We well into the new year .. and what a year 2014 has been. Looking back now I can't help but think every session had presented it's own challenges and frustrations. I was fortunate to have been able to fish almost every weekend barring of course the cycling training weekends.
It had taken it's toll on me physically and mentally that I am at a point now where I need to focus on another species. Some harder fighting fish I seek. Though I have a social session planned with a certain lady to give her that "carp feeling".
It goes without saying the year was one I'd like to forget for the most part. Fishing is a man's escape from life and the duties assigned to him. I looked forward to packing and setting up. Carp rods were out - swims baited and pre-baited when I could and on arrival expectations were high. I contended with weed, geese and some times nature would pour down it's wrath upon me soaking everything to the core. I persisted in rain or sun. Beaten by the intense heat the rods remained out. Every so often during a nap the Fox Micron would beep and either give off a screamer or very slow take. Some fish it seemed where possessed and headed straight for snags of some sort and gave me no quarter - in all this I just lost one fish to snags and hook pulled two others who wouldn't grace my landing net.
I fished with friends - socialised with them and as you can imagine..we covered every topic under the sun at the waters edge. Had some good laughs and recalled great times together. Friends I'd trade for nothing in this world - though they like an itch that won't go away at times but their friendship is greater than a pimple. One friend is taking on the art of bass fishing, ah about time I thought. He had better be as eager for bass as he is as for carp fishing. We have a lesson or two in using a baitcast reel. The others have their challenges as you do, personal goals and perhaps personal bests.
As for me - I had my day of chasing huge commons and colossal mirrors. Yet looking through my albums bring forth many painstaking sessions and sometimes no reward. The Carp Gods Blessed me and I found carp fishing to be a cruel mistress too. These days I'm happy fishing for decent size carp with good friends and enjoying the sound of the Fox Micron amidst the sound of a good steak on the grill. Fish came thick and fast at times and others it came an a glaciers pace. The enjoyment was being there fishing, not so much the catching.
The new year - what are your goals, what are you chasing if not the sun on your back? I've set my sights on a new beginning, a life of quiet and hopefully peace, fishing when I want and wherever I want when I want and when I can. Most of all I've set my sights on living - living what I love doing.
What about you in 2015 ?
One Life - Live It.
Taken from the Carp Diaries: 2015
Fish Hard - Fish smart .. Stay Safe.
John'O
It had taken it's toll on me physically and mentally that I am at a point now where I need to focus on another species. Some harder fighting fish I seek. Though I have a social session planned with a certain lady to give her that "carp feeling".
It goes without saying the year was one I'd like to forget for the most part. Fishing is a man's escape from life and the duties assigned to him. I looked forward to packing and setting up. Carp rods were out - swims baited and pre-baited when I could and on arrival expectations were high. I contended with weed, geese and some times nature would pour down it's wrath upon me soaking everything to the core. I persisted in rain or sun. Beaten by the intense heat the rods remained out. Every so often during a nap the Fox Micron would beep and either give off a screamer or very slow take. Some fish it seemed where possessed and headed straight for snags of some sort and gave me no quarter - in all this I just lost one fish to snags and hook pulled two others who wouldn't grace my landing net.
I fished with friends - socialised with them and as you can imagine..we covered every topic under the sun at the waters edge. Had some good laughs and recalled great times together. Friends I'd trade for nothing in this world - though they like an itch that won't go away at times but their friendship is greater than a pimple. One friend is taking on the art of bass fishing, ah about time I thought. He had better be as eager for bass as he is as for carp fishing. We have a lesson or two in using a baitcast reel. The others have their challenges as you do, personal goals and perhaps personal bests.
As for me - I had my day of chasing huge commons and colossal mirrors. Yet looking through my albums bring forth many painstaking sessions and sometimes no reward. The Carp Gods Blessed me and I found carp fishing to be a cruel mistress too. These days I'm happy fishing for decent size carp with good friends and enjoying the sound of the Fox Micron amidst the sound of a good steak on the grill. Fish came thick and fast at times and others it came an a glaciers pace. The enjoyment was being there fishing, not so much the catching.
The new year - what are your goals, what are you chasing if not the sun on your back? I've set my sights on a new beginning, a life of quiet and hopefully peace, fishing when I want and wherever I want when I want and when I can. Most of all I've set my sights on living - living what I love doing.
What about you in 2015 ?
One Life - Live It.
Taken from the Carp Diaries: 2015
Fish Hard - Fish smart .. Stay Safe.
John'O
