In reply to Post #1
The syndicate lake is what you make of it.
Do you need the FB or WhatsApp notifications?
Turn them off for the syndicate.
You joined I presume for somewhere quiet to fish, that is not likely to be crowded or you are fighting for a swim when you can go.
I've been on both sides, struggling to find time to fish as family and work are more important, or (actually annoyingly) fishing almost full time as due to physical health issues not being able to work and my children are grown up and I'm separated.
Your syndicate could be like mine, some special fish, that whether you catch the 'biggie' or not you just love being there.
I say turn off the notifications, but look through the page every now and again to enjoy what you could 'win'.
The syndicate lake is what you make of it.
Do you need the FB or WhatsApp notifications?
Turn them off for the syndicate.
You joined I presume for somewhere quiet to fish, that is not likely to be crowded or you are fighting for a swim when you can go.
I've been on both sides, struggling to find time to fish as family and work are more important, or (actually annoyingly) fishing almost full time as due to physical health issues not being able to work and my children are grown up and I'm separated.
Your syndicate could be like mine, some special fish, that whether you catch the 'biggie' or not you just love being there.
I say turn off the notifications, but look through the page every now and again to enjoy what you could 'win'.
If your job stops you doing the things you really love, then I would be seriously considering doing something about that.
I've been a family man for 43 years having my kids very early, I also had a six day a week retail job finishing at six on a Saturday but still managed to find time since the late nineties to fish syndicates. The key I found was to fish for yourself, never set targets based on others especially those doing 48 hours every weekend. Having fished park lakes, clubs and day tickets the step ‘up' to a syndicate not only meant on the whole the fish were bigger but the lakes were safer. The surroundings are more astectic with wildlife being abundant especially pre otter fences. I suppose what you m saying is it's not just about the fish, enjoy your fishing and do something the rest ain't doing (bait, rig swims people leave alone). As I've got older, kids have grown up and changed jobs time on the bank has got to the heady heights of 20 hour session most weeks and I'm pleased with what I've caught and friends I've made 👍🏻
Just monitor the what's app group and take the info that will help you with your fishing and don't believe the hype/BS the wannabes want to spout off!!
Good luck
Michael
Just monitor the what's app group and take the info that will help you with your fishing and don't believe the hype/BS the wannabes want to spout off!!
Good luck
Michael
In reply to Post #15
Crikey that actually plays into the hands of those who can fish more often. For the last twenty years I've rarely fished more than one night a week, but will try my utmost to visit and walk the water at least twice more and put a bit of bait in if no one is fishing.
Crikey that actually plays into the hands of those who can fish more often. For the last twenty years I've rarely fished more than one night a week, but will try my utmost to visit and walk the water at least twice more and put a bit of bait in if no one is fishing.
In reply to Post #19
I've just accepted a place on a dream syndicate after a 5 year wait, knowing full well that I wont be able to fish it much this year due to family and work commitments. I'm looking at it as more of an investment - I wont be dropping the ticket for years to come now I have one. Plus the fishery is maturing and the fish are blossoming so no rush
In addition I've always used not having a ticket for anywhere as an excuse to not fish. Now I can do 12hr day trips or overnighters without even thinking about it
I've just accepted a place on a dream syndicate after a 5 year wait, knowing full well that I wont be able to fish it much this year due to family and work commitments. I'm looking at it as more of an investment - I wont be dropping the ticket for years to come now I have one. Plus the fishery is maturing and the fish are blossoming so no rush
In addition I've always used not having a ticket for anywhere as an excuse to not fish. Now I can do 12hr day trips or overnighters without even thinking about it
In reply to Post #20
Same here. Got a ticket I've been waiting on for 7 years, did my 1st overnighter last night and can't see me doing more than a handful of sessions this year, but for me worth paying to have the ability to fish when I can rather than rushing around trying to book somewhere at short notice. Fortunately at the moment I can afford to do this, but appreciate if circumstances change then I may need to take a different view
Same here. Got a ticket I've been waiting on for 7 years, did my 1st overnighter last night and can't see me doing more than a handful of sessions this year, but for me worth paying to have the ability to fish when I can rather than rushing around trying to book somewhere at short notice. Fortunately at the moment I can afford to do this, but appreciate if circumstances change then I may need to take a different view
In reply to Post #1
I feel your frustration. I started a family 3 years ago . My fishing hasn't been the same since . I'm not prepared to miss these precious years for any carp . I have however found new ways to still get my carp fix . I have started doing a week in France once a year . This is something I never did pre children . This gives me something to focus on and also a taste of a different style of fishing . Iv also started doing a couple of social trips each year , this is something I used to miss out on when I was syndicate fishing .
Iv kept one of my syndicates and still do occasion nights as and when the time is right . In all Iv found a balance and the best scenario I feel I can have at this time in my life . I fully intend to get back to a night or two a week when my young boys are grown
I feel your frustration. I started a family 3 years ago . My fishing hasn't been the same since . I'm not prepared to miss these precious years for any carp . I have however found new ways to still get my carp fix . I have started doing a week in France once a year . This is something I never did pre children . This gives me something to focus on and also a taste of a different style of fishing . Iv also started doing a couple of social trips each year , this is something I used to miss out on when I was syndicate fishing .
Iv kept one of my syndicates and still do occasion nights as and when the time is right . In all Iv found a balance and the best scenario I feel I can have at this time in my life . I fully intend to get back to a night or two a week when my young boys are grown
Good to read a thread of parents in similar positions.
I'm slowly getting back into it after around 25 years, and I'm struggling with the day ticket waters for obvious reasons such as too many anglers, and not very relaxing etc.
My son is 5 years old, and I am a very present dad in his life, which is great as we have a great relationship, but of course there is compromise there too. And I am a freelance photographer, and the sole earner in our home, so there's a lot to juggle.
I'm aiming to fish around twice a month for just 5 hours each time. And would love to do a night a month too.
I'm based in Kent, Whitstable. Does anyone know of any syndicates that currently have spaces?
I'm not too bothered about the cost, as for me fishing is so important to help with a balanced and more relaxing life.
Many thanks in advance all.
I'm slowly getting back into it after around 25 years, and I'm struggling with the day ticket waters for obvious reasons such as too many anglers, and not very relaxing etc.
My son is 5 years old, and I am a very present dad in his life, which is great as we have a great relationship, but of course there is compromise there too. And I am a freelance photographer, and the sole earner in our home, so there's a lot to juggle.
I'm aiming to fish around twice a month for just 5 hours each time. And would love to do a night a month too.
I'm based in Kent, Whitstable. Does anyone know of any syndicates that currently have spaces?
I'm not too bothered about the cost, as for me fishing is so important to help with a balanced and more relaxing life.
Many thanks in advance all.
In reply to Post #1
At the end of the day the amount of fishing you do doesn't change the fact that you laid down the £600. It's £600 whether you fish 3 nights a week or 3 nights a year. IMO if it's somewhere you like fishing then pay the money and know you have somewhere nice to angle when you can, and pay no attention to what the other lads are catching as you're comparing apples with pears.
I pay for three tickets each year, none of them expensive, but knowing I have the opportunity (and choice!) is worth every penny over fishing sh*those day tickets.
I've said this in another post recently too, but if you're not fishing work over nighters then start. It's a game changer in terms of getting rod hours without impacting family life.
At the end of the day the amount of fishing you do doesn't change the fact that you laid down the £600. It's £600 whether you fish 3 nights a week or 3 nights a year. IMO if it's somewhere you like fishing then pay the money and know you have somewhere nice to angle when you can, and pay no attention to what the other lads are catching as you're comparing apples with pears.
I pay for three tickets each year, none of them expensive, but knowing I have the opportunity (and choice!) is worth every penny over fishing sh*those day tickets.
I've said this in another post recently too, but if you're not fishing work over nighters then start. It's a game changer in terms of getting rod hours without impacting family life.
Im in the same situation tbh but I still get out pretty much as much as I want, me and mrs both work full time jobs and have 2 young kids. What I do is go for a 48hr on my syndicates still every other weekend (if we don't have holidays and family things booked) i even go for 96hrs somewhere different about 3/4 times a year
Fishing is a way of getting me away from some very bad things I use to do for people when I was younger, if I don't clear my mind I start to get angry and worked up with general life so it helps me massively my mrs understands that and let's me go when I want. Im not saying this to rub it in I'm just saying there has to be some compromise in your life if you really want to go bud
If it's somewhere you like to fish the money is irrelevant aswell mate plus the way I see it I couldn't fish day tickets very often with how busy they get and how hard it is to actually book on these days so a syndicate price for the year or years isn't a bad thing
Fishing is a way of getting me away from some very bad things I use to do for people when I was younger, if I don't clear my mind I start to get angry and worked up with general life so it helps me massively my mrs understands that and let's me go when I want. Im not saying this to rub it in I'm just saying there has to be some compromise in your life if you really want to go bud
If it's somewhere you like to fish the money is irrelevant aswell mate plus the way I see it I couldn't fish day tickets very often with how busy they get and how hard it is to actually book on these days so a syndicate price for the year or years isn't a bad thing
Same boat here buddy. Keep swapping between lakes over the last 3-4 years as I haven't settled on one, but I've started to realise it's because before the kids arrived I would happily spend 48 hours a week on the bank and was in tune with the lake so it was much easier to feel settled somewhere whereas I might not get out for a month or so now.
This spring I focussed on making sure I tried to get out after work once a week, maybe once a fortnight for an overnight session, that seemed to do the trick and I strung together a good run of fish, but even that felt I was missing out on a lot of time with the kids.
A lot of it depends on having a very understanding wife, and in truth it's easy to tell if I haven't been in a while as I start to get irritable having not had that chill time, and I'm trying to convince myself it will be easier once the oldest one is old enough to come with me 😂😂😂
This spring I focussed on making sure I tried to get out after work once a week, maybe once a fortnight for an overnight session, that seemed to do the trick and I strung together a good run of fish, but even that felt I was missing out on a lot of time with the kids.
A lot of it depends on having a very understanding wife, and in truth it's easy to tell if I haven't been in a while as I start to get irritable having not had that chill time, and I'm trying to convince myself it will be easier once the oldest one is old enough to come with me 😂😂😂
In reply to Post #1
It's the same everywhere nowadays mate since COVID - blokes stringing 3/4 even 5 days a week on the lake, swims getting rotated amongst mates (I'm talking one of the sought after syndi ticket locations). It is what it is but for me, I don't care what these people catch - bait boating kilos of boiles to the same spot day after day and sitting under your bivvy is far detached from proper angling as it can be. I do wonder where these guys get their coin from or what their future aspirations in life will be...most come across as social misfits.
Like one of the guys said - I've binned all social media and used to subscribe to some of the social media video sites, all that's gone also as I realised that I was paying some bloke to go fishing whilst he knocked out a few videos
The best anglers I have ever met are all working men that hold down a job, they have spent years honing skills on limited time so when they rock up at the pond, it's game on and they are on it.
With that said, time is the biggest edge in this game, nothing else. if I ran a lake it would be 48 on 48 off. Worked well back in the Yateley CP days. Everyone gets a shot at fishing the decent swims then.
It's the same everywhere nowadays mate since COVID - blokes stringing 3/4 even 5 days a week on the lake, swims getting rotated amongst mates (I'm talking one of the sought after syndi ticket locations). It is what it is but for me, I don't care what these people catch - bait boating kilos of boiles to the same spot day after day and sitting under your bivvy is far detached from proper angling as it can be. I do wonder where these guys get their coin from or what their future aspirations in life will be...most come across as social misfits.
Like one of the guys said - I've binned all social media and used to subscribe to some of the social media video sites, all that's gone also as I realised that I was paying some bloke to go fishing whilst he knocked out a few videos
The best anglers I have ever met are all working men that hold down a job, they have spent years honing skills on limited time so when they rock up at the pond, it's game on and they are on it.
With that said, time is the biggest edge in this game, nothing else. if I ran a lake it would be 48 on 48 off. Worked well back in the Yateley CP days. Everyone gets a shot at fishing the decent swims then.