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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 (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

Exploring the Clay Pit

A walk around the Clay Pit
Venue: Exploring |The Clay Pit

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

With river levels up and the wind still very blustery I decided to take a walk around the Clay Pit. I never do very well on lakes in the winter so I left the tackle at home.
With the weather now settling down a bit I hope my next outing will involve some fishing!

The Clay Pit (5)

Venue: The Clay Pit

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

Arrival time: 12.30
Weather: Hazy sun and warm with no wind.
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: Blank

With my hip problem getting worse by the day I chanced a 3-hour session at the Clay Pit. No fish but a very welcome break after a month away from the water.

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Species: Blank

The Clay Pit (4)

Venue: The Clay Pit

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

Arrival time: 10.30
Weather: Overcast and chilly with a light southerly breeze
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Hempseed & sweetcorn.
Fish: Blank

After a dispiriting visit to Rookery Waters last week I bought a season ticket for an old clay pit where the fishing is challenging but the ambience is tranquil.

I fished this pit around ten years ago and decided to check it out again as an alternative to commercial fisheries. Many improvements had been put in place since that earlier visit with well-constructed fishing pitches, car parking and otter prevention fencing around the lake.

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Species: Blank

The Clay Pit (3)

Venue: The Clay pit
The Clay pit

Only one photo today.
Larger light-box version in the full report

Arrival time: 13.00
Weather: Clearing after heavy rain during the morning.
Breeze freshened once rain had stopped. Bright afternoon.
Swim: Main lake. First bay on SW bank.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Shimano Exage reel with 5lb line, 16 hook on 5lb fluorocarbon link. Insert waggler.
Bait: Sweetcorn
Fish: A few roach.

My neighbour’s father was house-sitting while they were away and I had suggested a day’s fishing. We originally planned to go to Stamford but a morning of heavy rain, and an uncertain outlook, modified our plans. Instead we went to a local pit, which is much closer. In the event, after a little more rain the afternoon brightened with a freshening breeze and it was quite pleasant.

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Species: Roach

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