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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 & topics
Species
Archive

Fields End (98)

Common 6lb 9oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 14.20 (started to fish at 14.35)
Weather: Bright and warm with a light breeze, but got drenched in heavy rain shower.
Swim: East bank
Tackle: 10ft Fishtec Compact Float, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake.
Fish: Seven carp and one roach.

I wasn't surprised to find all my preferred spots occupied and wandered about for a while trying to decide where to fish. I ultimately went to a swim on the east bank two spots away from the 'reed end' swim. My logic was that if I didn't do too well, perhaps the chap in the reed end swim would pack up early and I could shift across.

Fields End (97)

Leather 10lb 3oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 13.00 (started to fish at 13.20)
Weather: Bright and very warm with only a breathe of a breeze, but some cloud cover.
Swim: Reed corner and reed end.
Tackle: 10ft Fishtec Compact Float, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 8 hook.
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel with 5lb line, 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat.
Fish: Six carp and some small roach.

Last week there were quite a few spare pitches so I chanced arriving in the afternoon so I could fish into the evening. Of course, with the sun shining all the spots I favour were already occupied. I settled in what I call the reed corner, the first spot I fished on the lake many years ago and once my clear favourite. However, I lost so many fish in the dense reeds that I stopped fishing there.

Fields End (95)

Common 7lb

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.35 (started to fish at 07.45)
Weather: Sunny day with white fluffy clouds.
Swim: Tree corner
Tackle: 10ft Fishtec Compact Float, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 8 hook.
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel with 5lb line, 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat. All carp taken on flake/crust.
Fish: Four carp and some small roach and rudd.

With sciatica ruling out golf, my first trip to Fields End in 2019. Interesting experience with the carp.

Having consulted the weather forecast I made for what I call the tree corner, the spot in the SW corner where you sit with trees and shrubs behind you, and where there's a reed bank either side offering a degree of seclusion. It's not a renowned carp swim but it's where I actually caught my biggest carp, a 19lb fish.

Syndicate Lake (15)

Carp 10lb

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 11.30
Weather:Very warm for early October with just a light breeze.
Swim: Lily pads & SW corner
Tackle: 12ft Drennan Barbel Specialist, 8lb line, 10 hook.
Bait: Luncheon meat.
Fish: Two carp, best 10lbs 0oz.

Perfect afternoon but only two bites, and two carp.

With the forecast for colder weather arriving at the end of the week I grabbed a few hours over the lake this afternoon. I’ve been letting the fishing slip a bit lately and must really try to get out more often.

I arrived a 13.30 and started in the Lily Pads swim, putting a light leger out between the two beds of pads.

Syndicate Lake (11)

Carp 11lb 10oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 15.45
Weather: Sunny at first but wind became cold and even colder when the sky clouded over.
Swim: Lily pads and NE bay.
Tackle: 12ft Drennan Barbel Specialist, 8lb line, 10 hook.
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel with 5lb line and 14 hook.
Baits: Bread flake & Luncheon meat.
Fish: three carp, best fish 11lbs 10oz.

In my last report I said I would return and have a go at the roach. Unfortunately fishing rarely pans out as you would like. Whereas on the last occasion I was getting a bite a cast from roach using my heavier tackle, today I could hardly tempt them with a nibble using a much more appropriate set up. However, let’s start at the beginning.

Syndicate Lake (9)

Carp 11lb 6oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 14.30
Weather: Cloudy with drizzle, brightening later.
Windy but this didn’t affect the sheltered lake.
Swim: Lily pads
Tackle: 10ft Fishtec compact float rod with Shimano ST5000 reel, 6lb line and 16 hook.
11’6” Hardy Marksman, Shimano Exage 4000RC reel, 8lb line, 12 hook.
Baits: Luncheon meat , worm and sweetcorn.
Fish: One nice carp, 11lbs 6oz, a few roach and a small pike.

The first bit of good news was that the undergrowth hadn’t yet taken hold so I could actually get to what I call the lily pad swim without too much trouble. There were, however, no lily pads at this time of year. They’re obviously awaiting spring/summer like the rest of us.

There were no signs at all of fish movement, which contrasts with when I first looked at the lake in March last year, when there were carp cruising during what was an early warm spell.

© 2025 Robert Bassett

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