i've only got into doing long sessions for the last few years, mainly on a big river. if the river was local to me i would be prebaiting and do short sessions, that's not an option though. the stretch i fish normally takes 2 nights to get going and usually the third is the best. luckily my job is flexible so if i fancy it i will stay for the fourth night.
i have managed to break the days down into a structure that stops me getting bored, optimises the swim and also turns it into a bit of social. in the summer the timetable tends to go like this.
first night arrive, bait dropper **** loads of hemp, boiles and pellets in set up and and get a couple of rods out on alarms.on occassions despite filling it in you can catch straight off which in the past as caught me out and after a few beers i managed to fall in head first trying to untangle a small chub which had wrapped itself round the other rod! anyway on the first night i normally fish till about 12 and then get my head down for a couple of hours till first light.put a bit more bait in and then fish till about 7.
then bring the rods in, get in the car go down to mcdonalds have a wash, brush the teeth, breakfast, read the paper and have a play on the internet.
back to the swim about 9 have a couple more hours kip walk up the river to the pub, have a few beers, meal and chat to the locals.
get back to the swim about 3 fill it in again a, couple more beers, couple of hours kip then up at 8 and then fish through the night, if it's quiet a couple of hours sleep.
fortunately where i fish is very quiet and i have no problems leaving all my kit on the bank unattended. the days fly by and normally by the third night the fishing's bang on and i tend to stay for the forth night. i tend to do these long sessions after a busy few weeks at work when you just want to get away from everyone........ Just hope i don't get back from the pub one day and all the kit as gone
however variety is the spice of life, last sunday i fished a club match on the thames and 16lb of roach for a win on the waggler...i think i enjoyed that more though.
cheers
jason