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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

Fields End (111)

Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 10.30
Weather: Sunny and unseasonably mild but with a strong SSW wind
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake & artificial casters.
Fish: Blank

With the rivers carrying a lot of the recent rain I thought I would try Fields End as a last day of the year outing.

Recently I haven't done that well at Fields End in the winter but it seemed a better option than the rivers. The Ouse in Huntingdon the previous day was up to the top of the bank and very coloured.

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Species: Blank

River Great Ouse - Offord (14)

Sismey Island
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: 11.15 on bank
Weather: Overcast with no wind and quite mild..
Tackle: 11'6" Masterline Avon quiver with standard Avon top fitted.
Speedia centrepin reel.
(1) Drennan 5BB stick float, 6lb line, 4lb hook length to 14 wire hook.
(2) Cage feeder and 3SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake / Cheese paste
Fish: Blank

My plan was to fish a swim on the far side of the island at Offord. I had fished it before on the feeder but thought it might fish well on the stick float. But I was wrong!

It was incredibly deep, a fact that didn't register when I fished there previously on the feeder. The water was also turbulent with a fast central flow and a large back-eddy in front of me.

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Species: Blank

The Clay Pit (5)

Venue: The Clay Pit

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

Arrival time: 12.30
Weather: Hazy sun and warm with no wind.
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: Blank

With my hip problem getting worse by the day I chanced a 3-hour session at the Clay Pit. No fish but a very welcome break after a month away from the water.

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Species: Blank

The Clay Pit (4)

Venue: The Clay Pit

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

Arrival time: 10.30
Weather: Overcast and chilly with a light southerly breeze
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Hempseed & sweetcorn.
Fish: Blank

After a dispiriting visit to Rookery Waters last week I bought a season ticket for an old clay pit where the fishing is challenging but the ambience is tranquil.

I fished this pit around ten years ago and decided to check it out again as an alternative to commercial fisheries. Many improvements had been put in place since that earlier visit with well-constructed fishing pitches, car parking and otter prevention fencing around the lake.

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Species: Blank

Rookery Waters (4)

Venue: Rookery Waters

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

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Warm and sunny with only a slight breeze after lunch
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Hemp seed & sweet corn feed, corn & luncheon meat on the hook.
Fish: Blank

As a change from Fields End, today I went to Rookery Waters in the hope of catching roach from Rook lake. I was to be disappointed.

Having spoken to a chap at Fields End I was led to believe that Rook lake was good for roach. Previously I had only fished Magpie lake at Rookery Waters, but as there had been matches on it on both days over the weekend, I thought I would try something different.

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Species: Blank

Rookery Waters (3)

Venue: Rookery Waters
Magpie Lake

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

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Cloudy but sunny later. Very cold.
Swim: Pitch No. 38 Magpie Lake
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex Centre Pin, 2½lb hook length to 16 hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn.
Fish: Blank.

Unable to travel to the river because of movement restrictions under COVID, after a bit of deliberation I decided on a few hours at Rookery Waters. I don't particularly like lake fishing in winter and in the event, after a few very cold days, I completely blanked. Not even a bite.

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Species: Blank

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