fruitloopy

I read about that internet tv channel but I cant remember what it was called. It was a collection of countryside sports like showjumping and stuff. I'll google it. I cant wait for that Catching the Impossible series, that looks great. Thanks for the pointers guys, I'll point my recorder towards Dave TV.

Was this called The Secret Carp? A film with that old fashioned angler Chris Yates? This is a description of the film: Chris Yates, one time holder of the British Carp Record with a fish of over 51lbs is hugely popular, much admired, prolific writer and orator on the art of fishing. Chris is from that old school of anglers; one of a rare breed who still uses cane rods and original reels. In this programme he demonstrates quite clearly that it's not the tackle that catches the big fish... but rather it's the angler's approach which is all important. On a hot sunny day at a lake in Hampshire we'll see Chris successfully fishing for carp, trying various methods including curry flavoured maggots and surface baits to capture his quarry. In his own inimitable style he totally absorbs himself into the atmosphere of his surroundings. Having the eye of a keen photographer, Chris notices and comments on the plants and wildlife and being a real country man it's not just just the fishing that's important but the whole of the rich tapestry laid out before him, as he quite rightly says "you can't waste a day in a place like this when there's so much going on around you". Enjoy this fascinating insight into one man's approach in pursuit of 'The Secret Carp'. If it is you can get it here: Play.com Runtime is 55 minutes. I have seen it and its very similar to the "Passion for angling" series.

I have just come back to this post and seen your replies. Thanks for that. I have watched A Passion for Angling so many times and was looking for anything else similar. It looks like The Compleat Angler could be what I am looking for. Cathing the Impossible also sounds good, I'll keep an eye out for it. Thanks.

I went to an antiques fair several weeks back and bought an old centrepin for £20. I read somewhere that putting braid on it was a good idea as you can get more line on it so I did. It sat in my tackle box ignored for all this time. A couple of weeks ago I got bored while I was fishing (which in itself it very odd!) so I setup the centrepin with a 4lb hooklength, size 10 hook and a weighted float. I saw a spot under a small wooden bridge where there was lots of activity...rolling, bubbles, etc. I put some luncheon meat on the hook, crept over to the spot and plonked it in. Ten seconds later I had an 8lb Mirror. After several more carp, barbel (seemed odd for a stillwater) and tench. I went home with a huge grin on my face. I felt like a child again hunting for minnows with rod and line nicked from my brother. I know I must have looked like a plonker to the others around me but I bloody loved it! It never hurts to go back to basics and I have been back there again but was not as successful. Still had a good time though.

I read on a website once that listed areas around Peterborough for fishing that there was a small pond/lake in Longthorpe, Peterborough that was free for fishing. I have been to a good few places in and around Peterborough now...Northey Park, Decoy Lakes, Bluebell, etc but I dont know anything about this and cant find the website! Does anyone know anything at all about this, or where it is? Thanks.

I think its best to use these in combination with a live one, I.e. two on the hook. A red falsie on first with a live one second, that way if a little bugger nips the live one off you will still get a bite on the artificial one. Hemp and caster as feed and 4 or 5 live maggots as freebies. I have caught plenty of roach with this method, good size ones as well.

Sorry for late reply, I have only just seen your post so I assume by the time you read this you'll have already been there. I have now been to Decoy lakes 4 times this year. a couple of times on 6 islands where I caught nothing at all and a couple of times on Willow where I caught loads. Admittedly, it was freezing cold when I fished the islands lake, even snowing heavily at one point and I did use different bait in Willow. I do rate Decoy quite highly although there are a couple of annoying things. They only open from 9am and they close at 6pm. You will be in a LOT of trouble if your leaving after 6pm. If they go out for the evening they lock the gates and there is no way out for your car once they do that! They will also supply you with a landing net. You can get rules and stuff on Decoy here: http://home.btconnect.com/whittleseyweb/sp...sey_decoy_lakes Willow seems to be packed with a mixed bag of fish including barbel and golden tench. First time I went there I floated Maggot on the hook with hemp/casters as feed. I caught 14 good fish including roach, golden tench, perch, common and mirror carp. Largest was an 8lb mirror. I used the same bait second time around (Fri 4th April) but included a bit of luncheon meat for variety. As it was quite I even went stalking with a centre pin and had a brilliant day, 18 good quality fish in total. This time I got myself 4 barbel using the centrepin. I'll be back there tomorrow, depending on whether there's a match on or not. If you pick up the latest copy of "Improve your Coarse Fishing" magazine there's a feeder fishing tutorial in there from Decoy Lakes. Let me/us know how you got on. Cheers, Simon

Yep, one of those was mine!. Sorry, but it seems like I may have opened a can of worms (fnarr!) here...and I'm new to the forum. I think I realise now from many comments, both from carp anglers, float anglers, fly and people who enjoy all aspects and methods of fishing that there has been a shift in the market which is causing a divide. Because carp fishing or carp specimen fishing is all the rage now whereas as Budgie stated it used to be match fishing that dominated the lakes. Because of this if your not specifically looking to follow the trend you can get pushed to one side and regarded as inferioir by the ignorant few who are just following the trend. Experienced anglers (and experienced people in general) know that fishing is just fishing. It shouldnt matter what your fishing for, how your doing it or when. Go and do it because its bloody great fun, relaxing and good for you. Its the same sort of rivalry in football, rugby or any other sport you can name. Is Adidas better than Nike? Is Slazenger better than Dunlop? Is sitting in a bivvie more fun than maggot chucking? Who gives a damn?! Just fish! From now on if anyone gives me any stick over gnoming it with a float rod then I'll just present them a pitying smile and carry doing what I enjoy. Their the sad, ignorant simpletons who will refuse to try something different because its not fashionable. I have tried carping it and, while its ok occasionally I feel I have more fun with my float road. But thats my choice. As much as people have been having digs at the carpies and bivvie botherers I think its mostly a dig and those few who just buy the latest and greatest equipment and rush out there. They never bother to try anything else in case they too feel ridiculed. I hope this makes sense?!

Some great advice from all of you and it pretty much comes down to the same thing...if you enjoy it then just forget about the ignorant ones who have no understanding and no interest in learning another skill that's not fashionable. CHESTERS1 I made the same mistake when I got back into fishing by using crappy, heavy lines but I soon learnt (very recently in fact) that you can bring an 8lb carp in on a 2lb line, caught from only 10 feet in front of where I am sitting. Thanks for all the advice and support from all who replied. I suppose I was right to be paranoid but now I dont care! I will be doing some boilie baiting with bite alarms because I like trying new things but I think I'll always keep a float road handy for when I get bored. I wouldnt mind having a go at this stalking lark as well. Here's to the gnomes!!

That'll learn 'em! Thanks for the replies...I really was starting to think it was just me and I was becoming paranoid! Your right about the fashion thing but I suppose if they spend lots of money it keeps the industry going doesnt it. ColinW..."Fat boily sack"...love it! Besides, this all means that the margins and stuff are all free for me to use.

I was taught how to fish by my father and big brother and float fishing was all I knew. Recently, after a break of about 20 years I got back into it again and because fishing on the float is still all I know (although I am learning new ways such as ledgering, method, etc) but I am mostly still float fishing. Its probably because I enjoy it so much and, combined with the nostalgia of my youth, I find it much more exciting than freezing my arse off in a bivvy waiting all weekend for a extremely overweight carp. While I can respect their chosen way of fishing it seems like I am treated as a beginner or just simple minded because I dont have a transit van filled to the brim with barrows, groundbait, bait boats and miscellaneous equipment costing a second mortgage. I sat 2 pegs down from a bivvy botherer last Saturday. He had all the equipment and three lines in the water, all on alarms and thrown in the middle while I was fishing the margins. I didnt see much of him all day as he was in his bivvy. I caught 14 lovely buggers, Dace, Roach, Golden Tench, common and mirror carp. All ranging in size and weight from under a pound to an 8lb mirror. It was a bit nerve racking bringing this in on a 2.4lb line though! The guy next to me got nothing. So why do I feel like a junior angler or a loser when I go into a tackle shop? Why is there a smile on the face of the guy behind me when I buy a day ticket for the smaller lake. The lake itself is described as "Good for youngsters or people learning their craft". Am I being too sensitive about this or their an invisible divide between us? Has anyone else experienced this out there? If this is an old question then I apologise, I am new to the forum.

Can anyone point me towards fishing/angling programmes on TV at the moment? Is there a particular channel I should be watching? If its on during the day I can setup to record it. I am on freeview so those channels would be preferred. I dont mind repeats as I have not seen any of them anyway! Thanks, Simon