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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 Nene - Backwaters (7)

Wellington
Venue: River Nene |Nene backwaters

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Arrival time: 09.15
Weather: Sunny start, clouding over with freshening wind. Mild.
Tackle: 11'6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver, Shimano 5000 RE reel, 6lb line direct to 6 hook.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: 4 chub and one small roach.

Having had to cut short my trips to the Nene backwaters last year because of my back problem, this was my first trip this season. The banks were much more overgrown than on my trip last July, indicating perhaps that fewer people had fished there before me. I should have read my report from last July since on that occasion the better fish were taken on spam, a bait I didn't take this time.

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Species: Chub, Roach

River Great Ouse - Offord (29)

Mill Stream, Top Stream & Triangle
Venue: River Great Ouse |Mill Stream |Offord |Top Stream

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Arrival time: 08.30
Weather: Warm start becoming very hot. Little wind throughout the session.
Tackle: Korum 'All Rounder' 10ft quiver with 1oz tip, Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, 2xSSG (Mill Stream) / small bomb leger (elsewhere), 6lb line to 8/10 hooks
Baits: Bread flake & worm.
Fish: One chub, a roach & a dace all from the Mill Stream.

The plan for the session was to start at the Mill Stream in the hope of taking a chub or two, then to move to the Top Stream after perch. The first part was challenging, only one chub coming to the net. The second part proved to be even more challenging, with not a bite at the Top Stream, nor in the pool below it. A move to the Triangle on the main river was equally disappointing.

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Species: Chub, Roach, Dace

Fields End (116)

On the waggler
Venue: Fields End

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Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Overcast start with light NE breeze becoming very warm later in the sunshine.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots and sweetcorn with hemp loose feed.
Fish: A lot of roach, 2 rudd and one dace.

The day didn't start well. I had set out for the Clay Pit but after a long road diversion I arrived to find it closed because fish were spawning. I decided to go instead to Fields End, the nearest alternative. On settling into my pitch I thought I had lost my car keys only to find them in the grass where I had unpacked my gear, but only after returning to the car park on the far side of the lake. I then discovered I had left my bread bait at home, limiting me to maggots and sweetcorn. But on the plus side the lake was very quiet with only three other anglers when I arrived.

Read full report

Species: Roach, Rudd, Dace

Earith (7)

On the waggler!
Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Chilly start with drizzle. Remained overcast with light wind.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots and bread with hemp loose feed.
Fish: 5 tench, 5 bream + small roach/rudd/dace and tiny perch.

After the frustration of missing so many knocks on the bobbin the previous week, I returned to the same swim at Earith to try fishing it with a waggler. I took maggots for hook bait and hemp seed loose feed. I also had four slices of seedy brown bread as a fallback, which turned out to be a wise decision.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Dace

Fields End (115)

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: Sunny with increasing cloud. NE wind freshening through day.
Tackle:
Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook. Changed to 16 hook with 3.5lb hook link after a while.
Greys 12' Prodigy VX Rova Specimen, Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, small bomb leger, 8lb main line, 6lb fluorocarbon hooklength to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggot & bread flake.
Fish: A couple of nice rudd and some smaller roach. One large fish lost.

For a change of venue I decided to pop over to my local commercial at Fields End. With a fresh NE wind forecast it was always a risk as this Fenland lake is exposed. I had hoped to fish the NE corner, which provides some relief from the wind. But unfortunately other anglers had the same idea and all the swims were taken. Not a great start. I set up on the east bank, near the NE corner, and sure enough the wind was already making its presence felt.

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Species: Rudd, Roach

The Clay Pit (13)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

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Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Frosty start to a sunny day with light wind.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggot & corn.
Fish: Three tench, a crucian and some roach/rudd.

My first fishing trip since the end of November, following back surgery in February. I chose the Clay Pit side pond as it is not far from home and I could park next to where I was fishing. It is also a fairly easy water that hasn't disappointed in the past, so I was almost assured of a fish or two.

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Species: Tench, Crucian, Rudd, Roach

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