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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

River Great Ouse - Houghton (17)

Six Gate Weir
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton

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

Arrival time: 9.15
Weather: Last chance before another very hot spell. Temperature increasing after early cloud cover. Hardly any wind.
Tackle: 9ft Shimano Aero X1 'Finesse Feeder' rod with 1oz quiver, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel, 5lb line direct to 14/12 hook .
Baits: Maggots & bread flake
Fish: A fair number of dace and a few small roach

I had fished the Six Gate Weir pool the previous week after giving up on the Trout Stream. On that occasion I had caught one very respectable roach but missed most of the bites since my Trout Stream chub tackle wasn't really suitable. So I decided to return with a lighter and more sensitive rod, which at 9ft was also better for fishing under the trees. The river level was up after some welcome rain and there was a good flow over the weir. I did indeed manage to hook more of the bites but the better roach eluded me. There were however a lot of very hungry dace!

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Species: Roach, Dace, Perch

River Great Ouse - Houghton (16)

Trout Stream & main river
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton |Trout Stream

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

Arrival time: 8.30
Weather: Still warm after a few days of 30+ temperatures. Some cloud cover clearing late morning and a freshening breeze.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, 2SSG link, 6lb line to 8/10 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: One roach.

I had taken a look at the Trout Stream a week before the season opened when there were a few difficult but fishable spots. After the very hot spell I thought a flowing stream might be a good bet, but talking to the bailiff on the walk down to the river he said that there was very little flow. This was indeed the case and the weed growth had increased significantly since my walk-about a few weeks earlier. I did however find out from the bailiff how to access the stretch upstream of the bridge.

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Species: Roach

River Great Ouse - Offord (43)

Mill Stream & Main River
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: 09.30.
Weather: Warm & windy with strong gusts.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner' simple 2SSG link/cage feeder, 6lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste & prawn.
Fish: A dace & a chub.

A return to Offord a week after the opening day and on this occasion I got the swim at the head of the Mill Stream. It had been occupied the previous week. It's probably the best looking swim on the stream and always looks promising, and I had seen numerous chub there a few days before the season opened. But I guess some early season fishing had taught them to be a bit wary as I was unable to tempt one.

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Species: Chub, Dace

River Great Ouse - Offord (42)

Mill Stream & Car Park Pool
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: 08.30.
Weather: The beginning of a very hot spell of weather with little cloud cover.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner simple 2SSG link, 6lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste & prawn.
Fish: Two chub.

I had walked a number of streams the previous week before deciding on a venue for the opening day. In the end I chose Offord because it offered different types of water, although I had planned to fish the Mill Stream. My destination was the swim at the top of the stream and I was pleased to see nobody in it as I approached. My bubble was burst however when I found tackle stacked in the swim - no anglers, just tackle. Slightly annoyed I went back to a spot just upstream of the road bridge where I had seen chub the previous week. As it turned out this forced change of plan might have been fortuitous.

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Species: Chub

Earith (15)

Venue: Earith

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Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Starting cloudy but reducing cloud and warm sun later. Light breeze.
Tackle: Drennan 1¾ TC 12ft 'Specialist Barbel', Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, 2SSG on sliding bead link, 8lb line to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, bread flake & luncheon meat.
Fish: Two bream and lost fish.

Another trip to Earith hoping for a tench or two. I returned to my favourite spot at the back of the lake and for most of the day I was the only angler on the lake. So it was very peaceful and the ambiance very satisfying. As for the fishing, not so good. An early bream kicked things off, after which it was a bit of a struggle with lost fish and a spectacular break-off.

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Species: Bream

Fields End (122)

Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Continuing high pressure conditions. Bright with some cloud and a light NE breeze.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 10 eyed hook.
Changed to single SSG leger after losing float.
Baits: Sweetcorn, luncheon meat & bread flake.
Fish: 2 carp.

With the forecast for a light NE breeze I decided to go to Fields End Water, my local pit, and fish the NE corner. I was fortunate to get the spot I was aiming for, at the end of a reed bank, which I know often attracts carp as well as offering good sport from rudd. As it turned out the rudd didn't oblige, other than small fish that gave me unhittable bites, although I managed to hook a couple. In view of this I decided to target carp.

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Species: Rudd, Carp

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