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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
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Venues & topics
Species
Archive

Fields End (88)

Venue: Fields End
Leather 9lb 4oz

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

Arrival time: 07.15 (started to fish at 07.45)
Weather: Overcast with some light drizzle on occasions.
Light E wind swung to SE later in the day.
Swim: Tree Corner.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Shimano Exage reel with 5lb line, 12 hook tied direct. Insert waggler.
Baits: Lunchion meat
Fish: Three carp, best fish 9¼lb, two tench and a roach.

Various things have conspired to keep me away from fishing over the past few weeks, so it was good to get back to the bank side.

It was quiet at the lake with probably only about five people there at any time during the day. I had the tree corner to myself. While the relatively mild period prevailed it wasn’t the best of days, although the overcast conditions should have helped the fishing. It was calm when I arrived but the easterly breeze proved a bit irksome later in the day.

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Species: Carp, Tench, Roach, Perch

Fields End (87)

Venue: Fields End
Tench 2lb 8oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 10.45
Weather: Warm and bright with southerly breeze.
The breeze freshened and was a bit of a nuisance.
Swim: Reed Corner
Tackle: 13ft FishTec multi float rod, centre pin, 8lb line, 14 hook.
Bait: Luncheon meat
Fish: Five carp, best fish 8lb 6oz, and a tench.

After a bit of a down-beat trip to Fields End in June I thought I would see if things had quietened down a bit now that it’s September. Charlie, the owner, feigned not recognising me when I arrived. I explained that I liked it when things were quieter and that he would probably see a bit more of me into autumn/winter. He gave me a fridge magnet with their details on it, the reason being that he had used one of my photos as the background. A little bit of fame.

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Species: Carp, Tench, Roach, Perch

The Clay Pit (3)

Venue: The Clay pit
The Clay pit

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

Arrival time: 13.00
Weather: Clearing after heavy rain during the morning.
Breeze freshened once rain had stopped. Bright afternoon.
Swim: Main lake. First bay on SW bank.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Shimano Exage reel with 5lb line, 16 hook on 5lb fluorocarbon link. Insert waggler.
Bait: Sweetcorn
Fish: A few roach.

My neighbour’s father was house-sitting while they were away and I had suggested a day’s fishing. We originally planned to go to Stamford but a morning of heavy rain, and an uncertain outlook, modified our plans. Instead we went to a local pit, which is much closer. In the event, after a little more rain the afternoon brightened with a freshening breeze and it was quite pleasant.

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Species: Roach

River Welland (14)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 3lb 13oz

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

Arrival time: 11.15
Weather: Overcast and windy, with a little rain.
Stiff downstream breeze made life awkward.
Swim: The large pool.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 8 hook tied direct. Three SG shots on a short link.
Baits: Cheese and maggots
Fish: Three chub, best fish 3lb 13oz

I had a few jobs to do last week so it’s been two weeks since I was last on the river bank. The large pool has been so reliable that I’m afraid I went back there again.

My last visit was relatively disappointing but this time I had only been there about 15 minutes when my rod top was pulled around further than I think it has ever been before.

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Species: Chub, Dace

River Welland (13)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 2lb 15oz

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

Arrival time: 11.30
Weather: Very hot with a light on-and-off breeze.
Swim: The large pool.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 8 hook tied direct. Three SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Cheese
Fish: One chub 2lbs 15oz.

They say unlucky 13. My thirteenth trip to the Welland and it was a bit disappointing. I suppose I may have become bit blasé after a few very successful trips.

It was hot, very hot, and the river was clear, but it usually is in the summer. Also there were far more people walking along the bank. It’s the school holidays so perhaps the river is being fished a bit more. There was certainly the ubiquitous litter in the spot I fish. Or perhaps the chub had moved elsewhere; you can’t catch what’s not there, as Richard Walker said.

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Species: Chub

River Welland (12)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 4lb 0oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 11.30
Weather: Overcast but bright and reasonably mild.
Occasional light breeze.
Swim: The large pool.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 8 hook tied direct. Three SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Cheese & luncheon meat.
Fish: Four chub, best fish, two at 4lbs.

Yet another trip to the Welland. I really like the tranquility of the place, and the chub aren’t bad either.

There was a bit of flow today, which I find always helps. The first fish came after only fifteen minutes (11.45). A small pull on the rod tip was followed by a positive bend; no trouble hooking this one. As usual it tried for the various reeds and buried itself in the bottom weed nearer the bank, but the weed is soft and I extracted it without incident. A nice 4lb fish on cheese.

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Species: Chub

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