How does everyone feel about leaving your fishing gear unattended at a swim?
(Rods out of the water of course.)
As I usually fish solo, I almost always need to leave my gear a few times during a session to walk to the toilet block. This is usually only 5/10 minutes but I still end up being paranoid about leaving it behind.
Now looking at joining a lake with a locked gate which will certainly makes me feel better about the whole situation but I noticed one of the rules states that people must not leave their swims for any longer than two hours.
This got me thinking, is it normal for people to leave their swims for that long?
I guess they're perhaps going to a local shop or something but is leaving everything unattended for that long generally considered a safe thing to do?
(Rods out of the water of course.)
As I usually fish solo, I almost always need to leave my gear a few times during a session to walk to the toilet block. This is usually only 5/10 minutes but I still end up being paranoid about leaving it behind.
Now looking at joining a lake with a locked gate which will certainly makes me feel better about the whole situation but I noticed one of the rules states that people must not leave their swims for any longer than two hours.
This got me thinking, is it normal for people to leave their swims for that long?
I guess they're perhaps going to a local shop or something but is leaving everything unattended for that long generally considered a safe thing to do?
In reply to Post #1
I only do it on secured members only waters I've not had anyone interfere with my gear if I've gone for a look around the lake or visit the toilet. My club gives a maximum of 45 minutes away from your swim. Just long enough to nip to the local shops if need be.
I only do it on secured members only waters I've not had anyone interfere with my gear if I've gone for a look around the lake or visit the toilet. My club gives a maximum of 45 minutes away from your swim. Just long enough to nip to the local shops if need be.
In reply to Post #1
The 2 hour rule is so guys can pop out for supplies/home for a shower/feed the cats. I've seen that on a few syndis I've been on.
Regards leaving gear, depends on the water mate. On a syndi I'll do it no problem, they're mates. Wouldn't dream of it on a day ticket. Might do it on a club water if I have mates nearby to keep an eye on it.
The 2 hour rule is so guys can pop out for supplies/home for a shower/feed the cats. I've seen that on a few syndis I've been on.
Regards leaving gear, depends on the water mate. On a syndi I'll do it no problem, they're mates. Wouldn't dream of it on a day ticket. Might do it on a club water if I have mates nearby to keep an eye on it.
In reply to Post #1
I used to leave my gear unattended at Nazeing to pop to the shops and walk the dog, never had a problem, although at one time there was supposedly a problem at night while people were in their bivvy. I never found that, but I guess having a dog puts people off causing grief.
The Eastern Europeans who were doing it did get caught, then handed over to the old bill.
I used to leave my gear unattended at Nazeing to pop to the shops and walk the dog, never had a problem, although at one time there was supposedly a problem at night while people were in their bivvy. I never found that, but I guess having a dog puts people off causing grief.
The Eastern Europeans who were doing it did get caught, then handed over to the old bill.
In reply to Post #1
In my syndicate one of the lads does a week at a time and leaves his tackle all day while he goes to work..and only fishes in the evenings through the night....I don't think I'd go that far but I'd leave it to go the shops toilet block etc...... If there was another member on the lake I would leave my tackle for a few days as I know it would be fine....,,saying that it's not a massive lake ...fully otter fenced with one way in and out...... I suppose it depends on the venue and location....
In my syndicate one of the lads does a week at a time and leaves his tackle all day while he goes to work..and only fishes in the evenings through the night....I don't think I'd go that far but I'd leave it to go the shops toilet block etc...... If there was another member on the lake I would leave my tackle for a few days as I know it would be fine....,,saying that it's not a massive lake ...fully otter fenced with one way in and out...... I suppose it depends on the venue and location....
I remember fishing a day ticket and a guy turned up around 12 in the afternoon. Set up his bivvy and left all his gear inside. Walked over to my swim and asked me to keep an eye on his stuff, as he was a train driver and was due to start a shift.
Didn't turn up until about 8/9 o'clock in the evening. I remember thinking that was possibly one of the riskiest manoeuvres I've ever seen.
Didn't turn up until about 8/9 o'clock in the evening. I remember thinking that was possibly one of the riskiest manoeuvres I've ever seen.
the Essex country park I fish I just use cheap mid range rods and reels and sling them in the bushes, then cover them up with branches and what ever I can find.last time I used them was last winter, bet they are still there..most people are more interested in finding John (Goldfinger) palmers buried bullion than some **** fishing gear.. 
In reply to Post #7
Are they stashed anywhere near palmers place then 👀🤫
Are they stashed anywhere near palmers place then 👀🤫
In reply to Post #1
I have a large bucket with a seat and lid on it. Purpose made for the job. Put a bin bag in it and it doubles up as a rubbish bin. Never have to leave for a dump.
I have a large bucket with a seat and lid on it. Purpose made for the job. Put a bin bag in it and it doubles up as a rubbish bin. Never have to leave for a dump.
In reply to Post #8
its a lot of land..x marks the spot..
its a lot of land..x marks the spot..
One of my waters has a four hour rule. Long enough to go to the tackle shop, pop to the cafe, maybe pick up shopping. It's a nice perk, no one takes the piss as it's strictly enforced. It's long enough to go home but stops guys stitching up swims for weeks at a time.
Never once worried about leaving my gear, in fact I've done the night before and got back to my van and realised I haven't even locked it.
I'd never do this on any water with public access.
Never once worried about leaving my gear, in fact I've done the night before and got back to my van and realised I haven't even locked it.
I'd never do this on any water with public access.
In reply to Post #11
Your van would be alright, plumbers usually have a rubble sack of scraps worth more than their tools
Your van would be alright, plumbers usually have a rubble sack of scraps worth more than their tools
In reply to Post #12
You ain't kidding. I like to think of my tools as multifunctional. Can't find a hammer, use a drill battery. Can't find a chisel, use a screwdriver. Can't find a screwdriver, use a hammer.
Us plumbers have tool kits that make chippies cry themselves to sleep at night. If you've got OCD don't ever open my drill box. The amount of snapped drill bits in there weighs more that the drill.
You ain't kidding. I like to think of my tools as multifunctional. Can't find a hammer, use a drill battery. Can't find a chisel, use a screwdriver. Can't find a screwdriver, use a hammer.
Us plumbers have tool kits that make chippies cry themselves to sleep at night. If you've got OCD don't ever open my drill box. The amount of snapped drill bits in there weighs more that the drill.
In reply to Post #13
If a drill bit sticks out of the chuck it's fair game to plumbers
If a drill bit sticks out of the chuck it's fair game to plumbers
My local Colne valley club has a 2 hour rule and thats great as its enough time to go home for a shower change of clothes or tackle shop etc