2025 – A Year of Substance, Not Noise

2025 has been a year defined by intent rather than impulse, less about chasing moments and more about understanding them. That ethos sits at the heart of everything I share on richardhandel.com, and it has very much shaped my time on the bank this year.

The early part of the season was spent exploring the club lake close to home. As always, I approached it properly—quiet laps, long periods of observation, margin work with letting the lake show its hand before forcing decisions. The reality soon became clear: highly pressured carp and fish acutely aware of bank-side presence. While a few carp were landed, the bigger takeaway was knowledge.

That clarity led me back to familiar ground. Returning to an old club lake, now a syndicate I’d last fished seriously nearly four decades ago felt like reconnecting with unfinished business. The lake had changed, as had I. My approach now is more efficient, more selective, and more patient, and a strong focus on the margins allowed me to fish to my strengths without overcomplicating things.

Airfield Lake stood out as a reminder of why consistency still matters. Despite long, quiet nights and challenging conditions, confidence in preparation and location paid off during the daylight hours. The capture of a 30lb 1oz common, along with a good load of carp this season, was very rewarding—not because of their size alone, but because they validated the decisions made leading up to them. No panic, no chasing, just steady application.

Throughout 2025, I continued to strip things back. Revisiting PVA bag and stick mix fishing—something I’ve relied on since the 1980s—proved once again that quality ingredients and clarity of purpose outperform unnecessary complexity. The same philosophy applies across everything I do: invest in bait, preparation, and watercraft, not constant gear changes.

Away from fishing, semi-retirement has allowed for a healthier balance. 3-night sessions suit both my lifestyle and my mindset. Fishing remains a way of life, not an escape, and I’m more comfortable than ever fishing on my own terms—without comparison, without pressure, and without apology.

If 2025 has reinforced anything, it’s this: meaningful progress in carp fishing is often quiet. It’s found in better decisions, sharper observation, and the confidence to trust your experience. Those are the principles that underpin richardhandel.com, and they’ll continue to guide everything I do going forward.

Here’s to fewer distractions, honest baiting, and continuing the journey the right way.

Until next time

Richard

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