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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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The Clay Pit (27)

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: 08.30
Weather: Cloudy bright and chilly to start but warming up later with a freshening wind.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, pre-loaded waggler, single shot, 6lb main line to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots, sweetcorn, bread flake, custard bread paste
Fish: Nine tench and 3 crucians.

I fancied a trip to the side pond at the Clay Pit while the weather was still warm in the hope of a tench or two. On arrival I was truly shocked to see how low the water was. It's not a deep pond anyway but when I plumbed the depth it was no more than a couple of feet. Knowing that tench were fairly tolerant of shallow muddy conditions I didn't lose hope but I was certainly a bit sceptical of catching any. But my fears proved to be completely unwarranted.

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Species: Tench, Crucian

Earith (19)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 08.45
Weather: Bright start clouding over later with no noticeable wind.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia centrepin, waggler, 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, Spam & cheese paste.
Fish: A few bream, a roach, a crucian hybrid, a lost tench & two lost carp.

Back to Earith as I thought it might be the least busy after the bank holiday weekend, and for most of the time I was indeed the only person on the lake. With no discernible wind the conditions were far easier than on my previous visit and I was hopeful for a tench or two. There was a lot of bubbling when I arrived along with carp thrashing about in the lilies and reeds. They had apparently started spawning the day before. I groundbaited and set to catching my quarry.

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Species: Bream, Roach, Crucian

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

Earith (8)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.45
Weather: Sunny with light clouds. Quite mild but with a troublesome wind.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 10 eyed hook (changed to 8 later).
Baits: Seedy bread with 'insect feast' bird food as groundbait.
Fish: A crucian hybrid, 2 bream, a tench and a carp.

My first trip since November last year, and after my left hip replacement in February. High water level at the lake prevented me from fishing my usual spot at the back, the only available swims being nearer the entrance. This wasn't an issue although whereas the back of the lake is very sheltered, in today's location I was exposed to a troublesome wind.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Carp, Carp 10lb+, Crucian

The Clay Pit (16)

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: 10.15
Weather: Very hot during a late summer heatwave, reaching 27⁰C by the time I left.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn & cheese paste.
Fish: 5 Tench (one very small) and a small crucian.

For various reasons I hadn't been out for over two weeks and when the opportunity arose we were in the middle of a late summer heatwave. I really didn't fancy too much walking as would be the case on a stream or river, so I decided to go to a local pit where in the past I had been almost guaranteed some fish.

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Species: Tench, Crucian

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