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Diary of an average angler

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!

fisherman
Venues
& topics
Species
Archive
Venues & topics
Species
Archive

Middle Level drains (1)

20ft drain March
Venue: Middle Level drains

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Cloudy bright with increasing cloud. No wind to start with but freshening to a light breeze.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano match rod, Rapidex II 2400 centrepin, 6lb line, 3.5lb pre-tied Drennan hook length to size 16.
Baits: Maggots & corn with hemp feed.
Fish: Some small perch and a couple of roach/rudd.

Having ignored the local drains for years because of the difficulty of access, a chance look at a Facebook page alerted me to a venue where it wasn't necessary to risk the steep overgrown banks, and where there was parking. Just outside of March the local club has built gravel platforms and access steps that, while still needing a bit of care, have made access to the water immeasurably more friendly. It's the first time I've fished one of these drains so it was very much a learning exercise.

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Species: Perch, Roach, Rudd

Earith (11)

Trying a different filming technique
Venue: Earith

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Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Bright with increasing cloud and windy.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Worms & sweet corn.
Fish: One small rudd and a small tench with a nice Koi carp later in the session.

After quite limited success on the rivers I decided to go to a favourite small lake at Earith. It was also an opportunity to try out a different filming technique after my headcam failed on the previous trip. It's fair to say that it didn't work that well. And the fishing wasn't great either.

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Species: Tench, Rudd

The Clay Pit (18)

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: 08.50
Weather: After a very hot spell, chilly with occasional sun and windy.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 10/12 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots, bread flake, spam.
Fish: Two tench and one small rudd.

After a scorching hot beginning to the week I decided to go over to the Clay Pit as I didn't fancy too much walking, thinking it would still be quite warm. In fact it was really chilly with a fresh wind. It was my first visit to the Clay Pit this year as the lake was closed for spawning until just before the opening of the river season. I've had fairly consistent success on the small side pond in the past but on this occasion it was really challenging. I hadn't had a positive bite in the first three hours.

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Species: Tench, Rudd

Fields End (119)

Morning session
Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 08.15
Weather: Overcast with a strengthening south-westerly breeze (from behind me).
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line to a 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Breadflake & luncheon meat
Fish: Rudd & roach throughout the session with 3 crucians and a small perch.

Today's choice of venue was decided by the forecast for a strengthening SW wind. I would have preferred to return to Earith but the part of the lake that is accessible would have been exposed to the wind, which wouldn't have been great for waggler fishing. So I went to Fields End hoping to get the swim in the SW corner, which I did. In fact the lake was deserted, mine still being the only car in the visitors' parking when I left. And only a couple of anglers arrived from the on-site caravan park. So it was a very peaceful day.

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Species: Rudd, Roach, Perch, Crucian

Fields End (118)

On the waggler
Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 08.30
Weather: Beautiful spring day. Sunny with light westerly breeze (from behind me).
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line to a 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Breadflake & luncheon meat
Fish: Rudd throughout session with 4 carp, a crucian, a couple of roach and a small perch.

After debating whether Fields End would be too busy the week of the bank holiday, I took a chance and was pleased to find that it was actually quite quiet. To cut down walking and ensure that the breeze was behind me, I went to what I call the tree corner, a quiet little niche in the SW corner of the lake. Conditions were perfect for float fishing and after ground baiting with a bread mix I started with bread flake. But things were very slow.

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Species: Rudd, Roach, Perch, Carp, Crucian

Fields End (117)

On the waggler
Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 09.20
Weather: Fresh start, warming up later with sun and light cloud. NW breeze.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line. Started with 12 hook, later changing to 14 and then to 10.
Baits: Sweetcorn, bread flake and luncheon meat with hemp loose feed.
Fish: Mostly rudd with a couple of roach and one perch.

After the Clay Pit last week I fancied another session on a stillwater. I had struggled on the streams this season, finding them more heavily weeded than normal, and had also been avoiding venues requiring too much walking because of problems with my hip. So I set off to Fields End Waters which is very local. I was, however, a bit worried as to how busy it would be given the Indian summer we're enjoying, and sure enough it was literally full when I left at around 3.00pm.

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Species: Rudd, Roach, Perch

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