Bob Goes Fishing

Fields End (78)

21 March 2011 Venue: Fields End

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.00 (started to fish at 07.30)
Weather: Relatively mild, bright and calm.
Light SW breeze freshened during the day before dropping late afternoon.
Swim: Tree Corner.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, new Shimano Exage reel with 5lb line, 16 hook tied direct. Insert waggler.
Bait: Luncheon meat
Fish: Two barbel, best 5lb 3oz and two carp, best 9lbs 1oz.

Up until lunch time I thought this was going to be another disastrous day. Not a bite until about 11.00 and then tricky ‘unable to hit’ bites. Managed a few small roach, none of which needed the net. I had been using sweetcorn and bread, the former being the more successful.

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Species: Carp, Barbel (lake), Roach

River Welland (7)

14 March 2011 Venue: River Welland

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Bright frosty morning but soon warmed up in the sun.
Calm to start with but fresh easterly breeze blew up.
Swim: Roving
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 6lb line, 6 hook tied direct. Two SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Bread flake.
Fish: Three chub, best 4½lbs.

After the disappointment of missing a couple of cracking bites on my last visit to Stamford this was my last chance to put things right before the close season.

I used the quiver-tip top on my Korum feeder rod to present less resistance. Having sold my Mitchell reel, I used one of my small Shimano bait caster reels with 6lb line.

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Species: Chub

Fields End (77)

08 March 2011 Venue: Fields End

Nothing worth photographing today

Arrival time: 07.00 (started to fish at 07.30)
Weather: Cold frosty start with clear blue sky.
Light SW breeze that freshened considerably after lunch.
Swim: Tree Corner.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, new Shimano Exage reel with 5lb line, 16 hook tied direct. Insert waggler.
Baits: Maggots
Fish: Tench of 3lbs and some small perch and roach.

Again I was hopeful of a good day. The night was cold but the forecast was for a day of sunshine. Driving to the lake the Fenland scenery was spectacular. White frosty fields with a large orange sun shining through the mist. The magic was completed by a barn owl flying across the road in front of me and settling on a gate post.

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Species: Tench, Perch

Fields End (76)

24 February 2011 Venue: Fields End

Nothing worth photographing today

Arrival time: 08.00 (started to fish at 08.30)
Weather: Clear and reasonably mild. Colder later.
Light SW breeze that freshened after lunch.
Swim: Tree Corner.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, centre pin with 4lb line, 16 hook tied direct. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, sweetcorn and worm.
Fish: Three small roach

I was full of anticipation as it had been mild the previous day (12C) and the forecast was for another mild day. A light SW breeze didn’t affect the Tree Corner so everything seemed nigh on perfect.

Expectation was soon replaced by disappointment as I didn’t get a touch. Not a tremble on the float, not a line bite; nothing.

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Species: Roach

Fields End (75)

17 February 2011 Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 08.00 (started to fish at 08.30)
Weather: Misty and cold.
Light E breeze veered to S after midday.
Swim: Reed end (NE reed corner)
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, centre pin with 4lb line, 16 hook tied direct. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake and sweetcorn, with hempseed as an attractor.
Fish: Carp of 4lbs 5oz and some small roach

I was a bit undecided whether to go today. The forecast was for an easterly wind, albeit light. When I arrived it was cold and misty. There was little wind and I debated whether to go for the Tree Corner, which has fished quite consistently over the last few weeks. However, an easterly wind would blow right into this swim.

Also, there was a chap already in the pitch to the right. I decided therefore to go to the other side of the lake and fished the end of the reeds in the NE corner - what I call the reed-end swim. This pitch fishes well in the summer.

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Species: Carp, Roach

Fields End (74)

11 February 2011 Venue: Fields End

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 08.00 (started to fish at 08.45)
Weather: Started clear and reasonably mild. Colder later.
Light SW breeze during morning but calm after midday.
Swim: Tree Corner.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, centre pin with 4lb line, 16 hook tied direct. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake and sweetcorn, with hempseed as an attractor.
Fish: Carp of 8½lbs, two tench, best 3lb 10oz, a few roach, best 1lb 4oz, and a 1lb 11oz crucian.

Second time at the lake this week. Taking advantage of reasonably mild weather and lack of wind. The Tree Corner was calm being protected from the light SW breeze. The morning was bright and mild; almost spring-like. The birds were in song and it was difficult to believe it was mid February. The wind dropped completely at midday after which it became colder.

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Species: Carp, Tench, Crucian, Roach

Bob Goes Fishing

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Fields End (78)

River Welland (7)

Fields End (77)

Fields End (76)

Fields End (75)

Fields End (74)