Advice Please

[Alan D]

I`ve got an awkward situation on another more local forum to me where another member has affectively told me I shouldn`t fish at the place I`m plannning on fishing a week on Monday as it contains some large carp and seeing as I have no experience of catching/landing/unhooking or handling them that even if I`m not looking to catch any of these that I should still give it a miss. His tone was rather condescending to be honest and although I`m a born again fisherman I like to think I possess common sense and a sense of serious fish welfare. I`ve e-mailed someone who works at this lake asking for their advice on rigs and whether they think I should fish one of the smaller lakes.

 

I was planning on fishing with a medium/heavy feeder rod, a matching reel and either using a free-running leger rig or a free-running inline method feeder. Both using lower breaking strength hooklinks than the main line. I`ll be using an unhooking mat, wont be bullying any fish into my landing net and intend to act sensibly.

 

Question is, am i being oversensitive to this guys comments or was he being a bit over-zealous with his advice?

 

I dont for one moment think I know it all. I have much to learn but I know the basics and like to think if I hooked a fish heavier than 10lb I`d play it sensibly and land it without too many problems.

 

The lake I`m planning on fishing has the below info on the fish in it:-

 

This lake is around 5 acres in size and has 30 pegs, it has been substantially restocked with roach,rudd, carp and bream. It is open for pleasure anglers and match fishing. This lake is starting to become quite popular for carping now that the stocked fish are growing on. The average size expected would be between 4lb - 8lb, although a lot of doubles are beginning to show now and mid twenties have been caught. There is a car park, conveniently located next to the lake, so you can drive right to it.

 

Does anyone have any advice for me?

[Dick Dastardly]

Classic "carp is god" stuff.Unlike pike for example you wont be using tackle or techniques that are alien to you.You wont need to know any unusual/specific unhooking techniques and as you say common sense will suffice.

 

You dont have to be a carp specialist to be able to land a big fish.In fact I would go as far as to say a lot of guys who are used to using light tackle are far more skilled at playing fish than a lot of carpers who only know 3lbs TC rods and 15lb mainline.

 

Im sure you know the basics such as not to use a keepnet for them due to their barbed front dorsal spine getting caught in the mesh or to hold them standing up or put them down on hard or especially abraissive surfaces.Same as any other fish youve caught.

 

Im all for promoting safe handling of your catch but it sounds like this guy was just trying to be elitist...and I have no time for that and neither should you!

[Alan D]

Classic "carp is god" stuff.Unlike pike for example you wont be using tackle or techniques that are alien to you.You wont need to know any unusual/specific unhooking techniques and as you say common sense will suffice.

 

You dont have to be a carp specialist to be able to land a big fish.In fact I would go as far as to say a lot of guys who are used to using light tackle are far more skilled at playing fish than a lot of carpers who only know 3lbs TC rods and 15lb mainline.

 

Im sure you know the basics such as not to use a keepnet for them due to their barbed front dorsal spine getting caught in the mesh or to hold them standing up or put them down on hard or especially abraissive surfaces.Same as any other fish youve caught.

 

Im all for promoting safe handling of your catch but it sounds like this guy was just trying to be elitist...and I have no time for that and neither should you!

 

Cheers Budgie, thats just what i needed to hear. I dont possess or intend to ever use a keepnet so thats no problem. I was pretty hurt by this guy`s attitude to be honest but didnt know if I was being overly-sensitive or whether he was being a bit elitist as you call it. I dont ever profess to know everything but I spend all my spare time reading about fishing techniques in all the angling magazines and on the web. I had a good couple of legering lessons from an uncle who`s now sadly had to go back to Oz but he grounded me well in legering so as long as I get my rig and bait right (and use a half-decent rod and reel) then I`m confident I`ll do well and wont be risking any harm to any of the fish.

 

Thanks again, its really appreciated.

[fruitloopy]

Damn right Budgie.

 

Condescending tw*t!

 

As budgie says, using lighter equipment means you have more skill at playing a fish than a carp yob, the only way you'll get some experience of catching something other than tiddlers is if you try.

Give it a go and see how you get on. Just because you dont have a bivvie, carp coral (b'jesus!) or a first aid kit for an obese mirror carp doesnt mean you arent qualified, able or allowed to catch them.

 

You go for it and let us know how you get on!

[Alan D]

Damn right Budgie.

 

Condescending tw*t!

 

As budgie says, using lighter equipment means you have more skill at playing a fish than a carp yob, the only way you'll get some experience of catching something other than tiddlers is if you try.

Give it a go and see how you get on. Just because you dont have a bivvie, carp coral (b'jesus!) or a first aid kit for an obese mirror carp doesnt mean you arent qualified, able or allowed to catch them.

 

You go for it and let us know how you get on!

 

Cheers fruit, this is music to my ears. I promise to let you know how I get on. And if I catch something decent I`ll take a photo for you all to see, and especially the other chap who seems to think I`m not up to it

[lutra]

I was pretty hurt by this guy`s attitude

Just send a post back to him explaining that your Polish and ask if he has any good English recipes for carp.

[Alan D]

Just send a post back to him explaining that your Polish and ask if he has any good English recipes for carp.

 

LOL, he lives in the same town as my parents so I dont fancy winding him up further ;-)

[gozzer]

One of the things I like about AN, is that although there is a vast wealth of knowledge and experience among it's members, nobody claims to know everything. If they did, they would be bloody liars.

 

We've all met these pillocks who instead of giving advise to try and help, just try to put you down.

Maybe it's a lack of confidence in themselves that causes it, so they have to try and boost their own ego to compensate.

 

I'd just go for it Alan. Your attitude and approach seem sound to me.

We all hook bigger fish than we expect now and again, then it's up to experience and a bit of luck as to the outcome.

Don't worry about it mate. Just ask the 'gentleman' in question to come on here, he'll be brought back down to size soon enough.

 

Good Luck

 

John.

[Emma two]

Go fishing, and fish for the biggest you can get.

 

'tight lines' x

Edited October 10, 2008 by Emma two

[Anderoo]

People with that attitude are very often poor anglers. I don't know any decent angler who would say anything like that. Fish there and enjoy yourself.

 

If it was a massive, rock-hard pit with a handful of giants then it might be a different story, but even then who is he (or anyone else) to tell you where you're allowed to fish?