I was lucky Dave to be around just before the carp boom when some of those lakes were easier to get on and fish and then lucky enough for some cracking ones to pick my bait that day. I did my time on some tough lakes though, I live in Nottingham and spending 3 hours driving for a quick overnighter to not even see a fish let alone catch one did test me a bit,times it by 50 or more makes me think how driven I was at the time to catch certain fish.Unlike now some of those places I fished would be empty which sounds great for a nice relaxing few days fishing but I'd be bloody moving around so much chasing the fish I'd come home shattered. When I first got on Sonning there wasn't another person on.I set up for a week after a few hours looking and moved the next morning when seeing them miles away from me,this continued nearly all week the place is quite big and any wind change virtually did you for the day. I came home vowing to never fish it again but was back the following weekend when a mate sent a pic of some fish cruising on the top. Before I caught The Eye I would have sworn it was 60lb plus, it's a strange fish very deep and long but not as wide as it looks in the water. I actually thought there was a couple bigger in there which made me go back a few times, as if 46 wasn't big enough, crazy when you think about it.
There's nothing wrong with a bit of a social with mates while fishing but some take it too far and don't care about ruining everyones day.
It's the peg and lake lock up that I hate and like I said those people you see in the mags every week are more guilty than most along with other shadey stuff to make sure they have a good pic for their next feature. I was on Horeshoe a few years ago for long weekend,there was a few on not catching anything so not being able to get on a decent spot I went out of the way, As luck would have it I got a decent one straight away and then a few more,that is Horseshoe if you get lucky and they are in front of you. The next day was the same and I got a visit from a high up member of the then Carp Society who I knew who'd popped by for a cuppa or so I thought until he asked me if I'd do him a favour and let another very well known bloke drop in the peg to get one out for a feature he was doing which was going down hill as he hadn't caught. I think get fucked got the message over quite clear. I'd seen this happen before with the same bloke who was blanking and went round and gave him and his mates with cameras a mouthfull about the shadey stuff he gets up to, There's not doubt in my mind some young lad would have let it happen.
Because of the stuff above and not being able to get on places when I can I now have a much more relaxed hobby, a few days local with the odd days with some mates further out.
There are Barble, double figures a plenty right here in Nottingham and you can have the bank to yourself most days. Get on the stick for the day time and at tea time a dozen orange sized balls of halibut and hemp two of the biggest halibut pellets on the hair and chuck it a rod length out, bait runner on then hold onto the rod, it's simpler and basic running drop of lead. I used to go at the side of clifton bridge after work and with the road lights you can fish till 11 without a torch this time of year. I agree what you said about the 8lb hook link it's not enough when you have a good one tearing down with the flow although the bottom is quite clear at Clifton bridge. A mate of mine still fishes it the same and as had countless doubles up to 17 when I last asked him. Let me know if you fancy a crack at it I'll pop down for a tea. I think it's still on day ticket £3 or £40 for the year.