Still enjoying the prep?

[Aknib]

I must say i've enjoyed preparing for tomorrow's session on a large gravel pit, generally swanning around preparing tackle and bait... something i've not been so keen on in the build up to previous sessions this year and I think the big difference is having the time to enjoy the task as opposed to having to cram in a necessary chore.

I'm struggling to think but I reckon this will be my first stillwater session of the year and certainly a couple of years since I last visited in the hope of landing some of the big Perch and Roach which it holds.

Anyway...

Your preparation, is it an enjoyable task or a necessary chore?

 

[nottskev]

It depends what you call "prep". I hate fiddling around with tackle at home, which is why I thread my rods, shot my floats, tie my hooks and even at times make up pole rigs on the bank. I have to be there and "see the whites of their eyes" to get motivated. I find sitting on my box, in good light, with all the bits and pieces to hand and no chance of smacking bits of expensive carbon against the walls and ceiling, or dropping shot and hooks on the carpet, is so much easier than messing around in the kitchen. But, today, for instance, I've had a walk down 3 stretches of the local river to see how they look, if anyone's fishing and if so how and what are they catching. I'm always happy to do that kind of prep, and searching the area for new fishing is also something I enjoy. I don't mind spending a bit of time getting bait ready, too. I have a good fishing friend who makes great catches on the most scabby bait - turning maggots, old casters, a few worms he's dug out of a flower bed - but I have no confidence without good bait.

 

[ian g]

Same as you really . I enjoy it when I have the time and inclination. Next best thing to actually fishing and on some occasions better

 

[flightliner]

I enjoy prepping for a fishing trip but if I only have a chance to go.
Like I said on another thread any chance of going atm are pretty rare.

 

[Philip]

As a kid I used to love the getting ready aspect as it built up a sense of anticipation, getting the stuff ready the day before. As we could not afford to stock up on stuff it usually involved a dash to the local tackle shop to get a new float, maybe some shot, a packet of hooks, half a pint of maggots and so on and discuss intricate plans for how we would snare our quarry !

Nowdays I would still enjoy it but I just dont have time so its become a necessary chore.

The big issue for me nowadays is that 95% of my fishing & that includes the setting up and packing down is at very short notice when I have a hour or two free. Its made worse by the fact I do alot of different fishing as well so I could be fishing for say Zander on the river one day or Carp on a lake the next and everything in between. The upshot of this is that I have to have as much as possible already ready else I wont be doing any fishing at all.

The way I go about it is that I have a core set of equipment permenantly in the car I then only need to add the bits for the specific fishing I will be doing and I try to have a selection of rods already made up to cover most eventualities. So its now just a case of picking the required rod and bait and off I go. I have got to the point where I can for most of the fishing I do be away in literally 5mins from the moment of making the decsion that i can go.

However I would love to have more time and go back to the days of merticulous prep & high anticipation again....maybe one day...

 

[@Clive]

I love messing with fishing tackle; respooling reels, rearranging tackle boxes, preparing and freezing bait...... The problem is that whenever I'm doing that my wife seems to think that I am available for jobs.

 

[Alan Whitty]

After my return from Dorset last weekend I have to kick myself up the rear to change my gear round, this is on top of knowing maggot season starts now for me, so a trip to the bait farm, entailing sieving the old sawdust off, riddling any skins or animal skin out, then adding clean maize meal to my near gallon plus of neat reds, I like Kev, generally prefer setting up on the bank, in fact the only time I don't is when I'm in Dorset....

 

[The bad one]

My prep amounts to making up a flask, milk in a metal vodka flask (and no there's no vodka in it) butties and grab a dedicated tackle bag and go. My bags are session overnight rucksack with everything I need in it. River bag with all I need. General course bag for pleasure sessions. Pike bag with all in it. Trouting bag.
As tackle doesn't get moved around between bags, I know what I'll need is in the bag. If I've not used a bag for while, I may go through it just incase I've moved something and forgot I have.
Small stuff like plumbits, pk Hooks, disgorgers, Small forecepts, isotopes, small tube of shot just incase, boilie drills, plastic hook baits, spare catty elastic, nuts and bolts. many other small stuff I might need and most of all a Tea spoon for stirring my tea are in my many pocketed waistcoat.
All in all it's grab and go!
To my mates I'm know as, Have You Got.....They know full well I'm more than likely I have!

 

[The bad one]

Oh forgot about holdalls, I have 3 ready packed with rods I'll need - Specimen, River and General pleasure fishing. Rods in Specimen may get put in taken out if I'm going piking which these days I don't do a lot of.