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In reply to Post #1
"I've got a week off ahead of me. I've got something to do Wednesday morning, but apart from that, the time is all mine—the kids and missus are at work or college.All my gear is in the garage, ready to go: fuelled, charged, and sorted"
"Do I need to give myself a kick up the arse?"
Thoroughly!
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I work outside all year and the draw of going out again at the weekend when we've had a awful week weather wise, means I CBA either.
I detest driving as well, and I'm only 50 minutes away from the venue, you can park behind pegs, and they're very comfortable. But I have to really make an effort to go.
I gave up for quite a few years when I stopped match fishing. We'd travel all over for matches, out all day, come home knackered and out again the next day. I wouldn't do it now, dread the thought. I've never really got that bug back TBH.
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My motivation for fishing has definitely been up and down over the last 30 years that I have been doing this sport. Life's circumstances often dictate the amount of time you can get on the bank and I have learnt to enjoy every trip regardless of the outcome. If I don't feel like going I don't go. If I feel the urge to go then that is what I do. It is a hobby/sport at the end of the day - it's not like work where almost everybody has to go each day!
Frustratingly I would love 48 hours on the bank at the moment but I am 3 weeks post ACL surgery so not a chance for several months yet I would guess maybe even longer. But when the time comes and my knee is strong enough you can guarantee my motivation will be soaring again!
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In reply to Post #19
agree, currently have a carp set for overnight trips, a zander set for my autumn/winter trips on the river, a light float rod for roach/grayling trips and a pair of light avon rods for perch trips like at the weekend. Variety is the key
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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4284 |  | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #18
Duplication def the key . . . do this already (for rivers) but not for carpy short sessions / days only - its my mission this weekend (already have a separate brew kit sorted - priorities!)
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In reply to Post #17
The swapping gear around from full session tackle to day/short night kit was a massive pita for me and i was occasionally not arsed so it limited my fishing.
I got a ticket for a local water, not big fish but nice and quiet so I pushed myself to make better use of it.
I did some tackle duplication so I could just grab a spare bag and rod holdall and it removed all the faffing about.
Small rucky, quiver, bucket and chair, flask and butties... gone!
I have since modified the way I have my gear spread...
I have a session holdall that can go on a barrow with all my food, cooking, brew kit, sh1t kit, etc, that comes with for anything more than a single night whether carp or barbel fishing.
I have two rucksacks, both small aqua jobbies, one for carp and one for barbel. Neither are jammed full so I can take a flask and butties if a short sesh.
Nothing tackle wise in the ruckys needs to change.
I add a bucket of big feeders if going to the trent, and the bait bucket gets the appropriate stuff added.
I have a carp quiver and a barbel quiver.
I can swap between 2.75 rods and reels, or my heavier 3.5lb rods and reels.
I can swap between my 2lb set up with smaller reels and my 2.5 trent set up with bigger reels.
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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4284 | | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #1
CBA is a definite affliction . . .I've had a good season weirdly by re-joining a lake that I'd thought I'd had enough of when I left in 2020 . . the lake has now slowed right down / winter is around the corner so the rivers are calling - I've def had my fill and will find it difficult to fish again until the spring. You 100% need to get into a groove and retain the 'excitement' for as long as poss - once you do it becomes habitual - well it does for me at any rate.
I've just got a winter ticket for a much smaller / moodier lake that's only 15mins up the road - doesn't have great winter form and I meant to do a day over the weekend but CBA applied . . . in my defence I did go for a couple of hours late afternoon and ended up taking a bait boat and marker rod instead, scanning the entire lake pretty much whilst it was empty . . .the primary reason for CBA to actual fishing is because I've only got session gear 'packed and ready' for the other lake (which has its own unique line / rig / bait rules) whereas this new lake is completely different and I need to spend time getting a completely different set-up / strategy in place and an organized 'day bag' so I can fish efficiently . . . to which at the moment I def CBA!
My river kit(s) on the other hand are primed and ready to go . . . just CBA to get up at 5am on a Sat morning 
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In reply to Post #15
my life is fishing & my immediate family
I am having a tough time atm and thought about ending things at one stage
I struggle to motivate myself to get fishing because my state of mind with whats going on in my life all of which is out of my control and things will change, but we dont know when, My Wife forced me out the other week in a horrendous storm for the night. It was soooo good to have the wind and rain in my face, i felt alive for the 1st time in ages, a couple of hours in the wind and rain Saturday evening on the river, again, its what i need. Motivation comes and goes mate, go with the flow
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In reply to Post #1
A very common problem in my opinion.
You fall out the groove, and it seems a hassle to get back into it - but you feel you should go and want to go but only in hindsight. I hardly ever night fish but -
I do the following.
I never say I’m ‘going’ fishing in advance, but I say “I might go” it means if something better comes up, I don’t feel like I’m missing out. Some of the mights turn into going, some don’t.
I try and fish waters that are no more than an 30 mins - hour away - that means if I’m not feeling it no worries.
I’m also really quite into ‘not fishing - fishing’ sometimes sat in a car park overlooking a lake thinking if one jumps I’m having it - eating a meal deal like a weird dogger!
Just walking round with a bucket, again looking for a sign from the baby Jesus to cast a rod (that is still in the van’
Last winter I used singles pretty much everywhere- it liberated me, zero investment in a spot, no real clutter and quite often a rod or 2 wound in and in the butt ring waiting for something to raise the belief.
I’ve always loved my own company and being by the water - I treat fishing as a by product so I look less of a pervert sat out in all weathers. I like a newspaper or a book, and I like being in control - as you get older I think you get more selfish - you stop excusing yourself and when someone says ‘why didn’t you fish Saturday’ instead of saying ‘oh I had to fix the kitchen cupboard’ you say ‘I didn’t want to’.
The only pressure is from within you - I have carp fished for over 40 years - but only in the last 10 years have reacted to the ‘I don’t fancy it today’ by either not going, or lobbing the rods on the barrow and sacking it off’ - all my memories of fishing over the last few years have been pretty good - because if I’d prefer to be doing something else - I’d be doing that.
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Same, not been much over the last year simply cant be bothered with loading all the gear into the car even though its all sorted & ready to go.
Did do a day recently as it was the last day before my ticket expired so felt i should, on the road by half six fishing by half eight, bored by half two, nothing much happening pack up gear back in the car for a two hour drive home.
Result..three & a half hours driving for a few hours on the bank, haven't renewed the ticket.
Thought i'd try local only but haven't been yet, truth is i'd rather just go for a good walk, out in nature but not lugging a ton of crap around 
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I think some people fish too often and get fed up with it. I go once a month, friday morning to sunday. Gives me ample time to get myself in a fishing mood, stock up, cook some dinners etc.
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This is when I get on the rivers for barbel and chub. Carp will kick off in April/May.
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In reply to Post #1
I'm in a similar position due to a new job and a potential house move. Add to that the kids' interest it's all a bit much and fishing is what needs to give. Planning my annual Xmas 48 hours with my son but otherwise looking at spring before I get out to my syndicate. Like you though, I'm not as bothered as I thought I would be, quite happy spending more time at home with the family. As the saying goes, sometimes a break is as good as a change
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I have felt the same for the past couple of years, post covid tbh! I think busier lakes and balancing time to get out on the bank it’s easier to get down about not being able to get on fish and just head home or not even get the gear out the car.
Just got to break that cycle and get out again, doesn’t matter how much you prep or sort your kit it’s never the same to when you’re doing it on the bank.
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I can get in that mind frame too. It’s such a time intensive pursuit and as I get older I feel guilty that I could be spending that time with family instead, especially this time of year when it’s wet and miserable. The fire always returns though. A nice compromise for me is turning my attention to the rivers for chub, perch and pike for a morning or afternoon.
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General Carp Discussion