Syndicate fishing used to be seen as an alternative to crowded day-ticket waters.
Pay an annual fee, gain access to a quieter lake and spend the season getting to know the water properly.
That still exists.
But the cost of some syndicate tickets has risen dramatically.
Tickets running into four figures are no longer unusual on sought-after waters.
In some cases, joining fees and additional charges push the first-year cost even higher.
There are reasons for that.
Land is expensive.
Insurance costs money.
Fishery maintenance costs money.
Stocking, security, fencing and general upkeep can be substantial.
A well-managed syndicate with limited membership is not cheap to operate.
But there comes a point where ordinary anglers begin questioning who these waters are actually for.
If a syndicate costs £1,500 a year and somebody only manages twenty nights, they are effectively paying £75 every time they fish before fuel, bait and food are included.
For some anglers, that is perfectly acceptable.
For others, it makes no financial sense at all.
The biggest fish and most exclusive waters will always attract higher prices.
That is basic supply and demand.
But carp fishing should be careful not to drift into a position where access to interesting waters becomes increasingly restricted to people with large disposable incomes.
A good syndicate should offer more than big carp.
Security, sensible membership levels, good management and an enjoyable atmosphere all have value.
The question is whether prices are still reflecting those things or simply reflecting demand.
