When looking for a set of new carp rods, they do not have to cost the earth. Carp rods have improved greatly in the last few years which means there is no huge gap between a budget rod and a high end rod. The advancements in rod materials and technology means that this gap has closed and you can now pick up a decent rod without breaking your pocket!
Most well known brands are now bringing out budget rods which are performing exceptionally well in all areas of fishing including casting, strength and bend.
Arguably one of the most talked about carp rods in the market due to the exceptional performance at such a low price. Daiwa are known for producing high end rods so it’s nice to see they have this budget option.
Sonik are a underated carp fishing rod brand producing excellent quality rods at afordable prices. I actually have some Sonik S4’s myself which I have had now for over 8 years and still perform with excellent fish playing qualities. Sonik broke the market when these Vader X Rods were realeased as they are known as one of the best budget carp rods giving you performance, power and reliability!
The Exodus range is renowned for outstanding performance, superb quality and exceptional value for money. Recent advancements in technology have allowed for the next generation of budget carp rod to be produced. Quality doesn’t always have to come at a price!
This awesome riot range of carp rods offer exceptional value for money whilst giving you performance, power and reliability. Covering a range of lengths and test curves they have alll been tested to suit the majority of modern day carp angling styles.
For my last option I have selected something which may not be everyone’s cup of tea! These Leeda Rogue carp rods are 10ft and 3lb test curve. I actually bought a set of 3 myself due to the price being exceptionally reasonable and I cannot fault them! Very reliable, strong and give great fishing playing properties!
As you have seen above there are plenty of budget carp rods on the market that won’t break the bank especially during this cost of living crisis. Expensive rods will not catch you more carp and now budget rods are being built to last it is a now brainer to have a look into these! As I said previously I have actually owned 2 of these rods myself and couldn’t fault them in any way, shape or form!
Welcome to this week’s blog, which helps answer one of the most frequent questions I get asked on a daily basis. Which carp rigs are best for beginners? Now, this is a hard question to answer as there are so many variables that can change my opinion on the approach I would recommend. However, I am going to break down hookbaits into 3 categories and give you what I think is the best carp rig for a beginner to use for each hookbait. Anyway, enough of that, let’s get into it!
1, Bottom Baits
A bait that sits firm on the bottom, right where the carp are naturally feeding, can be the best way to catch! Often forgotten about, using a bottom bait can help your hookbait blend in with your loose feed in a kind of match the hatch method. But what is the best rig to use to present a bottom bait effectively? Here’s my opinion.
The Standard Hair Rig is the most underrated Rig in modern Carp Fishing. Often overlooked by your more experienced carp anglers, this rig will continue to catch carp for many years to come. Sometimes the simplicity of this rig gives you better presentation!
When a beginner is starting his venture into the world of carp fishing this rig is a must have as being one of the simpler rigs, you can use it to build your confidence knowing you are presented nicely. Pretty much any standard bottom bait can be presented with this rig from boilies, luncheon meat, sweetcorn or tigers!
The Blowback Rig is an often used presentation incorporating a small sliding ring on the shank of the hook, with the ring attached to the Hair as a simple extension of the hooklink running up the back of the hook. This provides this rig with great anti eject properties and gives you a solid hook hold everytime!
My top tip is I like to present a bottom bait boilie with a fake corn pop up topper. This presentation sits extremely nicely amognst your loose feed but adds that extra bit of attraction with the high visual corn!
2, Wafters
Wafters are a incredibly versatile hookbait which, in my opinion, can really improve your fishing and put more carp on the bank! Wafters are a range of hookbaits that are neither standard bottom baits or pop-ups – they are a combination of the two made using both sinking base mix ingredients and buoyant ones combined at precise levels. The result of this is you get a critically balanced hookbait that reacts and fly up into the mouth of any feeding carp. Here’s my advice on the best rig for wafters!
The Slip-D Rig has a doubled length of braid to form a ‘D’ which allows the free movement of the bait when taken in and out of the carp’s mouth. This also yields excellent anti-eject properties when the fish attempts to refuse the bait.
I always suggest to beginners that the use of a bait screw makes life alot easier on the bank. For example, with the Slip-D you can simply pull out a wafter from your tub, screw on, and you are away! No need for floss or bait ties!
3, Pop Ups
As you would imagine from the name, pop ups are very buoyant baits and can remain suspended just above the lakebed. Most commonly, pop ups are made from either a very buoyant mix, known as an ‘airball’ mix, or from a thin layer of regular boilie mix moulded around a cork ball and then boiled. These can be very effective when used correctly. But what is my favourite rig to present these? Well look no further!
These Ronnie Rigs are 100% the most used pop up rig in modern UK Carp Fishing. I use this alot in my own fishing having caught carp on difficult waters with this rig. WIth the 360 degree movement of this rig it give you extremely good hooking potential!
The key to fishing these effectively is to critically balance the rig, sometimes a super bouyant pop up will need extra weight to allow the rig to sit correctly. There are many youtube videos on how to achieve this, however the best way is to grab your rig, grab your putty and hookbaits, fill up a sink and experiment!
I would also recommend checking your rig presentation in a bucket on the lake too before you cast out, just to make sure your presentation is perfect everytime!
Our Ronnie Rigs come with 3 choices of hooklink material, Korda Boom 25lb, IQ2 Fluorocarbon in 12lb, 15lb or 20lb and Korda N-Trap Soft. All 3 of these materials help you present over nearly every lakebed!
Summary
Thank you for taking time to read this blog. As I said in the intro, I get asked this question alot and to be quite honest there isn’t a right answer. These rigs are my opinions on what beginners should use but they won’t suit all anglers!
My honest bit of advice is pick 3 rigs you feel confident over which can present all hookbaits and stick with them. There is a vast range of rigs in the carp fishing world with every company looking at new ways to present rigs, so experiment!
Make sure you know your rigs though, don’t tie or order rigs without the prior knowledge of how that rig works, how it’s supposed to present, what hookbaits it’s used for and where it’s best to present. Obtaining these key bits of information can often help you make the right choice in what rig is right for you and in relation will catch you more carp!
My DM’s on Facebook and Instagram, emails and online chat are always open and I always want to help any angler get into fishing. Don’t be afraid of asking any question, no question is a stuipid one if you don’t know it!
Hello Carpers and welsome back to another installment of my blog, sorry it’s been a long time since my last post! Here at Cally’s Carpy Customs we have spent a lot of the winter preparing for our first full year with loads of exciting and innovative carp fishing products being tested! Stay tuned on our Facebook Page for more info!
Spring is finally on the horizon and with the water temperature increasing and becoming more stable the carp will begin to come out of their winter inactivity and start to transition in preparation for their annual spawn! Usually around April/May they spawn and in readiness they stock up on well needed nutrients and food to get them over the usual 2 week spawning period.
Below are my top 10 tips for bagging more carp in the Spring!
1, Simplify your Rigs!
One of the most asked questions (which is, in my opinion, unanswerable) is what is the best rig for carp fishing? Now with changes in trends and every company looking to bring out the next rig in fashion, talking about rigs can be a right minefield. However I have a simple answer! Stick with what you know…
A correctly tied simple rig with good hooking potential will catch you carp at any time of the year. I like to stick with the same rigs all year round and only use 3 different rigs in my fshing for different baits. My advice is to use a Standard Hair Rig or Blowback Rig for bottom baits, a Slip-D for wafters and a Ronnie Rig for Pop-Ups. I have caught thousands of carp on these methods and will continue to for years to come!
On arrival to a lake I would always recommend locating the fish and dedicating time to finding where they are holding up at certain times of the day. Although the temperatures are increasing and the carp are starting to move more, sometimes this is not always the case especially in early spring. With this habit of holding up over winter, carp sometimes hold up together in spring so finding one may mean you find more!
If you set up on the carp and after a period you realise they have moved on then don’t be frightened to move. Keep your eyes locked on the water and look for signs of feeding carp. A tip is to feed a couple of spots on arrival and then revisit after a period of time to see if carp have been feeding. Especially good in the margins…
3, Upper Layers in the Sun
Most anglers believe that surface fishing is just for the summer as the carp sit on the surface milling around whilst catching a sun tan… This is not always the case. Carp tend to seek the warmer water in spring which can often be the upper layers on a sunny day. I always carry some floaters in my kit in case the opportunity comes around to nab one off the top.
Alternatively, Zig fishing can be another great way to sneak a carp or two in the spring. As I said before carp tend to rise through the water column in search of warmer water so an adjustable zig can be a great way to locate which layer of water they are in!
KEY TIP: Know where the sun rises and where on the lake will get the sun first, often this is where the carp congregate early in the morning which can nab you an early bite!
4, Liquids & Glugs are KEY!
In spring I 100% use liquids and glugs in all of my bait. I glug my boilies and hookbaits, enhance my spod mix and even spice up my highly digestible micro pellet when fishing PVA Bags. Liquids can help draw carp into your swim and keep them there for longer. In spring the carp are looking to feed more proactively so increased levels of enhancement really help your chances of catching.
5, Bright Hookbaits
In my bait bag throughout the spring I always carry some tub of high visibility pop ups or wafters. I am a team member at CC Moore and honestly believe in the Northern special range. I carry Pink, Yellow and White Pop-Ups/Wafters in my bag at all times which have been enhanced with CC Moore’s NS1 liquid. Carp fishing is all about confidence so find a hookbait and colour you like and trust and you will increase your chances of catching!
6, Look in the Margins
As I said previously in this blog, carp in spring are searching for the warmer water. This an often be found in the shallower margins as the water here warms up quicker. My little tip is to try these areas in the late afternoon as this is when the margins will be at their warmest.
7, Follow the Wind
If you haven’t guessed already from all my other tips, the warmer water is the place to be in the summer. I like to work out which way the wind is blowing and follow the wind. Naturals are blown with the wind and tend to create a great feeding area alongside it being the warmer water which is a no brainer.
8, Smaller Hookbaits
From my experience I tend to get more bites in the spring, especially early on in spring, on 10/12mm boilies/pop ups or wafters. As they come out of their winter slumber a smaller high attractive bait can be a way to trip up a wary carp!
A great alternative hookbait in the spring is sweetcorn. Known as one of the most popular carp fishing baits, sweetcorn is highly digestible to the carp and offers that high visibility hookbait that I spoke about earlier.
9, PVA Mesh Bags
Throughout the spring I like to increase the amount of bait I introduce dependant on the water I am fishing. However in most of my fishing I use PVA Mesh Bags as a way of getting a small pocket of highly attractive baits around my hookbait. On my site we sell these in Crushed Boilie and Pellet which I always have in my bag to try and enhance my hookbait area.
10, Lake Knowledge
Knowing a lake can really help with catching you more carp. Over the winter and moving into spring I like to map out the lake using my deeper so I can start to find the shallower bars, deeper areas and general changes in depth where I think carp will move onto thoughout the year.
Alongside side this, information on catches can be found everywhere now with the use of the other members, internet and social media. Do some research and speak to other anglers about the lake and start to build yourself a picture of how it fishes.
SUMMARY
As the temperatures start to rise the carp will begin to feed more heavily and this offers a fantastic chance of landing several carp, use our simple but effective spring carp fishing tips for success on your next session.
If you want any other advice or have any questions then feel free to message me!
Happy Wednesday Everyone! Hope you are all having a great week! We are going from strength to strength here at Cally’s Carpy Customs releasing more new products every week to cover a whole range of fishing! This week we have a discount on Ronnie Rigs, make sure you check them out!
This week I am going to talk about Carp Fishing in Autumn! This season is just like marmite, you either love it or hate it. These months divide the opinions of carp anglers as the carp tend to slow down due to the temperatures but they are already heavily fed from the summer months so can prove a tricky time to catch. Although if you do catch in autumn you have a better chance of beating your PB’s due to the carp stocking up for winter. First little tip, check the quieter venues, often these have had less pressure over the Summer and can provide some of the best fishing in the Autumn… More about that later!
When Is Autumn?
Autumn normally covers the months of September, October and November. In 2022, Autumn runs from from 23rd September to 21st December. With varied weather during this time bringing in spells of sunchine, rain, wind and colder nights this can help carp fishing and be a great time to get on the bank!
My Top Tips for Carp Fishing in Autumn
Autumn can be a rewarding time for carp fishing if you prepare correctly. Here are some tips and advice to increase you bite rate and hopefully help you land more carp!
1, Fish Location
In Autumn carp are alot less active compared to the summer so locating where they are hiding is a must! Change your mindset from summer and stop jumping in those favoured pegs and replace with a lengthy walk around the lake and watching for signs of feeding carp. If you can’t find any signs then some advice is to try areas like snags, deep margins or any area which is deeper in general as this is where the carp may hold up in preperation for winter.
To find these spots you can either use a marker rod or a deeper. The advantages of a deeper are you can find fish activity and use this technical approach to locate the carp quickly!
2, Watercraft and Carp Movement
Leading on from locating fish, my own carp fishing greatly improved when I self taught myself watercraft by watching videos and learning from others. Apart from looking for signs of feeding carp there are a few other scenarios to look out for when fishing on a lake.
For me wind direction is a key factor in where the carp will hold up. If a cold wind front is in I tend to like fishing off the back of the wind as this is where the water is warmer and more likely to hold carp. If it is a warmer wind front then I follow the wind and will jump in a peg where the wind is blowing into. This may not be pleasant for you but the carp fishing can be immense! On top of this is the carp movement. Spend a lot of your time with your eyes locked on the water. If you are there for a 24hr+ session build yourself a picture of where the carp are moving. Normally every lake has it own way the carp react often being in one space at night and one in the day. Building yourself a plan of where the carp will be can often result in more and quicker bites on sessions!
3, Baiting and Hookbait Approach
Autumn calls for a change in baiting technique as the carp slow down and prepare for winter. A general rule of thumb is to stop using any pellets which are high in oil or fishmeal boilies as carp take longer to digest in the colder months. My advice is to look at pellet contents and look for a low oil coarse pellet or swap to a bird food based boilie. In my own fishing I tend to pre soak all my boilies in Autumn to increase attraction during the colder weather. I then change into more natural baits during November and December using maggots, chops or sweetcorn as these provide a greater nutritional value to the carp and can often increase you bite rate!
Sweetcorn & Maggot rig
One technique I do like to use is a piece of bouyant corn with 8-10 maggots connected using bait floss. This is a great technique to trick those wary carp!
4, Carp Rigs for Autumn
In autumn I tend to scale my tackle down to allow me to fish quieter and stealthily move round the lake. I keep my rigs simple, and fish nice slack lines to help with not spooking the carp which will increase bites! I also scale down my lead often going for a 1.5/2oz lead to keep disturbance to a minimum.
My rig choices for winter are a Ronnie Rig with a long boom for pop ups and a Slip-D rig for all my bottom baits. The reason I use a long boom in the winter is to account for the softer lakebed due to the increased silt and falling leaves.
Chod Leader w/ Chod Rig
If the lake your fishing is particularly weedy of full of debris then a chod rig may be your best options to allow the lead to plunge into the weed/debris and then present a pop up above. I provide a leader that uses a Chod Safety system which come ready built with the chod rig on, simply just connect to your mainline, add the lead and you are ready to fish!
5, Moon Phases
Take this how you will but I believe in moon phases bringing larger carp especially a full moon or new moon. Although this may sound odd there is a positive correlation between moon phases and captures on England’s largest carp.
Summary
Thank you for taking time to read this weeks blog! Autumn can be a great time for catching PB’s and achieving your goals if approached in the correct way. I have loads of tips and techniques which may help improve your catch rate in Autumn. In summary I would advise the following: – Keep your rigs simple – Use natural baits – Scale down your tackle – Observe the water – Locate the carp
Hello All and welcome to the next installment of my blog, Why Use Fluorocarbon Carp Rigs! Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, life here at Cally’s Carpy Customs has been MANIC with orders and being a one man band I had to sacrifice the blog! BUT WE ARE BACK!
This week I would like to talk about some advantages of why to use fluorocarbon as a hooklink material. As some of you may have seen, recently I launched my own range of fluorocarbon rigs with the aim of creating some rigs that are not yet available on the ready made rig market. My fluorocarbon rigs include supple hair versions, ronnie and german boom sections and even the good old IQ2 ‘D’ Rig. Right, let’s get into this!
The name ‘Fluorocarbon’ may sound familiar because this is made up of a wide range of compounds including Fluorine, Chlorine and Carbon as well as synthetics made from Hydrocarbons!
In the carp fishing world, it’s associated with polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). It’s extruded in a single strand similar to nylon filament, but because fluorocarbon’s molecules are more tightly packed, the line is denser and noticeably heavier by size. It is also different to mono in visibility, stretch and durability all of which affect how it performs underwater!
Advantages of Fluorocarbon
Low Visibility – One of the greatest advantages of fluoro is it’s practically invisible underwater. This is because fluoro doesn’t distort light passing through the line which gives you a massive edge when fishing in clear water or when targeting pressured carp!
High Abrasion Resistance – Fluoro is very rigid when it is compared to other carp fishing lines, giving it the ability to encounter many sharp objects like rocks and gravel without suffering breakages or rig failure!
Sensitivity – Because fluoro is made from harder (tighter packed molecules) than mono, the line transmits a greater level of vibration.
Waterproof – Everyone has tried a coated braid rig and knows that after a certain time in the water the rig changes colour. With Fluoro, this doesn’t absorb water which means this has the same strength, sensitivity and handling below the water as if it was on the bank in the dry. From first to last cast your fluoro will act the same!
Less Stretch – As fluorocarbon has less stretch the hooking potential is increased and will provide you a stronger hookset.
UV Resistance – Fluorocarbon is UV resistant with no side effects compared to a monofilament which will weaken in UV over time.
Flourocarbon Carp Rigs Available:
Below is a list of fluoro carp rigs I offer in my range! Alongside these I offer Combi Rigs which is a mixture of fluoro and coated braid which gives you the best of both worlds!
As you can see from the above, there are plenty of advantages to using fluorocarbon in your carp rigs. In my opinion fluorocarbon is the way to go when fishing for wary or pressured carp and can really give you the advantage you need! If you don’t already use a fluorocarbon rig or have one in your kit then I would strongly advise having a think about one of the products above even if it is just to try, believe me you won’t be disappointed.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about anything to do with fluorocarbon then why not use the box below to ask me a question!
Happy wednesday carpers, hope you are all well! Life at Cally’s Carpy Customs has been manic recently having posted our best month in July with our Handmade Rigs flying off the shelf! We have many more NEW PRODUCTS coming soon including Flourocarbon Rigs and Cally’s Leaders so make sure you keep an eye out!
I was sitting here watching my usual YouTube channels like Parker Baits, Wetlines, Fresh Fishing and many more and the usual content arose. What is the best food to have on the bank? I am a great lover of my food and I definately don’t let this slip on the bank. So here are some of my ideas of must have items for the best food experience on the bank!
This was one of my first finds when trying to be inventive on the bank when it comes to food. This design is so simplistic and easy to use, simply just sit on your stove and get perfect toasties or paninis everytime! My favourite is Cheese and Onion toastie!
Similar concept to the Ridge Monkey Toastie machine before however this is more simplistic. This product makes the perfect toastie every time! Little Tip: You can even cook a steak perfectly in here! Must have in any overnight anglers bag!
This amazing piece of kit gives you so many options when it comes to preparing food on the bank. I use this to cook a fry up having the seperate sections for your different food items! Absolute game changer!
This set is all you need to prepare top quality meals on the bank! For just a small price get this 3 piece set including a saucepan with lid, frying pan and kettle! Bargain!
AND.. Don’t forget a good cool bag to keep your items fresh! This bag is great for quick overnight sessions where you are taking one or two meals. The bag is lightweight and helps keep your food cool!
Summary
Being well hydrated and nourished on the bank is crucial to a good fishing session! It helps with energy levels, staying alert and increased concentration on the bank! Make sure you get your kits and utensils today!
It’s that time of the week again, it’s Wednesday and its time for another blog! Sorry for there being no post last week, It was my birthday last Wednesday so me and my partner went away for the week in a fishing lodge where I managed to have over 40 carp to high doubles! It was a great week and I am now back refreshed and ready!
For the last couple of months I have been working hard to bring you the best handmade rigs on the market to cover all types of fishing at a reasonable price. Throughout working on the standard rigs, I have been asked several times for Solid PVA Bag Rigs. I am now pleased to announce I have released my own range of PVA Bag Rigs. There are seven rigs to choose from where you can select your colour, hook size and hook type! Read below for more information!
Thanks for taking the time and looking at my new products! Within the first few days of being live these have been flying off the shelf! Couldn’t have asked for a better start! All these rigs have been tried and tested by myself so I have the greatest confidence in their potential! If there are any other PVA bag rigs not mentioned or you would like to ask any questions then please send me an email, DM me on insta or facebook, give us a call or fill out the form below! I am happy to chat specials or anything else carp fishing!
Hope you enjoyed this weeks blog and tune in next week where I am going to tickle your taste buds!
It’s Wednesday, Sun is out and it’s blog time! Hope everyone is having a cracking week and enjoying the beautiful sunny weather we have at the moment! Last week I wrote a blog on CC Moore and the pellets they have on offer. If you haven’t read this blog yet then you can check it out here!
In this week’s blog I want to speak about up and coming YouTube Creators in the carp fishing world and who’s videos I am buzzing to watch each week! Me, myself, as a small business owner and an inspiring youtube creator spend alot of my week watching growing smaller Youtube creators; who are on the grind and releasing great videos. I am currently beginning to post Venue Videos, Hints and Tips plus Reaction Videos on my youtube channel. Make sure you go and check it out! Today I am going to talk through my Top 5 up and coming Carp Fishing Channels that I watch week in week out! I will start off with my 5th rated upcoming Youtube channel up to 1st being my favourite channel and content!
Welcome to Caravan Carpers! We are a pair of brothers who have a passion for all things fishing and love having a laugh while doing it! Carp Fishing 2022.
Content: Honest and professional product reviews Upload Rate: Uploads 2-4 times per month
The reason I like Caravan Carpers so much is their unbiased opinions on different products. Often before making a purchase of fishing gear I check to see if these guys have done a video on this product. Well worth a sub for the information and opinions they provide!
Two lads based in the north east with a huge passion for fishing! We’ll take you on our fishing adventures be it locally, across UK or even France. Our first love is carp fishing. Having started out feeder fishing, we’ve now stepped things up a gear and target specimen carp. Recently we’ve started to delve into the world of pike fishing and who knows, in the future we may even hit the sea! Also, watch out for a monthly product review series we’ve just started. We love to have a beer on the bank and whilst we’re fishing you can expect a laugh or two. Make sure to subscribe to follow the journey!
Content: Venue sessions on a variety of different waters Upload Rate: Upload nearly every week
These two guys are very down to earth and provide videos on a variety of carp fishing. From match venues to specimen lakes and product reviews these guys provide it all! They upload regularly and make the effort to provide good quality videos for everyone to enjoy. Like other brands they have a section called ‘Beer of the Session’ where they try a different beer on each video. Great content guys and keep grinding!
Helping YOU Catch More Fish by “Sharing” videos of my fishing, Day Ticket. LIVE Streams from the Bank, How to’s, Cackle Hill, Wylands, Linear fisheries, Mousehole, Videos and many more along the way, Real Unbiased Fishing Tackle Reviews, Useful fishing Tips, Carp Rigs and Helpful How To Fishing Advice.
Content: Venue sessions including socials with their well known ‘Cider of the Sesh’ Upload Rate: Approximately 2 times per month
Like other anglers and brands in this list they are located in the south east of England providing venue reviews with tips and tricks. What I like about this channel is they are a normal bunch of lads who have a passion for carp fishing. As noted above they have created a section in their videos for ‘Cider of the Sesh’ where they ask viewers to send suggestions of Ciders they should try on their next adventure. They also have a section called ‘Bivvy Bistro’ where they produce food on the bank. These down to earth guys are a very good watch and really make you feel like part of the video. Must watch in my eyes!
Hi, I’m James. I Am A Carp Fishing Enthusiast. This is My Channel Everything Carp Fishing. My videos Are filled with guides, tactics and tips. I Have been fishing for over 16 Years and have picked up a few tricks or two. Join me on my adventures, watch my vlogs and follow me on social media. Come with me as we explore new waters and reliable venues.
Content: Venue sessions using ‘carp basics’ bait Upload Rate: Videos approximately once per week
This channel is one of my favourites to watch as this includes videos I feel very engaged with being a Carp Angler in the south east of England. He visits venues in the south east including Monks, Orchard Lakes and Cottington to name just a few. James is a very enthusiastic angler who lives and breathes carp fishing which really shows in his videos. James recently joined ‘carp basics’ where he uses their bait on all his sessions. I have watched this channel for a long time and the editting has improved greatly, each video is a fluent watch with great content! Top watch James!
Two brothers from the UK Southampton England uploading every Sunday at 7:30pm! Fishing, Cars and anything else we see suitable for the channel! Hit subscribe and stay tuned on the channel.
Content: Venue sessions at different waters using their own bait range ‘Parker Baits’ Upload Rate: Every Sunday @ 7.30pm
What is there not to like about this YouTube Channel? I look forward to every sunday at 7.30pm to tune into their latest upload on all types of venue. Ben and Tom started their own bait brand called Parker Baits which they use on all their sessions. Parker Baits was founded in 2020 and their mission is to provide superior fishing bait products combined with unrivalled customer service. Each upload is edited to a superb level and each video keeps you engaged and excited. On the Youtube Channel, Ben produces the main load of the fishing Vlogs. He explains everything about the venue he is fishing, what tactics and bait he is using and what spots he is choosing. Certainly for me an excellent watch week in week out and look forward to hearing his signature catchphrase each week. Keep smashing it boys and keep catching those ‘Nossa’s’!
Summary
Having watched Carp Fishing videos on Youtube for a few years I have become quite particular in the sort of content I like to watch. I look for engaging content (even when there’s a blank) with individuals or brands who show passion in the Carp Fishing world. All 5 of these channels show these key traits that it requires for making it on YouTube and keep viewers coming back for more! If you haven’t subbed to any of these channels or atleast gone and checked them out then make sure you do!
If you have any questions related to this blog or any other blog for that matter feel free to fill out the contact form below, DM me on insta or facebook or ping us an email!
Hope you enjoyed this read and until next time, tight lines all!
Happy Wednesday Carpers! Hope you are having a fantastic week! In this weeks blog I am revisiting a topic I briefly covered in a blog a couple of months back when I reviewed CC Moore range as a whole and the different products they offer. This blog will go into more detail around what pellet they offer and how I use these products in my own fishing!
CC Moore are considered one of the most well known bait brands in the UK having worked with some top class anglers like Mark Pitchers and Harry Charrington to name just a couple! I have been using CC Moore now for well over 15 years, even when the Mainline Cell phase smashed all waters in the south east of England I continued to use their products! This is because, in my opinion, they are far superior to anything else on the market!
This week I am going to talk to you about their pellet range and then go into more detail around the 6 different products I use in my fishing!
As you can see above CC Moore have a vast range of pellets. There are different varieties in their range, from the pellets that compliment their boilie ranges to the Natural Bait pellets like Belachan, Squid, Krill and Bloodworm!
Highly attractive bloodworm pellets, rich in soluble attractants derived from powerful natural extracts – a superb year-round loose feed.
These dark red Bloodworm pellets are one of the best natural bait flavours that CC Moore produce. What is Bloodworm? I hear you ask! Bloodworm is the bright red aquatic larva of a small midge found around rivers and lakes, the blood of which contains haemoglobin allowing it to live in poorly oxygenated water where silt has built up! Alot of waters I fish are caked in deep silt, so this deep, savoury, natural bloodworm aroma pellet work really well in being IRRESISTABLE to carp! I use this as part of my spod mix, especially in the late winter/early spring!
A naturally attractive, soluble fish protein-based bait. Pacific Tuna combines highly nutritious and appetite stimulating ingredients to create a simply irresistable, year round big fish bait.
Have you ever smelt Pacific Tuna? No? Well your in for a treat! These highly pungent and attractive pellets contain the same powerful liquid attractors as the Pacific Tuna Boilies and Paste. These pellets are low in oil and highly digestible making them perfect for all year round use! Like the bloodworm I use these as part of my spod mix especially on waters I know fishmeal baits are primarily used. Coupled up with the Pacific Tuna Boilies these can be a lethal pairing!
This blend of 4, 6 and 8mm betaine-boosted halibut pellets is rich in digestible protein and high quality fish oils. It is ideal for all loose feeds and easily absorbs liquid foods.
This Betaine Ultramix is very new to my bait bag! Having fished some local private waters I was lucky enough to see the loose feed the owner used whilst there was periods of no fisherman; It looked incredibly similar! These pellets have medium to high oil content so in my opinion are best used in the summer when the carp are active. Little tip, I couple this up with the Live System 6mm Pellets as loose feed when fishing over a bed of pellets with a Live System wafter! PERFECT!
Outstanding ‘bag mix’ comprising our most successful mini pellets and fry crumb – bursting with powerful attractors such as soluble fish proteins, oils and amino acids.
The mini ultramix is crammed with different pellets and ‘expander’ pellets including Betaine, Halibut, Trout and Krill! Due to the different sizes of pellet they breakdown at different times leaving a constant trail of attraction in the water. For me I couple this up with the Oily Bag Mix to make the ultimate PVA bag mix!
This highly effective bag/stick mix has a rich ‘fishy’ profile derived from protein and oil-rich pellets, salmon fry crumb, krill meal and soluble fish proteins.
In my opinion this is the number 1 PVA bag mix on the market. Having introduced PVA bag fishing into my inventory within the last few years I was on the search for an attractive and effective pre mixed bag mix and looked no further than this Oily mix. Contained in this mix are Betaine, Halibut, Trout and Krill pellets with Salmon Micro Feed and Pure Krill Meal. What more could you ask for? Just jam packed attraction with different ingredients which break down at different times.
These incredibly effective, attraction packed pellets create a fast and strong feeding response on even the most pressured venue. Literally oozing soluble attractors and an irresistable, peppery squid aroma and taste, these pellets are ideal for use in PVA bags and are easily personalised with liquid foods.
Squid is a ‘cephalopod’ that is present in many of our seas and oceans which provides both human and animals sources of protein, amino acids, zinc, magnesium, selenium and vitamins. These 2mm Pellet I use in my PVA mesh bags as a little ball of high attraction. These have a deep, savoury, squid aroma combined with a peppery meaty taste provide a ultimate pile of attraction which can tempt in large pressured carp!
Summary Overview
CC Moore are by far in my opinion ahead of the game when it comes to not just pellet but their whole range! What I like about CC Moore is they have 3 different main flavours in Live System, Pacific Tuna and Odyssey XXX which cover the main basis of carp baits. Sweet and Fishmeal. To add to this they have the whole range from boilies, pellets, liquids etc all in the same flavours so you can really enhance your fishing using similar products in all different ways!
There pellet in particular covers all basis of carp fishing. Whether your looking for a bag mix, a good pellet/boilie combo or a natural bait; You will always find something you love at CC Moore. As I previously said I have used CC Moore for 15 years and have never questioned the quality or range.
If you have any questions about anything I have mentioned in this blog or about any other CC Moore products then please get in touch via the contact form below, DM me on Facebook or Instagram or send us an email!
Happy Wednesday everyone and welcome to this weeks installment on my blog! Last week I spoke about the importance of a good pair of polarized sunglasses which will help you spot carp easier and protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays. If you are interested and haven’t read this yet then you can do so here!
This week I am going to speak about a club I am a member of and review the waters that they hold! I have been a member of Crowborough & District Anglers Association on and off for the past 18 years having joined as a young angler with my Dad when we first moved to the area! I learnt most of my fishing on these waters and know most like the back of my hand! They hold the right to many different lakes and streches of river which will tickle many different anglers appetite!
In this review I will speak about my knowledge of the lakes, what each lake holds and a few hints and tips along the way!
Pennybridge
This was a water that the club developed itself in the mid 1990’s under the guidance of our former webmaster Roger Funnell, with the help of the National Lottery. At the time we believed we were the first club in the country to undertake such a project.
It opened to members in the summer of 1997. Since then it has proved to be a very popular water. With two very accessible disabled swims, a large car park, toilet, and as the location of the clubs’ annual Junior Day, this really is a water that appeals to everyone.
This is one of my favourite pleasure waters held by this club. I have spent many afternoons here on this beautiful lake fishing for its larger residents; Crucian and Tench. Back in the day this use to be the place to go for a 4lb + Tench but these seem to have died out but I will not give up! My tip is simple fishing with a whip or a ledgered luncheon meat on a feeder rod for the larger species.
Scaland Wood
The club has enjoyed the rights to this water since 1978.
Since then the water has gone from strength to strength and in 2009 the club had the chance to purchase the water, which it did. In 2010 a wind break was constructed behind the dam and the roadside bank treeline was thinned out during 2012-13.
Soon after this the car park was reinstated, a short hard path made down to the lake and a compost toilet constructed. This water has now had further improvements during 2017 with defined raised pegs, improved path ways and an extension to the car park. It is a water all members should feel proud of.
This lake is where I self taught myself alot of what I know about carp fishing. This is the perfect place to go if you want a variety of captures from carp to roach and bream. Recently an airator has been installed to introduce more oxygen into the water and increase the carps appetite! HOPEFULLY!
Oast Farm
The club negotiated the rights to this water during November 2017 with it having previously been a day ticket water for many years. Some members will already know of it as a prolific Carp water!
There is plenty of onsite parking and a farm shop, cafe and toilets, the owners are offering members a deal on take out food of a sausage or bacon sandwich, tea, coffee or apple juice and a slice of flapjack for £5.
The lake is approximately half an acre with depths to 6ft.
This lake proves to be popular for those wanting a bend in the rod. Large hauls can be had on this lake when feeding including some of the lakes larger relatives!
Wirgol
When the club first gained the opportunity to fish this water it was little more than the iron age work hole from where it gained its’ name. Under the leadership of the then Water Management Officer Henry Russell the lower Wirgol I was opened in 1985. A year later and after much work by Henry and his merry band the upper Wirgol II was opened. Members from the 1990’s will remember that each summer a bale of barley straw would be seen floating around as it helped to remedy the problems caused by algal blooms.
In 2005 the dam on Wirgol I was reconstructed, which also helped increase the volume of water.
Both waters have always been popular with Carp anglers although there are many other treasures swimming around beneath the surface.
Here there are two waters Wirgol I and Wirgol II. Both hold stocks of carp and other species if you don’t mind a little walk with your gear! In my opinion I would fish here more often but the walk puts me off!
Underhill
The club has been fishing this one acre lake since 1991. Back in those days the water was plagued with lilies and weedgrowth. But over the years, the club has worked hard to enhance the fishery and improve the bankside environment. It has now evolved into an excellent general fishery and co-hosts the summer series of Junior matches.
This lake is very picturesque and holds a good stock of loads of different varieties of fish! During my younger years this used to be one of the Junior Matches favourite venue due to the variety and the sizes!
Mill House Farm
This water first caught the eye of a Committee member while out dog walking in September 2012. It was finally opened to the members in August 2015. During the intervening period the water was transformed under the guidance of project leader Dave Flint. Several trees were removed from the water. Areas of inaccessible bankside were transformed and new swims were established. The water quality was tested, the lilies were thinned out and the stock was assessed. We believe it is a water with an interesting shape and plenty of different swims that will suit different styles of angling. The access to this water was greatly improved in 2017 with a hard road now going all the way from the entrance to the car park and some new gates, there is also now a hard path from the car park almost to the waters edge.
This is a very interesting lake. I have only recently started to fish this but it holds a few gems. With only 4 known carp (possibly 5 but not confirmed) this lake provides an interesting challenge for those experienced carpers. I am on the hunt for one myself and will continue to pursue!
More House Farm
The Club acquired this three water complex in the Spring of 2016. Each water has a unique personality and offers something different to the other two.
There are many lakes on this complex which CDAA members have some right too!
Gabriels
The club first acquired fishing rights here in the autumn of 2012. Members are allowed to fish with one rod on Oak Lake (Monday to Friday only), Silver Lake, Swallow Lake and Hare Lake. In addition there is one and a quarter miles of the River Eden to fish.
Like previous this fishery has a few lakes open to CDAA members but please check their website before attending.
Danesfield Wood
This is a pretty little water hidden away in the woods which the club first acquired it in 2007.
Despite a collapse in the dam in 2010 the water has gone from strength to strength. After the dam was rebuilt the club restocked the water with 453 Common, Leather and Mirror Carp between 1 and 2lbs in June 2011. It’s about an acre in size and up to five feet deep and it is a wonderful stalking water.
Various works have taken place here over the past couple of years with new swims created and the one on the dam made safer.
This lake is great for a bit of stalking. This lake is jam packed with carp so is great for anyone looking to get a bend in their rod
Claygate Lakes
The club secured the rights to fish here as of the 2nd January 2019. CDAA members can fish the two match lakes (Sophie & Eva) with a single pole or rod as part of their membership,
if you wish to use a second rod there is a £2 charge. The fishery advise that you contact them before travelling to fish on a weekend as they hold a lot of matches at the venue and there may not be any pegs available. To fish the specimen lake (Amy) you MUST prebook with the fishery who will apply a £2 discount to any ticket you purchase, provided you make them aware that you are a CDAA member.
I have never fished this lake but I have heard good reviews from match fisherman with the hauls that can be had. Worth a go if your a on the hunt for species or to get a bend in the rod!
Weir Wood Reservoir
The Club first gained the rights to this one and a half mile long, 280 acre reservoir in 2001.
Since then it has proved to be a popular water with match anglers, Trout anglers and Pike anglers in particular.
The Club has been a member of the Rother Fisheries Association since the early 1980’s. The Association was formed in 1872 and has the rights to twelve miles of the River Rother and a stretch of the Royal Military Canal. There are several sections of river that are detailed below.
Robertsbridge to Udiuam Udiam to Bodiam Newenden (Downstream) Potmans Heath to Blackwall Bridge The Royal Military Canal (Iden Lock to Appledore Dam)
Eridge Stream
The club first acquired the rights to this pretty stream in 1976 thanks to our former Water Management Officer, Henry Russell. Our stretch of this stream goes on for about a mile. For those who enjoy chasing Trout and Chub, this is the perfect getaway.
Overview
CDAA is a great platform for all different types of anglers. It holds waters suitable for different types of fishermen from your seasoned carpers to your match fisherman. Young, Old, Disabled, Roamer or Like to sit tight, then they have something for everyone! I would reccomend this club to anyone as it is only £55 for the year! What a BARGAIN.
The club is run by some great people who I have met on the bank alot of times. They are always willing to pass on their knowledge and happy to help anyone that wants to improve!
If you would like to know anything else about CDAA then you can check them out here!
I have alot of knowledge on their waters so if there is anything from this blog or any other blog for that matter then please don’t hesitate in getting in contact. I am ALWAYS happy to help! You can DM me on Facebook or Insta, Email me or fill out the form below!
Happy Wednesday Everyone! Hope you are having a brilliant week and are getting out on the bank amongst this lovely weather! Although it’s that time of year for spawning and mostly all my waters have decided to kick it off this week, so a week off for me! Last week I spoke about a topic very close to my heart; the death of my brother Tom which consequently lead to me suffering with health Anxiety. If you haven’t read that blog then you can do so here!
Now onto this week. Spending a few days fishing last week where I was roaming the bank searching for signs of feeding carp (and to see if they had started spawning) I was thinking about how invaluable my polarized sunglasses are for spotting carp especially whilst surface fishing. When surface fishing I normally spend the first hour searching for carp feeding on the surface and start to introduce a few floaters. This can be made very difficult because of the glare! I have spent many hours squinting at the waterside to know my polarized sunglasses were probably my best buy and most used bit of fishing tackle!
In this blog I am going to run you through why you should be wearing polarized sunglasses whilst fishing and my recomendation on the brands and glasses to look for!
Why do I Use Polarized Sunglasses?
My Polarized Glasses
As a fishing tool polarized sunglasses are the most underated item that should be in everyones carp gear! This is because they give you the ability to see more clearly below the surface of the water as they take the glare from the surface allowing your eyesight to penetrate the water! On the average overcast British day it is difficult to spot the dark shape of a carp moving along the water. On a sunny day, this task becomes even more difficult, infact it is nearly impossible without the help of the polarized sunglasses.
A polarized lens removes the surface glare many anglers battle with when visiting the bankside on a sunny day. With a good pair of fishing sunglasses, you can see clearly, spot fish under the water, see the carp moving amongst the weeds and even keep a better eye on your rodtips and floats that are in direct sunlight.
Not only do they provide much needed help in spotting the fish they also provide eye protection when the sun is beaming off the surface of the water, which protect your eyes from the harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays.
And now I bet you wonder why you have never invested in a pair!
What are the Best Sunglasses for Fishing?
The best polarising sunglasses for anglers are made from one of two materials; glass or plastic. The lens colour depends on the lighting conditions and varies from browns, yellows and greys.
There are a variety of lens types and frames, so you can be sure that there will be a pair of glasses that will suit you. When shopping for a new pair of specs for the bank, the lens of the sunglasses, the nose grips, as well as the frame shape could be the deciding factor between your choice of glasses. The frame style is also a big deal as you have wrapped glasses to cover side glare to aviator style glasses that can be worn for more than fishing.
I know what your thinking. Where do I start? Well here is my buying guide to the best polarized glasses on the market!
Buyers Guide
Below is a mini buyers guide that goes over prices, different types of lenses and other features to look out for when buying a pair of fishing sunglasses.
Material Of The Lenses The lenses are the most important part and these could be made from either glass or polycarbonate. Which material you pick for your lenses will affect the price. I recommend trying both if you can, as what works for one person’s eyes might not work for another. Some lenses might also work well in certain light conditions such as low light that other lenses don’t work in.
Frames If everyone wore the same glasses frames it would be a boring world. With polarised glasses, you can go really funky and get something that’s camouflaged that you wouldn’t wear on the street as an everyday pair of glasses.
Any Extras? Are your fishing glasses staying in your fishing bag all the time? If they are, then you might want to check that they come with a handy case to keep them safe. A hard-shelled case is always best as there’s likely to be heavy stuff in your bag, or if its like mine, it will be full to the bursting with all your gear.
A lanyard is another handy extra that some of these come with. This can go around your neck which means that your glasses won’t fall off and go into the lake. Believe me, I have lost 2 brilliant pairs over the years!
Price Ahh yes, the product price! There are a lot of cheap glasses out there but I would recommend just spending that bit more to get a really decent pair that you will be happy with and that might help you land a few more fish each session.
Based on this info here are my suggestions into the best polarized sunglasses on the market in 2022
Choosing the right glasses for you majorly depends on what you are looking for. The glasses must suit you and feel comfortable so as much as the style is a factor in what you will purchase you MUST have comfort in mind!
If you have any questions about anything I have mentioned in this blog or in previous blogs then please use the contact form below, email me or DM me on Insta, Twitter or Facebook!
Happy Wednesday Everyone. We are halfway through the week and only a few more days till we can get back out on the bank for the weekend! Last week I talked about Rods, Reels and Alarms! Carp Fishing Essentials for Beginners. If you haven’t read that blog yet then you can do so here!
This weeks blog is going to be something a little different; Mental Health! As it is Mental Health Awareness Week I feel the need to tell you about my story and how fishing has helped me with my Mental Health. I have severly suffered with my Mental Health over the last 8 years since my brother Tom passed away at the age of 19 with a rare form of cancer called Sarcoma. I will talk about my story and how Fishing has helped me with recovering!
My Story
Growing Up
Throughout my childhood me, my brother and my dad were keen sportsman all participating in cricket and football for our local clubs. In between these we loved to go fishing and spend many funny nights on the bank. One funny story was we were fishing at The Belfry in Hailsham one cold and wet night when my brothers rod screamed off at 1am in the morning. A dazed Tom ran out of the bivvy with no shoes and fell down the steep bank just stopping himself from falling in the water. Covered in mud and soaking wet he lifted the rod to find there was no fish. Turns out he lifted the wrong rod as he smashed into his pod when falling and was unsure which it was. Much to his delight my Dad lifted his other rod and was in. Funny times and one that will stay with me for years!
When we grew older me and my brother started to fish with his friends on overnight socials at local lakes. One time me, my brother and 4 of his mates fished Barretts Park Farm Fishery in Heathfield. I had just purchased a cheap bivvy as it was the first bit of kit that I got in a bundle pack. Well all 6 of us hid away in this small square bivvy when the heavens opened. We quickly found out that my new bivvy was in fact not waterproof and we got soaked all night. We awoke the next morning to a river running through the tent which I can only describe as being as big as the Thames…. Slight exaggertion there!
In May 2014 my brother found a lump on his neck so my parents quickly booked him an appointment at the doctors. He was told everything was fine and that he had suffered with a virus which was in turn making his glands swollen. He was given antibiotics and sent home and was told that if things hadn’t improved in 2 weeks to return.
Things did not get better and he returned to the doctors. They told him that he should have tests and a biopsy on the said lump. Things were getting serious now so we decided to use our private health insurance to get the test results back quickly. Tom had 3 different tests under private healthcare before we even got a letter for his first appointment through the NHS. Crazy what money can buy!
We recieved the results from the tests… It was not good news!
Tom had a rare form of cancer called sarcoma which attacks your glands causing cancerous tumours in his neck. If you would like to know more about sarcoma then check out this link!
Me and My Brother
Tom underwent multiple waves of chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the Royal Marsden in Chelsea to reduce the size of the tumour with the aim for removing it via operation. What he had to go through I would never wish upon my greatest enemy. Deep down we could all see he was loosing his battle!
I returned from work one evening to find my dad looking rough and upset in our family home. I had been living by myself for weeks whilst my parents stayed with my brother in hospital. By the look on his face I could tell this was very bad news. He continued to tell me that there was nothing else they could do for Tom and it would be days or weeks before he passed. I was in shock and froze going to bed that night numb, no emotion or feelings.
I awoke the next day where I informed my work and moved up to the Royal Marsden in Chelsea to spend the last few days with my Brother. We had our ups and downs whilst there but there were moments I will never forget in my life!
On the 17th December 2014 our whole world came crashing down as my Brother Tom sadly passsed away after a short fight. This hit me like a ton of bricks and I hid my emotions for the sake of my parents as I felt I had a job to keep them going through life. And this is where my struggles with Mental Health started!
My Struggles
Throughout my brothers struggles I saw someone I love loose there life to a condition that no one could help. No matter what we or the hospital did the cancer took over his body and took his life. In my brain I couldn’t work out how a healthy young man like my brother had been taken by the big C and made me question my own health.
This is where I was diagnosed after persuasion that I suffered with Health Anxiety. Health Anxiety is described as:
Health anxiety is an obsessive and irrational worry about having a serious medical condition. It’s also called illness anxiety, and was formerly called hypochondria. This condition is marked by a person’s imagination of physical symptoms of illness.
Or in other cases, it’s a person’s misinterpretation of minor or normal body sensations as serious disease symptoms despite reassurance by medical professionals that they don’t have an illness.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
Experts aren’t sure of the exact causes of health anxiety, but they think the following factors may be involved:
You have a poor understanding of body sensations, diseases, or both of these things. You may think that a serious disease is causing your body’s sensations. This leads you to look for evidence that confirms that you actually have a serious disease.
You have a family member or members who worried excessively about their health or your health.
You’ve had past experiences dealing with real serious illness in childhood. So as an adult, the physical sensations you experience are frightening to you.
Health anxiety most often occurs in early or middle adulthood and can worsen with age. For older people, health anxiety may focus on a fear of developing memory problems. Other risk factors for health anxiety include:
a stressful event or situation
the possibility of a serious illness that turns out to not be serious
being abused as a child
having had a serious childhood illness or a parent with a serious illness
having a worrying personality
excessively checking your health on the internet
This is something that I am still working on and I still struggle with everyday life now. It’s not an easy fix but I am making strides in the right direction and on the path of recovery!
How Fishing Can Help Mental Health
During my battle fishing has really helped me in starting to get back to the real world and help me overcome my fears and beliefs. Here are 7 reasons as to why fishing is good for your mental health!
First Nights on the Bank after Mental Health Struggles
1. It’s Great For Your Physical Health
Did you know fishing is a great form of physical exercise! According to the World Health Organisation’s recent case study:
Due to the varying levels of physical exertion in angling, it is a pursuit that allows you to enjoy a more active outdoor lifestyle. Many people enjoy the great outdoors and getting up close to nature. This includes exploring many different waterways whilst taking in the local wildlife and scenery. Many UK waters have an abundance of fish species that you can pursue and marvel at their individual natural beauty and habitat.
The physical intensity from a day on the water will benefit your body and mind. You can enjoy setting up rods, repeat casting, playing fish, walking a shoreline or standing all day in a boat. Meaning you can set the physical intensity of your day based on your own physical fitness. So no matter your level of fitness you can burn those excess calories!
2. Physical Health Recovery
While we now know angling can help increase our physical health. According to Angling Research, it can also have specific benefits for those recovering from ill-health. According to a recent Angling Research study:
“A growing body of research has pointed to the positive effects of green environments on physical recovery”
So fishing can provide the environment required to help physical health recovery; by providing increased movement at a pace that suits you. The psychological benefits of being in green environments or the way we like to put it, being in the great outdoors, can help improve your attitude and provide a feel-good factor.
3. Increased Concentration
Fishing ‘fascinates’ attention, allowing anglers to concentrate for long periods of time effortlessly. People who participate in angling become so absorbed in the sport that there is no room for other thoughts and that sort of singular focus serves as a mental break for other things that may be causing you frustration in the everyday fast pace of modern life.
4. Reduced Stress Levels
Fishing provides a form of relaxation by providing a distraction from everyday life and according to marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols:
“ being ‘near or on water’ for any amount of time lowers stress and anxiety, boosts our well-being and happiness and lowers heart and breathing rates, among other benefits”
Angling also provides moments of excitement with the unpredictability of catching which helps with concentration and helps you focus. which reduces the chances of boredom.
5. Increased Vitamin D
Escaping to the outdoors and feeling connected to nature can boost feelings of well-being and can improve your mood. It can also help top up your vitamin D. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in your body, keeping your bones and teeth healthy. As well as boosting your immune system and has even been linked to fighting depression.
6. Improved Self-Esteem
Fishing like most hobbies requires a certain amount of skill to master different tactics and techniques over time. This form of active learning and development can provide a sense of purpose and motivation whilst boosting your self-esteem.
7. Social Engagement
According to Angling Research:
“The quality of people’s social relationships has been found to be one of the most robust predictors of well-being”
Angling is a great form of socialising with family or friends. The ability to pass down angling knowledge from grandfather to grandson or father to daughter. Or even, fishing in the company of close friends can provide a sense of connection or belonging that you require.
Even if you prefer to fish alone, you can still engage with angling communities through various digital platforms ensuring you stay connected and have a sense of belonging in a like-minded community.
Overview
Mental Health is at the highest peak due to the pandemic and more and more people are struggling with mental health. I have first hand experience of this and I am still working through my struggles. Fishing is helping me block out the boredom and provide me with the oppurtunity to get out the house and in the fresh air!
This is the reason I started this business because of my love of fishing and having to terminate my job due to my Mental Health Issues!
If you would like to ask anything about the issues I have raised in this blog or would like to talk about anything then please feel free to fill out the form below, email me or DM me on Instagram or Facebook. My inbox is always open and if any of my customers, readers, followers, passers by, ANYONE needs to talk then my inbox is always open!
I hope you will all take something from this heart felt blog.
Last message from me. Be NICE to EVERYONE as you don’t know what is going on behind the scenes and what people are struggling with. Reach out to your friends and be there for everyone. Even the most happiest of people can be struggling inside!
