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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

Rookery Waters (6)

Magpie Lake
Venue: Rookery waters

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

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Bright & cold with a troublesome wind.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano match rod, Rapidex II 2400 centrepin, 6lb line, 2lb pre-tied Drennan hook length to 18 fine wire hook.
Baits: Maggots
Fish: 2 carp

With the rivers still suffering from an excess of rainfall I abandoned a planned trip to Offord and decided instead to visit a local commercial at Rookery Waters. I had fished there before on a few occasions but my only other winter visit ended with a blank. So I wasn't overly hopeful.

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Species: Carp

Rookery Waters (5)

Venue: Rookery Waters

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

Arrival time: 11.00
Weather: Sunny and mild with no noticeable wind.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line, 3.5lb bottom & 16 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Maggot & worm.
Fish: Mixed bag of carp, roach & perch

A had a bad day at Rookery Waters last year, on that occasion on the Rook lake, but I decided to give it another try, this time on the Magpie lake. It turned out to be a good decision.

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Species: Carp, Roach, Perch, Crucian

Rookery Waters (4)

Venue: Rookery Waters

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

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Warm and sunny with only a slight breeze after lunch
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Hemp seed & sweet corn feed, corn & luncheon meat on the hook.
Fish: Blank

As a change from Fields End, today I went to Rookery Waters in the hope of catching roach from Rook lake. I was to be disappointed.

Having spoken to a chap at Fields End I was led to believe that Rook lake was good for roach. Previously I had only fished Magpie lake at Rookery Waters, but as there had been matches on it on both days over the weekend, I thought I would try something different.

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Species: Blank

Rookery Waters (3)

Venue: Rookery Waters
Magpie Lake

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

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Cloudy but sunny later. Very cold.
Swim: Pitch No. 38 Magpie Lake
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex Centre Pin, 2½lb hook length to 16 hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn.
Fish: Blank.

Unable to travel to the river because of movement restrictions under COVID, after a bit of deliberation I decided on a few hours at Rookery Waters. I don't particularly like lake fishing in winter and in the event, after a few very cold days, I completely blanked. Not even a bite.

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Species: Blank

Rookery Waters (2)

Venue: Rookery Waters

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: N/A
Weather: Warm and calm with no wind.
Tackle: 10ft Fishtec Compact Float, Shimano bait caster
Baits: N/A
Fish: 5 carp

Peg 26 Magpie
Fishing notebook shows four small carp by 11 am.
At 11.15 am a fish of 4/5lb.

This diary entry was missed at the time and was added much later from the limited information in my notebook.

Go to report for photos.

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Species: Carp

Rookery Waters (1)

Venue: Rookery waters
Rookery Waters

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 13.00
Weather: Bright with passing clouds
Swim: Pitch No. 38 Magpie Lake.
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel with 5lb line and 14 hook.
Bait: Bread flake
Fish: 13 carp, best around 5lbs.

I gave up my membership of the syndicate water because I wasn't going enough, so I needed to find another local venue. I like the Welland but it's quite a long trip and these days I find that a half-day is a better option than a whole one. I decided to explore Rookery Waters, which is a bit further down the lane from where I play golf. I had looked in there a couple or so years ago but didn't pursue it.

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Species: Carp

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