Bob Goes Fishing | Welcome

Please rotate your device

This page is best viewed in Landscape orientation
(or tap anywhere to view in Portrait orientation)

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!

QR code

YouTube channel

Venues
& topics
Species
Archive
Venues & topics
Species
Archive

Earith (14)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: A bright sunny day with a little breeze and becoming very warm.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano match rod, Rapidex II 2400 centrepin, 6lb line to 14 eyed hook.
Drennan 1¾ TC 12ft 'Specialist Barbel', Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, 2SSG link, 8lb line to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, bread flake & luncheon meat.
Fish: One hard-earned bream!

After having not got out fishing for nearly a month I returned to Earith, once again in the hope of catching a tench or two. The other reason for choosing Earith was that I was meeting up with a friend, Chris, and the natural banks on this lake allow a side-by-side arrangement, unlike fixed position platforms. It was very warm, and the high pressure climatic conditions were still present, but in all other respects things looked perfect. A gorgeous looking swim and calm conditions.

Read full report

Species: Bream

Earith (13)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: A bright sunny day with a light breeze but still not over warm.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake & luncheon meat.
Fish: A tench, a roach/bream hybrid and a bream.

After some warmer weather I returned to this Earith lake in the hope of catching a tench. There was nobody there when I arrived so I was looking forward to a quiet and peaceful session. Unfortunately my hopes were misplaced as a lot of people turned up later, and the owner was grass cutting throughout my stay, adding a loud background drone to a lot of talking and occasional shouting. But I managed one tench, so you could say that it was a qualified success.

Read full report

Species: Tench, Bream

Earith (12)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Chilly start followed by a bright sunny day with a light breeze.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots, sweet corn, bread flake & luncheon meat.
Fish: A couple of small roach and 4 bream.

Another early spring session that turned out to be a bit challenging. A high pressure system had been giving us cold nights and clear blue sky days and it seemed a pity not to enjoy such beautiful weather. Unfortunately such conditions aren't always great for fishing and so it proved. I managed a few fish but it was challenging on a water that usually is far more reliable.

Read full report

Species: Roach, Bream

Fields End (121)

Early spring session
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: High pressure conditions. Clear blue sky with negligible wind.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler with lift-method single shot, 6lb main line to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots, luncheon meat & bread flake.
Fish: Lots of Rudd and 3 perch.

With the forecast for little wind I decided to go to Fields End Water, my local pit. It's an exposed lake and I was keen to grab a windless day fishing on the waggler. As it was early in the year I took maggots as a smaller bait option but I also had luncheon meat and bread flake. There's a good head of rudd in the lake although I hoped that I might tempt a crucian or two, and perhaps a bigger carp patrolling the margins.

Read full report

Species: Rudd, Perch

The Clay Pit (22)

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: Fresh start but becoming quite warm. Sun all day with light clouds and just a hint of a breeze.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler with lift-method single shot, 6lb main line to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots.
Fish: 3 tench.

With the close season in force on the rivers I went over to the Clay Pit to try my luck for some spring tench. We had had a few warm days and when I arrived the water in the side pond was coloured, indicating some aquatic activity. On my previous trip in winter the water had been clear and I blanked. Chatting to a chap as I tackled up, he informed me that he believed that cormorants had raided the pond, which was a bit disheartening. But I took a positive view that even if this was true perhaps the tench had evaded their attention.

Read full report

Species: Tench

River Great Ouse - Houghton (15)

Trout Stream
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: 10.15
Weather: Chilly again after a warm spell. Cold northerly wind, alternating between overcast & sunny.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, two SSG link, 6lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: One Pike & one chub.

My final trip of the river season so I decided on the Trout Stream as it had been the most consistent of my winter venues. The level was down considerably and the water clear, and with bright sun when I arrived it wasn't the best of conditions for chub fishing. Overcast periods followed but these didn't improve the fishing, which can be summarised as not having a bite! Fortunately, after trying numerous spots I did have a bit of luck to round off the river season.

Read full report

Species: Pike, Chub

< Previous Page Page 4 / 65 Next Page >

© 2025 Robert Bassett

Report bugs to webmaster

Built in RapidWeaver
with Shaking The Habitual's
Source micro framework

Your privacy
Cookies are only used for the correct functioning of this site and to prevent you seeing this message every time you visit.

Read more about third party cookies ☞

Note that links to third party sites can result in cookies being loaded. For example, there are links to YouTube to display the embedded videos from my channel.