Time to start planning

Since landing that Pike, last Monday, angling hasn't featured in my daily routine beyond sitting at my laptop and smiling like a lunatic at the images I took on that magical occassion. But that's it; Pike season is finished and I now need to start thinking about what I'd like to do next. I need to focus on the future, instead of dribbling over the recent past. Although I've been angling for a very long time, Carp have never played a major part in the journey. The Stanborough campaign, of 1983/84, is probably as serious as it ever got. My modern Carp escapades have been very lax by comparison. Don't get me wrong, since returning to the hobby I have landed many Carp, hundreds of which have weighed in excess of ten pounds, with seventeen "twenties" amongst them. 

My current PB - from a commercial

I have never landed a "thirty", something many hard-core Carpers will find very amusing. My PB is a Mirror of 25 lbs 8 oz taken from the Sandwich Coarse Fishery, Victory Lake. (on a 1959 split cane!) So I am now hoping that 2025 will be the year when I rectify this situation? I have no intentions of becoming a, bivvy dwelling, time-bandit, nor do I want to catch such a fish from a commercial venue. My approach, therefore, must revolve around short sessions at venues where I am confident that my tactics are 100% up to scratch. Watercraft, fish location and rig presentation will be fundamental in everything I do and have a gut feeling that pre-baiting might play a major role if I'm to be successful?

An RMC "twenty" from 30th May 2016 - could this be the venue??

Now whilst there can be no getting away from the fact that my roots are firmly embedded in a bygone era when all species were treated as equals. I am not so stupid as to ignore the huge advances in terminal tackle and bait presentation which are, without doubt, light years away from what I was doing on Stanborough in the early 1980's.  Home prepared particle mixes will still play a fundamental part in my approach, yet I'm not too proud to concede that the use of a Nash "Bushwhacker" baiting pole will provide a massive edge in my ability to position a baited rig accurately with the minimum disturbance. I'd recently watched a Korda YouTube offering which was singing the praises of "a shot on the hook" presentation. As it's something I've never done before, I am going to have a play around with this set-up down on the C&DAA Minster venue because I am confident of some regular action, whatever the weather is doing. 

My very first "flatlands" twenty - is a thirty a realistic target out there?

I haven't finalized any plans, as to specific venues, etc.. but do feel sure that this is a realistic target to pursue before the next Pike season gets underway in October, thus prior to my seventieth birthday!