If it was 2021 then you have t missed much and the bit you did miss was definitely missable.
The covid years where carp fishing became shouty and street. When government furlough money was spent on the latest flash gear, boats, drones and day ticket 50s. Where you not only had to book a lake but book a swim. Where the ‘geez' next door had Stella a plenty and a Chinese arriving at the gate. A time where every fish was left in the net to get it ‘back out in the pond' before retaining the poor blighter while ‘Dave” came round to do the snaps.
The stain of covid is still about, but with every ‘top name set up' available for sale we claw a little bit back, but it will never be the same. Carp fishing was eating itself anyway with the help of instagram - 2020 - 2023 accelerated that.
Strange really as since covid wherever you go ‘oh I/xxxx carp fish' do you use boilies was a daily thing, before covid it was rare to meet everyday people who fished and wanted to shout about it. Every bit of water seems to have been monetised to the max, clubs have 20 year waiting lists - but slowly the bubble is bursting.
If you fished in 2021 - it hasn't got worse - it may even be slightly better - now get out there and show us a photo of your boiling kettle and dew hung grass backdrop
The covid years where carp fishing became shouty and street. When government furlough money was spent on the latest flash gear, boats, drones and day ticket 50s. Where you not only had to book a lake but book a swim. Where the ‘geez' next door had Stella a plenty and a Chinese arriving at the gate. A time where every fish was left in the net to get it ‘back out in the pond' before retaining the poor blighter while ‘Dave” came round to do the snaps.
The stain of covid is still about, but with every ‘top name set up' available for sale we claw a little bit back, but it will never be the same. Carp fishing was eating itself anyway with the help of instagram - 2020 - 2023 accelerated that.
Strange really as since covid wherever you go ‘oh I/xxxx carp fish' do you use boilies was a daily thing, before covid it was rare to meet everyday people who fished and wanted to shout about it. Every bit of water seems to have been monetised to the max, clubs have 20 year waiting lists - but slowly the bubble is bursting.
If you fished in 2021 - it hasn't got worse - it may even be slightly better - now get out there and show us a photo of your boiling kettle and dew hung grass backdrop
I have been away since at least 2015 and it seems to have changed a hell of a lot!
Was out on a day ticket over the weekend doing a 36 with the old man, had people asking how long we were going to be etc on the Sunday, madness!
Was out on a day ticket over the weekend doing a 36 with the old man, had people asking how long we were going to be etc on the Sunday, madness!
In reply to Post #16
Thats a good shout for him to know about... whatever the ticket price for your chosen club or syndi was in 2021.... double or triple it
Thats a good shout for him to know about... whatever the ticket price for your chosen club or syndi was in 2021.... double or triple it
In reply to Post #18
Having had a longer sabbatical than the OP, and reading the very good summaries above the main observation for myself would be the sheer number of bait companies there are now!
Tickets do still seem obtainable though and i think the 'closed shop' status reading between the lines is 'closed to idiots / pop-up / instant anglers(just add water)'.
At the lakes, seems anglers are no longer walking the lakes, taking a lot of kit, and setting up in the comfy swims and just staying put; all that might be a little distorted due to lake i'm currently on.
Having had a longer sabbatical than the OP, and reading the very good summaries above the main observation for myself would be the sheer number of bait companies there are now!
Tickets do still seem obtainable though and i think the 'closed shop' status reading between the lines is 'closed to idiots / pop-up / instant anglers(just add water)'.
At the lakes, seems anglers are no longer walking the lakes, taking a lot of kit, and setting up in the comfy swims and just staying put; all that might be a little distorted due to lake i'm currently on.
In reply to Post #14
"I wear crocs every day , cannot fault them tbh."
I used think the same and wore them all year round, but wait till you walk around your bivvy too close and a "T headed" tent peg gets caught in a hole in the side of your croc and stops you in your tracks, next thing you know you are flat on your face laid down.
Then when your in a gently sloping downwards peg covered in grass that is wet and slippy, next thing you know you will have slid into the pond as fast as an RNLI lifeboat being launched.
After a few times of them occurences happening, I deemed they are to risky to wear and had visions of tripping up and falling on my rods etc and smashing them or even breaking my wrist or my arm etc.
Some pegs I will still wear them if I have plenty of space to give my bivvy a wide berth or they are stoned covered etc
"I wear crocs every day , cannot fault them tbh."
I used think the same and wore them all year round, but wait till you walk around your bivvy too close and a "T headed" tent peg gets caught in a hole in the side of your croc and stops you in your tracks, next thing you know you are flat on your face laid down.
Then when your in a gently sloping downwards peg covered in grass that is wet and slippy, next thing you know you will have slid into the pond as fast as an RNLI lifeboat being launched.
After a few times of them occurences happening, I deemed they are to risky to wear and had visions of tripping up and falling on my rods etc and smashing them or even breaking my wrist or my arm etc.
Some pegs I will still wear them if I have plenty of space to give my bivvy a wide berth or they are stoned covered etc
In reply to Post #20
Then when your in a gently sloping downwards peg covered in grass that is wet and slippy, next thing you know you will have slid into the pond as fast as an RNLI lifeboat being launched.
Then when your in a gently sloping downwards peg covered in grass that is wet and slippy, next thing you know you will have slid into the pond as fast as an RNLI lifeboat being launched.