What's annoying as more of a predator angler than a carper is the number of carpers who fish for pike in the winter and haven't got a clue what they are doing and how to handle them properly.
The modern instant carper brigade turn into the instant piker which leads to deep hooking or the new fashion been the lure angler who haven't got a clue how to take trebles out with forceps

In reply to Post #59
Just a thought but maybe because it's against foreign office advice, invalidates your travel insurance and breakdown cover. Not difficult is it. Plus do you expect anglers to lose 2 weeks wages on their return because of quarantine.
I wouldn't want fisheries to be closing and I understand their predicament but it is still more sensible to stay at home then travel.

In reply to Post #34
Tee heee..... you could not be further from the truth .. muppet

Everyone needs to give there head a wobble. If you don't like it don't go!!!! No point bitching and moaning on a forum just go fishing where you want to and leave people to enjoy their hobby as they see fit.
The PC old boys carp brigade out in force again..... the good old days... blah blah....

In reply to Post #2
I bought one recently in a sale and I'm about to send it back as it's really uncomfortable I fine. What does the paracord do? What diameter did you use and what SIM did you buy to fit it. If it saves me sending it back that would be good

In reply to Post #76
Most bait boat users can cast... agree, impossible to know.
I own a bait boat and consider myself a good caster. Bait boats are abit of a pain in the arse, it's much easier just to cast out.
But without repeating myself on posts below I use them when required. As I've said below I fish a lot in the Lake District. It's a 3 hour drive one way for me so if I turn up and all the swims that are fishable with a cast able range are taken and I have to fish say a spot where the drop off is 100 yards, in a cross wind with a whole joey mackerel then I'm not going to drive home I'll use my bait boat.
They should be should when necessary, I would never dream of using one on your big standard day ticket lake just for the sake of it, but to be totally against them is narrow minded.

In reply to Post #43
Nothing to do with personal stash, strange comment! it's about fishing a venue as effectively as possible. If I'm on Windermere and the lake goes from a few feet in the margins to a 20ft drop off 100 yards out (like many lakes up there do ) the fish will be on the drop off. So you are basically either saying we shouldn't fish them or you have to cast as far as you can but probably blank. Absolute tosh.
Fishing has moved on, if you disapprove of anglers for example bivvy/boating on places like the orient fine..... don't criticise them, just do your own thing as by the sounds of it you'd quite like us to go back to split cane rods and bent pins for hooks.

In reply to Post #36
Narrow minded comment, ban them from all waters!
So you would rather have people casting into trees and onto islands and snapping rigs off into lakes rather than a bait boat. Anglers who think they can cast are more of an issue than bait boat users. Anglers who take 10 attempts to get it on a spot are more of an issue than bait boats. Anglers who spomb the water to death are more of an issue than bait boats.
What's your thoughts on big European waters like Cassien? Can't we fish those anymore either as you have to row your boats out in a lot of instance there as well.

According to your logic as well, as a pike angler I can no longer fish for example half the marks on Windermere because i can't cast a big mackerel bait and 3oz lead over hundred yards in a cross wind to the drop offs.

In reply to Post #22
I don't get the level playing field comment. Well I do but this is not an Olympic sport it's a hobby after all and if they are allowed anglers who have them should be allowed to use them and enjoy them. They should be used responsibly for example against snags but it is no different to fishing against snags anyway and at least you don't get numpties casting into trees and snapping off into the lake. You also wouldn't get the numpties spombing all over the place either.
It comes down to good baliffing for me, if anyone is on a lake taking the piss they they could be stopped.
I use mine for fishing long range (open water) on big waters and for my pike fishing in the Lake District where it is very difficult to cast large dead baits over drop offs on some waters.

In reply to Post #4
Depends on where your fishing and what it's for. Myself also been a pike angler who fishes lakes in the Lake District it's vital to have one so you can find drop offs. It also helps to map lakes for carp fishing.