badgerman

wow that is brilliant! 51 views and not a single reply, what an extremely polite bunch of people!

Went fishing at a local lake yesterday... a mate came along with his dad. We were quite happily tiddler bashing, I got a few 1lb bream going up to about 2lb, my mate had an 8lb carp on the pole... My mate's dad was also pole fishing and hooked into a MONSTER for the lake we were in, it was a carp and when it surfaced the back was almost as broad as one of my german shepherd dogs! A good 20 at least His pole was called a "carp master" i think, and after a minute or so it shattered in three sections and the fish was lost... Now this man is an experienced angler and he wasn't bullying the fish or anything. Is this an experience anyone else has shared or is his "carp master" pole a bit of a con (or a friday special)?!?!

Hello there and welcome, Pretty friendly crowd here so ask away! Dave

My river forays are always the same, I'll also be heading off to the Avon for my favourite fish, a nice lean scrappy river perch... maybe have a chuck at a few pike as well!

Nice fish! Congratulations it's almost the same size as my dogs!!!

Funnily enough the farmer came along and forbade him from diving in the lake and spearing his fish!!!

Hello everyone, I asked my friend if he wanted to go fishing last weekend, he said yes so I told him where to meet me.... Upon meeting I told him to follow me to the venue. When we got there he looked confused and asked what was going on... He is usually a sea angler and had all the gear with him, including diving equipment and a speargun! Not much good for a small lake really, bit of a breakdown in communications I think! Anyway, any tips for tench fishing in a narrow deep lake with overhanging trees and no lilly pads? baits, tactics etc??? Cheers all

Being an ex police officer it is my experience that rehabilitation schemes do not actually work... Angling however, is a wonderful pastime and it could indeed be the answer for some who offend. The part I do not agree with is the "reward" of free fishing for offenders... Make them work for it! and for their sky tv and comfortable life in prison!!!

An update: Well, my hopes have been shattered for the time being! Sat on the side of the lake for 8 hours, mostly in hammering rain and not a wildie to be seen! (no great surprise there i know!) I think the rain stopped most play but I did manage to get a few small roach, perch and rudd... and one 8lb mirror carp. Pretty miserable conditions but I was happy to get some action none the less! My search for a wildie continues....

Nice fish, sounds like a good session congrats!

love it

Nothing quite like a new rod! I treated myself to a nice Nash 11ft stalking rod yesterday after stepping on my other one and destroying it!

Hello mate, welcome I know how you feel about getting twitchy, can't wait to get down my local river!!!

Aye it would be nice to catch one before having to go abroad to do it! I have heard that pound for pound they have immense fighting power and thats what I like in a fish, a good scrapper!

No worries! I also shared the concern about whether there are true wildies in there, but having made a few phonecalls it seems the other carp strains were introduced a few years back, the water has not been open for fishing long... I have also seen a few piccies from last season of some of the fish caught there and it seems there are a few definite wild carp of about 5-6 pounds. As I said before it would be nice to catch one as I never have before but it's not top on my list of priorities... I just want to go fishing!!! Pics will follow if I get anything of worth!

Hey everyone, Firstly I am very annoyed, a lake local to me opens for the season today and I am stuck in work! Secondly I am actually quite excited! I am going to said lake for the first time on Monday... I have never fished there before, never even knew it existed but apparently there are some pretty good stocks of roach, rudd, bream, tanch and perch... some carp as well topping 20lb but what got me interested in the first place was there is a half decent stock of wild carp! never fished for these before so am looking to bag one or two... Any tips for them, bait, tactics etc...? To be honest it has been such a long time since I have been fishing I'm just looking forward to bending the cane rod regardless of what I catch! Anyway, tips would be appreciated!

nice one mate, well done! hope you manage to catch some fish that haven't been caught before!

opinions seem to be very similar in the voting! Perch has to be my favourite, was the first specimen fish i caught at 3lb 8oz, gorgeous fish! Tench come a very close second though, love the slimy green buggers!

Hi Chris, welcome to the forum.... I also fish for pure pleasure, tried a competition once but couldn't get into it!

2lb perch is a good fish! they put up a satisfying fight and they look stunning! not a bad idea talking to the local farmers... natural lakes are so much better than these commercial ones, such a nicer place to fish! hope you had some success!

thanks for that i'll have to get that special!!! need some new venues!

I like to do a bit of all three but I don't often get to go sea fishing, i do a bit of fly fishing in my local river for brownies and grayling, but most of my fishing time is spent trawling local lakes and rivers for perch (my personal favourite), tench fishing or stalking for nice fat carp.... I live in the Gloucestershire area so any ideas on locations would be well received!

Hello all! Been out of fishing for a spell (about 10 years), just got back into it and I am amazed at how much it has changed, it's like a foreign language to me!!! Anyway, looking for fellow piscators in the South West to help with locations and any tips!!! Help is much appreciated Dave