About a year ago.............

[mpbdsnu]

Ok, its the time of the year we think about our goals for the coming year as this one begins to draw to a close (only 3 weeks ).

 

But no - I'm not gonna ask you for your new years resolutions, but something a little different.

 

As it is nearing the end of the current year, have a think back if you will, to around this time time last year.

 

Can you remember what you were hoping for, carp-fishing wise, for 2002? Did you manage to reach all of your goals, or at least some of them?

 

Come on, have a think?

[Woodzzz]

I caught my target fish yeah.

My watercraft has improved so much and i've given a 100% in all situations.

Where i used to set up and sit for 24 hours

I'm up the trees, baiting little spots, checking areas, always looking with me bins, moving when i need to, adapting when i need to.

I've just upped my effort rate and have thus upped my catch rate.

I still can't cast but i dont mind that cos my stalking skills have improved tenfold.

I doubt i'll ever improve my casting distance, but i'm getting a lot better accuracy wise.

I didnt get a 20+ ghosty though

[mpbdsnu]

Well, I reckon you did better than me!

 

I swore I was gonna have shed loads of 20's this year - did I? Did I heck as like!

 

I said to myself this time last year I was also going to do a lot more floater fishing - did i have anything? Did I heck as like!

 

Things are going to be different next year though.

[Gaffer]

Hi all, so far this year has been my worst year ever. Okay I got a couple of lumps, but nowhere near what I'd be happy with.

 

I've put this solely down to one thing and one thing only, confidence!!

 

To be truthfull I think that there are certain baits that are marginally better than others, and I know bait is only part of the picture, but this year I really wasn't confident in the bait I was using.

The bait I used this season was, and still is, a very good bait. It 'slays' top waters where it's been 'king' over the past four or five seasons, but I didn't have the confidence in it like I had with my old bait.

 

I've been asking myself how long is too long to give a bait a fair chance. Well in answer to my own question I'd say 9 months!!!

 

So, I've got a new bait that I think I'm confident in and I will be buying some of my old bait, which I have loads of confidence in and can catch anywhere with it. I will be fishing these two side by side for a couple of months before making a decision.

 

Hopefully next year will be a different story.

[Andy Thatcher]

PB barbel has eluded me so far but that runs until March 14th but I did manage a UK cat, from 2 different waters, which did please me.

 

Next season I'm going to spent some more time off the rivers after tench, rudd and who knows I may even go for a 40 or if I can find the right place a 35lb common. I haven't spent much time carping over the last 5 years or so but it could be time to have another go.

[singy]

Managed a few of my targets. the big mirror from my syndicate. First UK cat and a double figure bream. Failed on my big common though (so far, still fishing the winter so who knows) and my latest 4lb+ perch is still ongoing.

 

Been a good season so far

[Steve Burke]

singy:

Managed a few of my targets. the big mirror from my syndicate. First UK cat and a double figure bream. Failed on my big common though (so far, still fishing the winter so who knows) and my latest 4lb+ perch is still ongoing.

 

Been a good season so far  

You can say that again!

 

BTW, did you know that fellow syndicate member, Tim B, had a 30-08 common recently?

[singy]

I did indeed hear a flicker on the Grapevine Steve.

Stonking great fish mate.