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Viewing entries posted in 2024
Another Drink
Since before the turn of the century, I have written at length in many different magazines as well as a comprehensive book chapter, about my additions of liquids to boilies before I use them. This started off as a way of bringing air dried boilies back to life and then went on to various other things.
So many anglers mistake my adding of liquid, as washing baits out. I never wash boilies out but add ingredients to them. To my mind, if you need to wash them out to achieve results, then the recipe was never right in the first place.
My name is Shaun and I use a marker float!
My name is Shaun and I use a Marker Float
There you are, I have said it!
Back in the 80’s it was rare to see any carp angler plumbing their swim, as it was referred to back then. Marker work, as we refer to it now, was almost non-existent on the venues I frequented and they were stretched far and wide in the 80’s, from Essex all the way up through the country and well into Lincolnshire as well as into the West Midlands. Yes, I got about a lot as back then I had to if I wanted to fish for larger carp than I had available locally to me.
Memories from June 2024
I thought it time to delve back into my diaries again. It has been quite a mixed couple of months since I last shared what I have been up to angling wise.
I never joined anywhere new this year, being more than content with the 4 waters I tend to bounce between, which depending upon the weather conditions and my state of mind whilst making my final decision as to ‘where to go.’ My final decision before my weekly food shop and my food shop depends upon how far I will be needing to barrow my gear. One of the venues, my motor is very close, so I can carry multiple pans etc. I have long passed the everything on one venue attitude that I perhaps once had. I simply go where the fancy takes. I haven’t targeted an individual fish since 1987, so it makes no odds to me what get caught whilst I’m away.
I do like to have both deep and shallow venues at my disposal, as well as ones with plenty of shade, particularly for those silly hot days we seem to get here in the U.K. nowadays. By constantly watching the weather, I am usually drawn strong to one of my venues, more than another. The following week it could be one of the others.
Long Term Recommendations
This week I had a picture crop in my ‘Memory Feed’ from 10 years ago and upon reading it, I noticed that the products I had mentioned in it, I still use to this day. This naturally made me start to think about those who appear to crop up on social media every few weeks blatantly plugging yet another item as being the best they have used. With a wry inner smile, I often think that they must have used some rather dodgy bits in the past, if that is the best they have used.
I am sure most of us read between the lines and can see that a lot of posts are for satisfying sponsors, rather than true long-term and genuine recommendations. Sadly, it devalues those who give genuine plugs of product that have been tested over a long period of time and remain their main go to. Unfortunately, though, newcomers to the scene will be unaware of who the genuine ones out there are and who they can trust.
Shaun Harrison Another 'Catch Up' Blog.
Well, after a winter on a rather busy water, where I was reluctant to admit to catching much, I must say it is nice to be back on my other waters, where morals are higher and there is less problem with actually admitting to catching the odd one.
Fortunately, most of the winter fish were feeding in the dark, at quite unsocial times, so it was easier to keep quiet about the few captures I had. I showed a mid-30 common as I had been seen playing that one at first light and indeed, it’s difficult to convince people you are never catching anything. Don’t get me wrong, I did struggle a little more than previous winters and felt I was rather unfortunate with the average size of the fish I was catching, but even those, I felt best to simply not mention. This particular venue had backed up my theories I have had for many years. The more bait going in, the worse most lakes fish during the winter. When I practically had it to myself in the colder months, it was much easier to keep them feeding with just a trickle of bait. But, one person feeding the wrong type of winter food and it makes it difficult for all. Unfortunately, carp will eat most things, but with most anglers presuming their bait will be easily digested in cold water, rather than actually knowing. This can lead to long periods with the carp not needing to feed, as their intestine which is much longer than them (they don’t have a stomach), becomes clogged. I make no apologies for writing similar every single year. If just a few more took note, the fishing would be better for all, simply because the carp would be needing to feed more.
Catch up time - long, long overdue
Yes, I know I have let these blog posts slip by the wayside, this one is so very much overdue, and I have no other excuses than my illness.
My last blog post was warning of tick bites and the nasty affects that Lymes Disease can have on you. Here I am, over half a year later and still quite ill.