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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After the unsuccessful trip on the 9 October I decided to revert to the reed swim and try some float fishing in the margins with the hope of some perch or roach, and perhaps a stray carp. I took some maggots, a very rare thing for me these days.
Well, the day was a disaster. The float fishing yielded minuscule perch on maggot, and the only success was when I tried float-fished sweet corn and picked up a small carp.
More photos in the full report
Painting the external woodwork of the house and a week's holiday contrived to keep me away from Fields End during September, but I managed to fit a trip in early in October. I have never fished the lake so late in the year, and what I soon found out was that my 'summer' tactics didn't work too well.
More photos in the full report
This second day at the lake was better. The pumps were off and the fish were a bit more active. I managed to take seven or eight fish, the best being 4¾ lb.
More photos in the full report
We had a week away at Bashley on the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire and Orchard Lakes was just down the road. I had two visits, one for a day and the second for the afternoon. It was a lovely week, this first day in particular being very warm.
I fished the largest of the five lakes.
Only one photo today.
Larger light-box version in the full report
Well, after last week's disastrous day I decided to fish the west bank. Unfortunately despite arriving at opening time that spot was taken, the problem being that the normal entrance was closed and access was from the 'Pool', where there is nothing to stop people arriving before 7.00.
Buoyed by last week's success I went back to the reed corner, but the wind on this occasion was much stronger and it proved very difficult to control my favourite free-lining approach. I resorted to light ledgering in the end but the day was really a disaster.
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