I just mashed up a load of bait with one of those Ridgemonkey Crusher things, and then it hit me, things are so much better now when it comes to gadgets like the Crusher.
If I cast my mind back, I can remember pushing my face up against the window of Bait 78 pointing at the Bamford conversations with a friend of mine gleefully telling him that next week I'll have saved up enough money to buy a set with Fat Frank staring back at us both smilling sagely. I'd suffered long enough with my super quiet OG Optonics, and the super crap Herons before them. And that really was about as good as it got back then.
Nowdays, we've got castable sonar's, battery power packs, proper beds, unlike the sunloungers that we made do with - was always funny when one of your buddies ended up on his arse coz one of the legs folded flat - wireless remote sounder boxes, really effective rigs - the OG hair rig as good as it was back then was very touch and go if you cast at any range as the hair had a tendency to snap off if using actual hair or thin mono - banksticks that don't bend like a banana (Gardner with brass fittings), and I could go on...
It really is good to be a carp angler now. With the advancement of time, the type of fishing we do is so much less of a ballache and headache than it once was.
If I cast my mind back, I can remember pushing my face up against the window of Bait 78 pointing at the Bamford conversations with a friend of mine gleefully telling him that next week I'll have saved up enough money to buy a set with Fat Frank staring back at us both smilling sagely. I'd suffered long enough with my super quiet OG Optonics, and the super crap Herons before them. And that really was about as good as it got back then.
Nowdays, we've got castable sonar's, battery power packs, proper beds, unlike the sunloungers that we made do with - was always funny when one of your buddies ended up on his arse coz one of the legs folded flat - wireless remote sounder boxes, really effective rigs - the OG hair rig as good as it was back then was very touch and go if you cast at any range as the hair had a tendency to snap off if using actual hair or thin mono - banksticks that don't bend like a banana (Gardner with brass fittings), and I could go on...
It really is good to be a carp angler now. With the advancement of time, the type of fishing we do is so much less of a ballache and headache than it once was.
In reply to Post #1
Just need quieter lakes
Just need quieter lakes
In reply to Post #1
I remember crushing my baits with small hammer back in the day 😄
I remember crushing my baits with small hammer back in the day 😄
In reply to Post #1
And that's why we now have instant carp anglers.
And that's why we now have instant carp anglers.
In reply to Post #2
They will come again.
They will come again.
In reply to Post #5
That would be nice
That would be nice
In reply to Post #5
You're not going to kill everyone are you?
You're not going to kill everyone are you?
The gear is so much better, and cheaper. But I'd go back to how carp fishing was 35 years ago without a doubt. I wouldn't need to think about it for a second.
In reply to Post #7
😂😂 That is the only way it will happen.
😂😂 That is the only way it will happen.
It almost makes it unfair on the carp......
In reply to Post #10
The gear is nice to use, but don't forget the biggest development by far in modern carp angling.
Grossly overstocked lakes full of hungry fish that have to eat anglers bait. The bigger the money the bigger the stock fish but same principle everywhere.
The gear is nice to use, but don't forget the biggest development by far in modern carp angling.
Grossly overstocked lakes full of hungry fish that have to eat anglers bait. The bigger the money the bigger the stock fish but same principle everywhere.
In reply to Post #11
I suppose it's a double edge sword.
I returned to angling after a 20 year gap, and the choice / scale and availability of products made it much easier to pick back up. But on the flip side it's also made the route into the spot for a complete novice much simpler - not a bad thing but also the reason a lot of day ticket waters are a circus.
I never spent any time in the golden days of carping but I can see the appeal of quiet lakes without 80% of people pissed up and shouting to their mates in the next swim.
I suppose it's a double edge sword.
I returned to angling after a 20 year gap, and the choice / scale and availability of products made it much easier to pick back up. But on the flip side it's also made the route into the spot for a complete novice much simpler - not a bad thing but also the reason a lot of day ticket waters are a circus.
I never spent any time in the golden days of carping but I can see the appeal of quiet lakes without 80% of people pissed up and shouting to their mates in the next swim.
In reply to Post #1
Those ridge monkey crusher things are even better when you throw the handle in the bin and use a drill on it instead 😂
Those ridge monkey crusher things are even better when you throw the handle in the bin and use a drill on it instead 😂
In reply to Post #13
Makita SDS...oosh.
Makita SDS...oosh.
In reply to Post #1
Bait 78...Now that is a blast from the past, I remember using their ingredients..
Bait 78...Now that is a blast from the past, I remember using their ingredients..