I have always tried to keep my gear as light as possible, from right back when I was a kid starting out. It was probably born out of necessity. I didn’t have much fishing tackle and what I did have was carried on my back, or on my bike, my seat box on the back rack, with my rods tied to the crossbar. When the amount of gear I accumulated became too much for my bike, I acquired my first trolley, one of those two-wheeled jobs you pulled along, and which would inevitably topple over on anything but the most even terrain. The mile-long walk to my local lakes involved crossing several stiles and gates, and a railway line, the trolley having to be unloaded and reloaded at each—no wonder I still have an aversion to carrying too much gear!
My typical overnight kit: Quickdraw luggage and rods and a lightweight bed
IGUESS THIS predilection for travelling light followed me into carp fishing, and I have always preferred to keep my gear relatively lean, often at the cost of comfort. I have never been a fan of big heavy shelters, for example, going right through winters under an open-fronted Aqua 50 without a groundsheet— granted I have never done really long sessions. It’s a trait I can’t shake, as I just don’t like having mountains of gear.