So off next week for a 4 day session on my local canal but I've managed to bait up once,went down on Tuesday and got talking to a guy and a hound lad I knew so walked off to a stretch I fancy trying,they couldn't see me and didn't know I put some bait in as I'd walked the other way as well and told them it was opposite end as they were inquisitive,any way went to do it yesterday and today and the young lad was in the swim I'd baited up bearing in mind this is 2 bridges away and he couldn't see me on Tuesday,I know it's a total coincidence but I went to look at another stretch the opposite way and yep guess what a guy came walking along with a dog and he'd just put some bait in.
Don't know what to do now I'm due to go Tuesday afternoon and I may pop down and put some in before I go but it's so frustrating.
The second guy told me where he'd baited up even though he said he was going away on holiday but out of respect I will not jump in someone's swim because they had stuck some bait in and I mean the 2 stretches alone got to be 2/3 miles long.
Anyone else had any problems baiting up

That guy that told you where he baited up was probably Lieing.

In reply to Post #2
Maybe but I never trust anyone anyway anymore like to do my own thing or give out different info

In reply to Post #3
Just ignore everyone and fish and bait up where you want.

In reply to Post #4
I'm looking at different stretches now rather than the ones I've been fishing in the past

Whenever I bait a swim I don't believe that I have any sort of ownership over it. I also do my best utmost not to know where anyone else is baiting. If someone starts to tell me I stop them. If I turn up at a water and there are fish in an area I want to fish for them.

In reply to Post #1
The simple answer is fish where you want.

I know people are baiting up on my lake, not always where, so with a clear conscience if I see fish, I'll fish there.
If I don't see fish I'll fish one of my baited spots.

If your baiting an area the best thing to do is not tell anyone what your doing. Try doing it If possible when no one is around.If someone's in your baited spot then so be it is what it is. Its not because you told someone and there trying to capitalise onyour hard work.

That fella that told you he was baiting a spot. In a round about way he was telling you that's his swim keep out. Trying to make you feel awkward about fishing there.

Me, if I was fishing there and I see fish I'm in there.

No prebaiting allowed by my club. The problem is you get teams of mates tying up the best swims which they fish on a rota basis.most of the time you end up having to fish wherever there is a spare swim.

In reply to Post #1
I always bait up six areas a couple of times a week, that way it does not matter if one or two swims are taken, I've plenty of other options.
Little and often I find is the key.

In reply to Post #10
I can understand that on a lake but a canal when most times no one is around apart from the odd dog walker and fisherman when weather is nice oh and joggers 14 mile of canal and they plot up in a swim I've baited up once in 4 trips the lad who has been there doesn't know I want to bait up it's just one of those thing,I'm due to go and have a look in a bit but holding back for now as I'm pretty sure he may go anyway soon as that's what he's said he's been doing.

In reply to Post #11
I used to do just the same when I used to fish the local Leeds/Liverpool, but it would be late at night or at first light when nobody was about, and leave zero traces on the bank, or your going to end up with a "Parasite" making use of your hard work.

Or it could be a case of "Carpy Looking " such spots look that way to all who look.

get down early morning or late evening to bait up, less eyes about.

In reply to Post #1
Just bait the whole stretch when you go home

In reply to Post #14
Good idea 😂😂😂