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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

River Great Ouse - Houghton (13)

Trout Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton |Trout Stream

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

Arrival time: 10.30
Weather: Chilly with sunny spells. Little wind.
Tackle: Drennan 1¾lb TC 12ft 'Specialist Barbel', Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, 2SSG link, 8lb line to #8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake.
Fish: Two chub.

Following the success at the Trout Stream the previous Friday, when I lost a big fish, I decided to return only four days later. The choice of date was influenced by the forecast of more turbulent weather towards the end of the week. I basically repeated what I had done on the previous occasion, visiting the same spots. I also looked further downstream to where the stream merges with another channel. Quite a long walk, which I regretted!

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Species: Chub

River Great Ouse - Houghton (12)

Trout Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton |Trout Stream

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

Arrival time: 10.30
Weather: Overcast and chilly with a brief bright spell later. Little wind.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, two SSG link, 6lb line to #8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake.
Fish: One chub.

I hadn't been fishing for a month. Christmas, followed by a flu bug, flooded rivers and challenging weather kept me away from the water. I decided to return to the Trout Stream as it fishes far better in the winter and I had a cracking day there back in November. Things started well when I hooked into a big fish but went downhill fairly rapidly. But having got over a minor crisis I had a good session in the end.

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Species: Chub

River Great Ouse - Offord (40)

Triangle - Lock cutting
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: 10.30.
Weather: Chilly and overcast with little wind.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano match rod, Rapidex II 2400 centrepin, 6lb line, 4lb pre-tied Drennan hook length to 16 red wire hook.
Baits: maggots.
Fish: Small perch & roach.

With the river only recently returned to some sort of normal after yet another spate of heavy rain, my plan was to go to the Triangle section and fish the lock cutting. The spot near the bridge was my destination but unfortunately two other anglers were already there. I walked to what was effectively the end of the cutting and set up there. It wasn't as sheltered a spot as I had been aiming for but it wasn't affected by the fast moving water in the main streams. The sitting position was quite high above the water which made it a bit awkward.

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Species: Perch, Roach

River Great Ouse - Houghton (11)

Trout Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton |Trout Stream

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

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Bright start but clouding over and becoming colder. Occasional gusty wind.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, two SSG link, 6lb line to #8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste & worm.
Fish: 4 chub all taken on bread flake.

I hadn't attempted to fish the Trout Stream during summer as previous experience of extensive vegetation both in the water and on the banks had dissuaded me. But, having had a stroll along the stream a few days earlier, it was looking promising with a number of fishable spots. I set off hoping for at least one fish but in the event the session turned into something quite memorable.

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Species: Chub

River Great Ouse - Offord (39)

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

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

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Chilly with low cloud cover and complete absence of wind.
Tackle: Korum 10ft 'All Rounder' 1.1lb TC, Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, small bomb leger, 6lb line to size 8 eyed hook..
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: One decent chub.

My plan was to go to the tip of the Triangle section and fish the crease between the main flow and the outflow of the lock cutting and mill stream. I had been successful with this approach in the past. On this occasion the main river flow wasn't all that strong, meaning that there wasn't actually a well defined crease. Whether this influenced the fishing it's hard to say but there was certainly no immediate action.

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Species: Chub

River Great Ouse - Offord (38)

Top Stream & Car Park Pool
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Cold & damp with a chilly north-westerly wind. Mainly overcast with occasional sunny intervals.
Tackle: 9ft Shimano Aero X1 feeder rod with 1oz quiver, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel, 5lb line direct to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots and worms.
Fish: One decent bream, a very small roach and a minuscule dace.

The EA website and the OBAS club Facebook page suggested that the river level at Offord had returned to normal so I decided to take a gamble and give it a try. I headed for the Top Stream as I thought it would probably be the least affected by the extra water, but I was to be proved wrong. It had a strongish flow and was very coloured. What's more the bank was slippery and quite dangerous. I had hoped for perch, thus the choice of maggots and worms as bait but I soon doubted my chances.

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Species: Bream, Roach, Dace

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