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Diary of an average angler

Who favours traditional methods & baits

fisherman

This diary dates back to a holiday in 2003 when I think the urge to get back into fishing took off. From around 2007 the trips became more frequent with 2010/11 probably being the peak of activity.
Things again pick up in 2020 - a sort of rebirth!

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Venues
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Species
Archive
Venues & topics
Species
Archive

The Clay Pit (12)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

You can view the video on this page or open YouTube by clicking the YouTube icon above.

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: 10⁰C, overcast with a NW wind. Brightened for a short period.
Tackle: 10ft TFG Compact Float rod, Speedia centrepin, light (5 x no.4) waggler, 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggot & worm.
Fish: Three tench, a small carp, roach, rudd, crucian & perch

I had proposed to go to a river but because of torrential rain the previous day I decided to go over to the local Clay Pit and fish a side pond. I had had a fair measure of success in these ponds earlier in the season but hadn't fished them in colder weather. I hoped for some roach and perch but things actually worked out a lot better.

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Species: Tench, Crucian, Rudd, Roach, Perch

The Clay Pit (11)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

You can view the video on this page or open YouTube by clicking the YouTube icon above.

Arrival time: 14.00
Weather: Mild for October with a light breeze.
Tackle: 10ft TFG Compact Float rod, Speedia centrepin, light (5 x no.4) waggler, 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggot.
Fish: Five tench, a number of good roach and one rudd.

With the remainder of the week forecast to be blustery with some rain, I decided on the spur of the moment to go over to the side ponds at the Clay Pit. I also wanted to use up some maggots that I had from the previous week. It turned out to be a good decision.

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Species: Tench, Roach, Rudd

The Clay Pit (10)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

You can view the video on this page or open YouTube by clicking the YouTube icon above.

Arrival time: 11.00
Weather: Warm with sun & cloud and a possibility of showers.
Tackle: 10ft TFG Compact Float rod, Speedia centrepin, light (5 x no.4) waggler, 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn.
Fish: Five tench, a number of crucians, a small carp and two roach.

After a number of trips to the Nene backwaters I fancied a less energetic day so decided to go over to the local Clay Pit to fish the side ponds. I hoped for a tench or two but would have been satisfied with a mixed bag of whatever turned up.

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Species: Tench, Crucian, Roach, Carp

The Clay Pit (9)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

You can view the video on this page or open YouTube by clicking the YouTube icon above.

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Bright sun, becoming very warm.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, sweetcorn.
Fish: Two tench an a crucian.

I returned to the Clay Pit to have another crack at the side pools with the hope of some tench. On arrival the swim I had fished on the previous occasion was taken so I went to the next pool. The pools are in fact joined by a narrow channel so there was no reason why one should be any better than the other.

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Species: Tench, Crucian

The Clay Pit (8)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

You can view the video on this page or open YouTube by clicking the YouTube icon above.

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Bright overcast with rain later and warm clear spells.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, maggots.
Fish: Carp, crucians and a tench.

I had visited the Clay Pit on the Sunday to try to get some tips on fishing the place as I hadn't had much success in the past. I was lucky to chat to a chap who fished the pole, unlike most of the other anglers there who were fishing at distance for carp. This provided some inspiration for my planned visit on Tuesday.

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Species: Carp, Crucian, Tench

The Clay Pit (7)

Venue: The Clay Pit

You can view the video on this page or open YouTube by clicking the YouTube icon above.

Arrival time: circa 10.00
Weather: Bright start clouding over with a few spots of rain
Tackle: 9ft Shimano Aero X1 feeder rod, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel with 5lb line & 12 hook, with a small bomb leger. Changed to 14/4lb hook link for float fishing.
Baits: Bread flake & maggot.
Fish: Small rudd and roach

Once more I took on the challenge of the Clay Pit and once again it defeated me. Starting on leger in a different spot produced nothing other than lost tackle, while changing to the float in a previously fished swim only provided a repeat performance of small rudd and roach.

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Species: Rudd, Roach

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