Carp etiquette
Over the years that I have been carp fishing I have seen some funny phases. When I first started, it was very secretive, but other angers would have the decency to talk to you and be very polite and ask you to leave the swim before they baited up or cast out again. Even to the point of casting in the wrong area until you had gone. Back in those days (what a line!) no one would set up anywhere near you and if so, they would have the decency to ask if they could do this.
Then came the stage, that anglers would not talk to each other. They would just hide in their bivvies’ or just point blank ignore you. This then moved on to the set up anywhere and cast anywhere brigade.
Anglers have started to reserve swims, which I can see the point of this. As 30 years ago, there were very few anglers and you could spend all day looking around with not even the hint of another angler.
Nowadays, you pull in most lake car parks and you can be followed in by 2 more cars. Getting back to the point, I have seen buckets put in swims for 2/3 hours, which is NOT acceptable in this day and age. Having found the person who owned the bucket and made inquires re the bucket, I was told his mate was down later and wanted to fish near him (was he scared of the dark!?), he arrived 4 hours later. I have even seen a row of buckets & a chair once (is it beating the Germans to the sunloungers syndrome?).
I have also been told by a person who set up next to me on a empty lake that he fished this swim every Thursday night (even if the fish are topping round the corner?). After a bit of a heated chat, he thought that it was a good idea to move swim and even up the odds a bit.
I have also found that is very hard to even get a swim on some of the circuit waters, nowadays due to the volume of anglers. Which is why I have stuck with small syndicates & club waters for the Winter, when most stay at home only coming out on sunny days.
What I do on lakes that have a secure car park, is to have a walk around with my bucket and place in the most likely swim, based on past trips in the weeks before. I then carry on with my wheelbarrow until I find a better one then go back and collect the bucket. This process only takes about and hour or less. Now, if you have the luxury that you have the place to yourself the ‘worlds your oyster’.
I know I have got a bit demoralised with carp anglers due to the above. And moved back onto the rivers where its a pleasure to fish and other anglers are very courtious to each other (and helpfull).
This page is all about thinking of other anglers before you set up. Most lakes I fish anglers leave one swim apart and do not fish opposite to each other. This is just an unwritten rule and it works well. On the syndicate that I am a member of on the river Avon, people will not fish within a 3/4 of a mile.
its so peaceful
My point in this page is to think of other angler and also yourself and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of Fishing
That’s all for know
Richard
UK Carp & Coarse Fishing 