I jumped at the chance to write again for CARPology, so thanks for asking me Joe. It’s been a year or two since I last put pen to paper, and some of the topics I’ll cover may well have been discussed in the past. I make no excuse for raising them again however, and perhaps there’ll be a different slant on them this time around. I’m keen to write on issues close to our hearts, and I do so in the hope that readers might be encouraged to adopt a fresh approach in their carp fishing, and perhaps be inspired to step away from the norm.

BY John Baker

(PART ONE)

Events during the past year have highlighted the importance of being out in the fresh air, and especially, of being by the water with the rods. Most of us have had more spare time available during the past few months, a fact clearly evident on the many club venues and commercial fisheries that have often been fully occupied by anglers. Carp fishing being a usually static pastime, provides ample opportunity for quiet thought and mindful deliberation. Recently, we may have taken time out to reflect on our current situation, and have perhaps reviewed things at work or at home. Family matters very much came to the fore during lockdown and we have all come to realise the importance of keeping fit and healthy, as well as perhaps thinking a little more about friends and relations.

From an angling point of view during such periods, we might reflect on former successes, or perhaps even analyse past mistakes. We might also consider a fresh tactical approach, make new plans for a different venue, or maybe think about changing our bait. All these require careful consideration and I think it does us no harm at all to pause for thought, slow down a little, and step back from the fast pace of life. Time is a precious commodity, and being able to use our time effectively on the bank takes careful planning. It can though, also bring about additional success from what might’ve been regarded as just another routine session.

THIS YEAR WE’VE HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO REFLECT ON FORMER SUCCESSES, OR PERHAPS EVEN ANALYSE PAST MISTAKES. WE MIGHT ALSO CONSIDER A FRESH TACTICAL APPROACH, MAKE NEW PLANS FOR A DIFFERENT VENUE, OR MAYBE THINK ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAIT

I OCCASIONALLY FISH THE OLD WAY FOR A BIT OF FUN. NOTE THE CARDINAL 55 REELS AND HERON BITE ALARMS!

I’m impatient - some might say hyperactive - and seemingly always have been, but I don’t feel any different to when I was in short trousers! I believe someone might’ve once said, ‘You can take the man out of the boy, but you can’t take the boy out of the man.’ Well, I’m still that boy! Quite why I took up carp fishing all those years ago still seems like a personal anomaly. My default programmed setting though, is to be sitting behind the rods, primed and ready for action. I’m sure we might all have a similar picture in our mind’s eye, one of the rods and bivvy all set up just as we like them, with the landing net propped up strategically to one side in readiness. This image stays with me always, and I’m sure it’s etched into all dedicated carp anglers’ psyche. It’s rather like riding a bike: we never forget how to do it. Perhaps it’s more appropriate to liken it to a default setting on a computer… in just a few metaphoric clicks, we’re in fishing mode. But what exactly, is that mode…?