and trousers are very warm and very cheap compared to Carp gear.
Have a look on tackle trader for a barrow, there's normally plenty around for sale. There are also lots of sites on facebook now for buying and selling fishing gear. Then its just personal preference as to the size / type of barrow you want.
Generally I dont fish a lake for more than 1 or 2 seasons due to moving around with work, so watching and listening for the fish at night can be the key to success as well as logging past captures. If I cant find any fish I will pick a swim that gives me the best view of the lake to try and spot them for the following nights. It also helps to get friendly with the locals and share information on fish captures, bait, locations etc..
From personal experience I have found in shallow or bigger open waters fish react more to the wind. On smaller waters with a lot of protection from the wind, by trees or houses etc.. the fish can spend weeks in one area at a time so always best to spend some time looking for them first. So I always do a lap or two of the lake before pitching up and during the summer months I have been know to move swims 3 or 4 times before putting the shelter up for the night.
Sometimes I just fancy a social and its not always about catching fish for me. Just being out and enjoying yourself can be enough at times and if you dont catch well theres always another day. lol.
Being dry, warm and comfortable is of utmost importance, IMO. You'll fish a whole lot better for it, too.
Food and drink is important to the above. Coffee, Tea, or any other hot drink you like. Plenty of water too. On the food front, it's great if you can be organised enough to prep a meal or two at home, I usually only do one, then make stuff up on the bank, whether fresh or otherwise. Food options are limitless though, only your imagination/preparation can stop you creating something. If on longer sessions my last night is near enough always takeaway night, like to tell myself I've deserved one
Lighting isn't a massive deal for myself, I have a couple of average head torches and a RM Bivvy Light, which I've had for years. I try to keep the light to a minimum, though I have a friend who has his lantern on all night, which would annoy me plenty.
Shelters, bedchairs and sleeping bags go hand in hand with the initial thought of being dry, warm and comfortable. Plenty of information on the forum about decent ones of each category. Most are pretty reliable nowadays too.
Food and drink is important to the above. Coffee, Tea, or any other hot drink you like. Plenty of water too. On the food front, it's great if you can be organised enough to prep a meal or two at home, I usually only do one, then make stuff up on the bank, whether fresh or otherwise. Food options are limitless though, only your imagination/preparation can stop you creating something. If on longer sessions my last night is near enough always takeaway night, like to tell myself I've deserved one
Lighting isn't a massive deal for myself, I have a couple of average head torches and a RM Bivvy Light, which I've had for years. I try to keep the light to a minimum, though I have a friend who has his lantern on all night, which would annoy me plenty.
Shelters, bedchairs and sleeping bags go hand in hand with the initial thought of being dry, warm and comfortable. Plenty of information on the forum about decent ones of each category. Most are pretty reliable nowadays too.
In reply to Post #15
. . .usually try and keep the bait trickling in around the clock, even if I haven't had a bite and in the past (dependant on the lake) have even set my alarm to go off every hour to ensure this is consistent. Not many others can be arsed to do this (ie. chuck out at dusk / watch movie / go to sleep / wake up a dawn etc) but can be the difference between catching and blanking . .
If I catch during the dark hours then usually put even more in . . .generally spread bait when boilie fishing so accuracy isn't key but will use a clipped up spod and horizon markers if it is . . .
As for bivvy lights . . .they should be banned. All kit should be set up and to hand in advance and headtorch only on red. Only use full brightness in an emergency or when tying fiddly rigs etc . . .
. . .usually try and keep the bait trickling in around the clock, even if I haven't had a bite and in the past (dependant on the lake) have even set my alarm to go off every hour to ensure this is consistent. Not many others can be arsed to do this (ie. chuck out at dusk / watch movie / go to sleep / wake up a dawn etc) but can be the difference between catching and blanking . .
If I catch during the dark hours then usually put even more in . . .generally spread bait when boilie fishing so accuracy isn't key but will use a clipped up spod and horizon markers if it is . . .
As for bivvy lights . . .they should be banned. All kit should be set up and to hand in advance and headtorch only on red. Only use full brightness in an emergency or when tying fiddly rigs etc . . .
In reply to Post #15
I tend to cast my baits out, and that is usually me done for the night until I get a run.
My lines are marked, a stop knot, so if I need to recast or after a fish, I can cast out to get the stop knot just past the tip ring, clip up and then cast a stringer back to where I am fishing. The number of times I have had multiple fish on the same rod after a recast in the night shows I sometimes get it right.
I tend to cast my baits out, and that is usually me done for the night until I get a run.
My lines are marked, a stop knot, so if I need to recast or after a fish, I can cast out to get the stop knot just past the tip ring, clip up and then cast a stringer back to where I am fishing. The number of times I have had multiple fish on the same rod after a recast in the night shows I sometimes get it right.
In reply to Post #18
I had thought about setting an alarm every couple hours or so. Might adopt this approach on the 2nd night if the first day/night session has been quiet.
Interesting to hear how everyone has a slightly different approach.
I had thought about setting an alarm every couple hours or so. Might adopt this approach on the 2nd night if the first day/night session has been quiet.
Interesting to hear how everyone has a slightly different approach.
In reply to Post #20
. . .IME bait / baiting patterns are the possibly the most important part of carp fishing - day or night. . .
When you cut through all the associated bs Carp are in effect water pigs and when feeding hard are arguably easy to catch. Sure you can fish for bites but if you find and feed em properly the latest rod/reel/rig can become somewhat irrelevant . . .
Get on a good bait (that you can afford to apply regularly/properly) and the rest becomes simple . . .
. . .IME bait / baiting patterns are the possibly the most important part of carp fishing - day or night. . .
When you cut through all the associated bs Carp are in effect water pigs and when feeding hard are arguably easy to catch. Sure you can fish for bites but if you find and feed em properly the latest rod/reel/rig can become somewhat irrelevant . . .
Get on a good bait (that you can afford to apply regularly/properly) and the rest becomes simple . . .
Find the fish, catch one at dusk, knock one out in the car, sleep in the back, repeat at dawn and get home for brunch.
Job done
Job done
In reply to Post #4
Similar to me, cooking on overnighters, far to much hassle for me
Don't take cooking gear at all, do miss a morning coffee and I have done the flask thing regular but never tastes the same for me. Minimal gear, simple as possible for me, always
Similar to me, cooking on overnighters, far to much hassle for me
Don't take cooking gear at all, do miss a morning coffee and I have done the flask thing regular but never tastes the same for me. Minimal gear, simple as possible for me, always
In reply to Post #22
That's pretty hardcore Jon
That's pretty hardcore Jon
In reply to Post #22
. . .knock one out in the car . .? Thats technically dogging, not carping . . . .
. . .knock one out in the car . .? Thats technically dogging, not carping . . . .
I would add that if you can get away with it (weather depending) sleep with the front of your shelter zipped off or tied back. Being able to see the lake throughout the night is fantastic for me. Obvious benefits of spotting fish etc. as well.
Also echo the toilet comment! Especially on a short session I don't want to be making a disturbance by having to reel in to use the facilities half way round the lake!
Also echo the toilet comment! Especially on a short session I don't want to be making a disturbance by having to reel in to use the facilities half way round the lake!
In reply to Post #25
I don't like to be tied down to the one hobby
They both make the sleeves of my knitwear soggy
I don't like to be tied down to the one hobby
They both make the sleeves of my knitwear soggy
In reply to Post #23
I do flask coffee sometimes if i'm pike fishing, don't add milk when you put it in the flask, add it on the bank from a small container if you do drink it white.
I also don't drink instant coffee, so make a cafetiere worth to go in the flask and just top it up with hot boiled water, (like an Americano).
I've found it holds its taste better than instant.
I do flask coffee sometimes if i'm pike fishing, don't add milk when you put it in the flask, add it on the bank from a small container if you do drink it white.
I also don't drink instant coffee, so make a cafetiere worth to go in the flask and just top it up with hot boiled water, (like an Americano).
I've found it holds its taste better than instant.
In reply to Post #26
The toilet tip is a good one. May need to tread with caution whilst curling one out in the bivvy and then attempting to dispose
The toilet tip is a good one. May need to tread with caution whilst curling one out in the bivvy and then attempting to dispose
personally I try my best to avoid having to go for a tom t~t whilst fishing...My functions invariably ocurr at bite time...Hobbling to the rods with ones cacks around ones ankles isn't a becoming look.. 
Not a fan of wet things on my posterior at any time so wet wipes are reserved for cleaning the hands. Bog roll/Kitchen towel always available and is squashed flat on the tube and placed in a large zip loc bag.
Not a fan of wet things on my posterior at any time so wet wipes are reserved for cleaning the hands. Bog roll/Kitchen towel always available and is squashed flat on the tube and placed in a large zip loc bag.