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Makes my blood boil 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

One of them who makes out that he only caught the fish due to using a certain hook/line and a concoction of various bait additives.
Just to make a long winded account of the catch and make it sound like they are a fish guru.
 
No thats Mark Casper who runs specialized hook baits , his baits have caught a huge amount of big carp from some of the countrys most difficult waters in the uk , he has supplied me with some hookbaits that actually work and is a knowledgable and helpful bloke , dont be so quick to dismiss his baits , most of his Thames barbel were caught while trying for carp , this is most definately NOT the same person as the the other moron !!!!
 
I take it this wasn't recent. As there's next to no flow at moment. It's more like a canal. If he's fishing for carp why the low gear?
Belter of a fish though. Anyone know what stretch? , 😅😅😅
 
I take it this wasn't recent. As there's next to no flow at moment. It's more like a canal. If he's fishing for carp why the low gear?
Belter of a fish though. Anyone know what stretch? , 😅😅😅
He did mention the weir pool, that’s where all the barbel are at the moment I believe. I am currently stalking carp in Thames in the early morning, no luck as far, but did see few big ones
 
Had a look
On fishing magic barbel forum there’s a post about it on there what a strange lot they are there are anglers on there who actually think that it’s ok to lay six barbel out on a mat for a photo
 
This is a typical post

“Thats how you see it. Think the average non angler sees it like that ?

...you think they care that you lay a fish on a mat 1 at a time give it a cuddle & put antiseptic on it ? Think your argument thats its just the retention that matters & the hook and dragging from water bit is all perfectly fine.

Yep there are outdated posts on this thread alright. Your the type of angler who think they are helping but are ultimatly killing angling from within.”
 
No thats Mark Casper who runs specialized hook baits , his baits have caught a huge amount of big carp from some of the countrys most difficult waters in the uk , he has supplied me with some hookbaits that actually work and is a knowledgable and helpful bloke , dont be so quick to dismiss his baits , most of his Thames barbel were caught while trying for carp , this is most definately NOT the same person as the the other moron !!!!
100% right
Mark who makes Specialised Hook Baits is an extremely skilled Angler and MOST of his amazing captures DONT get seen apart from close friends he has probably caught more BIG ! thames fish carp, barbel, pike and chub than anyone else in the country

he supply's hook baits that actually really do work !!!!

I was in Fred Wiltons inner bait circle back in the late 60s early 70s until the 80s when I stopped fishing for carp due to the deluge of instant carp men
SO trust me I know a little bit about baits

and Marks hook baits are about as good as you will ever buy HE MAKES THEM ALL HIMSELF ! with the very best ingredients and normally there is awaiting list you could not meet a nicer man either
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I started the post because there was no way to contact him.

I called it the Thames Six and if you look at the arguments most of them would rather have a pop at me for highlighting it instead of addressing the problem.

Even the moderator on Fishing Magic commented that barbel always cause issues.

They would not give a straight answer to why it was acceptable and its very sad that a fishing forum has such narrow minded members and direction.

Long live BFW
 
I started the post because there was no way to contact him.

I called it the Thames Six and if you look at the arguments most of them would rather have a pop at me for highlighting it instead of addressing the problem.

Even the moderator on Fishing Magic commented that barbel always cause issues.

They would not give a straight answer to why it was acceptable and its very sad that a fishing forum has such narrow minded members and direction.

Long live BFW

Gary: Bear with me on this.

I'm not defending the responses you received but such is the state of FM and its small genuine active membership and tiny number of troublemakers within that, I'll take a bet that most of the responses will have been based, first and foremost, on the fact that you've been a member for about 6 years and only now originated your first post.

Alas FishingMagic is a shadow of its former self and has been for quite a number of years. There are very few genuine contributing members left nowadays but many lurkers, trolls and examples of the low life that thrive online also exist on it. I was (am) a member for more than 20 years and a moderator for most of that time. The original private message group managed by the great Graham Marsden evolved into the FishingMagic Forum and thrived under his stewardship. He eventually sold the rights to a private company who retained him as Editor and then Editor Emeritus until he backed away of his own accord. That's when FishingMagic started to slide away. It has since changed hands several times, the latest change was in April/May 2022 when Vertical Scope acquired it. They are based in Toronto and part of a larger "social platforms" group. Other than some software updates, nothing has halted the downward decline.

I "left" FM a few years ago after a previous Editor used the platform for his own personal and political beliefs. Succeeding owners/admin have consistently ignored my request, and others, to delete/amend profiles. Hearing of last year's sale/acquisition, I again requested they delete my moderator/member profile. All to no avail, I'm still listed as a moderator with full active permissions. I tried again in Nov/Dec 2022. The FM business profile still quotes "106,909 members & 1.4m posts". I guess, like many other "social platforms" they need those figures to attract advertisers!

The single remaining moderator (that reveals a lot) was probably referring to the laughably christened "Barbel Wars" of yesteryear of which there were multiple editions. They were fun, sad, interesting, puerile, fascinating episodes of ego vs ego, sometimes the same ego having discussions/debates with himself, all under the context of "barbel"!
 
Typical carp angler..... complete shining bellend!! no offence to anybody fishes for mud Pigs! Rake the swim with a trawler Send out the bait boat that looks like a duck, then spodding for about 3 parts of a year. Then cast out 20 to 30 times til they get it right. put on their Claxon bite alarms, Put on their crocs. Then crank up the genny for the 67" flatscreen home cinema in the bivvy and wait for said alarms to alert everybody in a 60 mile radius that they have a fish on! For the life of me I can't get my head round them. All these stupid friggin rigs. What's wrong with a simple running lead or feeder????
Honestly my honest opinion is they are a bunch of d@#k ends!!
Chris
More than a little bit harsh - I fish for both species and on the whole (and especially from what I witness on the Trent) I would say there are far more barbel anglers on the banks these days who don't even have a correctly sized landing net let alone an effective unhooking mat / fish care products. Some of the gear they are using also has to be seen to be believed - including the now de riguer fire pit and BBQ gear on an overnighter ffs

Fishcare has been HIGH on the agenda for carp anglers for a VERY long time (over 2-3 decades); not sure barbel fishing has had anywhere near the same level of exposure in terms of education - I put match fishing in a similar bracket TBF

As for Mark Casper; I don't think so - as already stated; he's a very proficient angler and not just for carp. Some of you Des Taylor / waxed jacket types should try his hook baits - if you can afford them!
 
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