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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 (61)

Venue: Fields End

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.30
Weather: A foggy start with a very light breeze. The fog lifted around 0830 and then the S-SW wind freshened, becoming quite strong after midday.
Swim: Reed corner
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Marksman, 8lb line, 12/10 hook. Alternated between sliding pre-loaded waggler and small Arlesley bomb leger.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat.
Fish: 10 carp, best fish 9lb 12oz.

First time at the local lake since the end of July. I eased off in August pending my fortnight’s fishing holiday at Docklow.

A bit late arriving but not many people about. As the wind was forecast S to SW, I went in the reed corner swim. There was a chap at the other end of the reeds and he was literally pulling them out when I arrived, and continued to do so throughout the morning, losing a few in the process.

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Species: Carp

Docklow Reflections

Venue: Docklow Pools
No photo message

Well, our holiday is almost over and today it’s raining, not that we’re complaining as we have had a marvellous two weeks considering the weather that immediately preceded our holiday. As we’ve got to be out before 10.00 tomorrow I’ve forsaken a final evening’s fishing, as I didn’t want to have to try to dry out everything before packing.

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Docklow Pools (9)

Venue: Docklow Pools
Common 10lb

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 16.30
Weather: Another fine calm evening.
Swim: Match Pool Peg1
Tackle:13ft Multi-float, 6lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 12 hook.
12ft Hardy Avon, 8lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 10 hook.
Baits: Luncheon meat
Fish: Three carp, best fish 10lbs, a barbel and a small chub.

I was heading for the Mickey Mouse Pool but saw from the road that my favourite spot was occupied. I happened to be next to Peg 1 of the match pool at the time. Now, I have noticed that this peg is very popular and when I had a closer look it was clear that the adjacent pegs were some distance away, making it ideal for margin fishing. There were reeds to the right (photo) and a corner to the left, where the road bordered the lake.

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Species: Carp 10lb+, Carp, Chub, Barbel (lake)

Docklow Pools (8)

Venue: Docklow Pools
Mirror 9lb

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

Arrival time: 16.30
Weather: A beautiful evening following earlier heavy rain.
Swim: Mickey Mouse Peg19
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Avon, 8lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 10 hook.
Baits: Luncheon meat and bread flake.
Fish: Two carp, best fish 9lbs, four small barbel and a small tench.

After a disappointing trip to the River Teme earlier in the day (see previous posting) I went down to Mickey Mouse for a couple of hours. Peg 19 was free so I slotted in there, as I knew it from previous occasions.

I cast out near the lilies and having missed one bite, the next cast I hooked what felt like a heavy fish.

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Species: Carp, Barbel (lake), Tench, Roach

River Teme (1)

Venue: River Teme
The first swim

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 09:00
Weather: Bright after heavy overnight rain. Heavy rain shower at lunchtime.
Swim: Upstream from car park.
Tackle: 12ft Korum Multi Feeder, 8lb line, feeder/leger and 10 hook.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat
Fish: One unwelcome eel!

I checked out the Docklow Pools’ stretch of the River Teme yesterday. Like the Wye, most of the bank was unfishable. There were three fishable swims upstream from the car park and although I saw a chap fishing downstream I couldn’t work out how he had got down to the river.

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Species: Eel

Docklow Pools (7)

Venue: Docklow Pools
Common 7lb 8oz

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

Arrival time: 14.30
Weather: Calm and slightly overcast. Light rain later.
Swim: Match Pool Peg12
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Avon, 8lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 10 hook.
13ft float rod, 6lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 14 hook.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat. Fed with maggots and sweetcorn.
Fish: Four carp, best 7½lbs, and a small bream.

I tried the match pool today for the first time. I went with the intention of using my float rod and not carp fishing. I had assumed that carp would not be the predominant species in the match pool. However, it was soon clear that there were good carp in the lake as they could be seen cruising on the surface.

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Species: Carp, Bream

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