Have we peaked?

[Keith M]

Theres nothing wrong with targeting carp, or erecting a bivvy to sleep in overnight or to just protect the angler from the elements on a long session after carp. As long as the angler is sensible and doesn't use carp fishing as an excuse to get drunk or get stoned; unfortunately the number of these idiots seems to grow each year spoiling it for the serious Carp anglers on some waters (usually on day ticket waters).

I regularly target large carp with two alarmed rods out (I don't like using three rods) or with only one rod targeting surface feeding carp but like most other carp Anglers that I know I don't annoy any of the other Anglers around me who are not after carp, and I definitely don't think that carp fishing is superior to any other branch of the sport, or think that carp is superior in any way either; its just another species that we use specialised tackle and methods to catch (even though you don't always need to use specialised tackle or specialised methods to catch big carp).

Even though I do occasionally fish for large carp; Carp are definitely not my favourite species and I spend much more time chasing Tench and crucians and barbel and decent sized roach and rudd than going after Carp. Carp are just another species that’s all.
I do get a bit annoyed when I hear some people say things like “when you progress up to large Carp” or something similar as if carp were the ultimate quarry that you progress up to and which I think is totally wrong; and It also annoys me when I hear other anglers dissing Carp anglers as if they were all just sleeping and drinking lager in their bivvies.

Why can’t we all just bury the hatchet and try to get on. After all we are all brothers of the Angle aren’t we? There are good and bad on both sides.

Keith

 

[Badgerale]

I think it is more what so many day ticket fisheries have evolved into.

Overstocked and overfished, with stringent rules on where you can fish from and what baits you use. Add to that the constant sound of bite alarms and you aren't exactly talking about a rural idyll.

Now this isn't the same as 'carp fishing', but let's face it for many of us there is a very strong association.

For me, I've made my peace. If only for the fact that the popularity of carping and commercial fisheries keeps the banks clear of other anglers when I fish in rivers or carp free lakes.

 

[Aknib]

I think you and I have debated this already in the past and I dont see much good coming of debating it all again

Well...

At least we agree on one thing

 

[no-one in particular]

Reading Phillips post reminds me that one of the best carp anglers I ever fished with was a lady friend who nearly always fished the float close in with worm, I think she picked up all the carp that others were missing with their long distance, heavy baiting boilie approach. Makes me think if it cant go forward try going backwards, it's all new to the carp now because they have forgotten what it was.

 

[steve2]

Reading Phillips post reminds me that one of the best carp anglers I ever fished with was a lady friend who nearly always fished the float close in with worm, I think she picked up all the carp that others were missing with their long distance, heavy baiting boilie approach. Makes me think if it cant go forward try going backwards, it's all new to the carp now because they have forgotten what it was.

Very true. the only reason that carp are now caught mainly on boilies is because it is the only bait that most carp anglers use. Same with a lot of fishing now it is all about boilies and pellets. Taking a step back may well be the way forward

 

[Molehill]

Going back to 60/70s when I considered myself a carp angler, I think innovation in carp angling was driven by carp anglers, the thinkers were developing baits, techniques and tackle to progress.
But I wonder now that the tackle industry drives changes purely to sell tackle and bait. Take a few sponsored names and try to come up with something or anything new each season in order to sell it. This goes for all branches of angling.

 

[sam vimes]

Going back to 60/70s when I considered myself a carp angler, I think innovation in carp angling was driven by carp anglers, the thinkers were developing baits, techniques and tackle to progress.
But I wonder now that the tackle industry drives changes purely to sell tackle and bait. Take a few sponsored names and try to come up with something or anything new each season in order to sell it. This goes for all branches of angling.

Other than the tackle trade being much less of a cottage industry, has much really changed? The innovators are still there, they are still anglers. The difference is that they are invariably directly linked to a tackle company. The alternative is that they try to keep their ideas quiet and run the risk of someone else nicking them and making money out of them.

 

[dicky123]

Expect I'll get some kind of rebuke, but I feel most carp anglers would benefit from a form of apprenticeship. Starting on rivers then moving onto commercials then wild carp waters. I only say this as few seem to enjoy the sport theses days, maybe its because all the good places are full of other carp anglers, I don't know? It seems so much of the skill is lost when you use fish-finders and bait boats to hunt your quarry. But hay, we are all different thank God?

 

[keora]

After having a “few” years away from fishing, it seems that little has changed - indeed little changed in the 10 years or so before that! The same “popular” baits are still being used, the same rigs (or the “new” ones are still just re-hashes with new names), methods are the same.
Only difference is that I can remember when £100 for a bedchair was mad...... but £570!!!! Oh yeah, they are “sleep systems” now ?

Or am I wrong?

I know that your comments relate to carp fishing, but on stretches of one the rivers I fish, there's been significant changes in the last ten years. Barbel and chub catches have declined, to such an extent that I see very few anglers when I fish there. Restocking with the two species hasn't made much difference. I think it's a combination of more predation (cormorants and otters), and poor water quality. It's odd that the river still looks good, it's just that there doesn't seem to be many fish.