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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 & topics
Species
Archive

River Great Ouse - Houghton (9)

Trout Stream - on the fly rod
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton |Trout Stream

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Arrival time: 09.45
Weather: Overcast start but very warm, becoming sunny and extremely hot and humid.
Tackle: 9' 6" #6/7 Sonik sk3 fly rod, Rim Fly DISC 75 fly reel, Airflo 40+ Floating WF7 line, Greys 9' copolymer knotless tapered leader 4lb/0.16mm
Baits: Fly
Fish: One small chub.

I had decided to go for a Saturday walk along the Houghton Trout Stream just to check out how weed congested it was, when I thought, "why not take my fly rod". I fished the stream in June last year and it was almost unfishable in a conventional manner, but I had seen fish rising. I assumed these were probably dace that could perhaps be taken on fly, assuming I could get enough clear access to cast.

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Species: Chub

River Great Ouse - Offord (29)

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

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Arrival time: 08.30
Weather: Warm start becoming very hot. Little wind throughout the session.
Tackle: Korum 'All Rounder' 10ft quiver with 1oz tip, Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, 2xSSG (Mill Stream) / small bomb leger (elsewhere), 6lb line to 8/10 hooks
Baits: Bread flake & worm.
Fish: One chub, a roach & a dace all from the Mill Stream.

The plan for the session was to start at the Mill Stream in the hope of taking a chub or two, then to move to the Top Stream after perch. The first part was challenging, only one chub coming to the net. The second part proved to be even more challenging, with not a bite at the Top Stream, nor in the pool below it. A move to the Triangle on the main river was equally disappointing.

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Species: Chub, Roach, Dace

The Chubb Stream (12)

Venue: Chubb Stream

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Arrival time: 07:30
Weather: Very warm following days of high temperatures. Little wind.
Tackle: Korum 'All Rounder' 10ft quiver with 1oz tip, Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, 2xSSG link leger, 6lb line to 8 eyed hook
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: Blank

I had a successful day at the Chubb Stream on the first day of the season last year so returned again this year, hoping for a similar experience. But conditions were completely different. The stream was low and clear, and very weedy, but that's not unusual in summer. But there seemed to be more streamer weed than I would have expected and, more importantly, the banks were overgrown with dense vegetation including tall nettles. Already a bit dispirited, I was concerned to see evidence of somebody having fished swims that I favoured.

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Species: Blank

Fields End (116)

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: 09.30
Weather: Overcast start with light NE breeze becoming very warm later in the sunshine.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots and sweetcorn with hemp loose feed.
Fish: A lot of roach, 2 rudd and one dace.

The day didn't start well. I had set out for the Clay Pit but after a long road diversion I arrived to find it closed because fish were spawning. I decided to go instead to Fields End, the nearest alternative. On settling into my pitch I thought I had lost my car keys only to find them in the grass where I had unpacked my gear, but only after returning to the car park on the far side of the lake. I then discovered I had left my bread bait at home, limiting me to maggots and sweetcorn. But on the plus side the lake was very quiet with only three other anglers when I arrived.

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Species: Roach, Rudd, Dace

Earith (7)

On the waggler!
Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Chilly start with drizzle. Remained overcast with light wind.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots and bread with hemp loose feed.
Fish: 5 tench, 5 bream + small roach/rudd/dace and tiny perch.

After the frustration of missing so many knocks on the bobbin the previous week, I returned to the same swim at Earith to try fishing it with a waggler. I took maggots for hook bait and hemp seed loose feed. I also had four slices of seedy brown bread as a fallback, which turned out to be a wise decision.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Dace

Earith (6)

Venue: Earith

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Arrival time: 09.45
Weather: Warm & sunny with some cloud later.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy VX Rova Specimen, Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, small bomb leger, 8lb main line, 6lb fluorocarbon hooklength to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake.
Fish: One carp and one small tench.

A return to Earith after three weeks away from the bankside. I had not been feeling too good but tests following a visit to the GP all came back negative, so although still not feeling altogether normal I decided to have a few hours by the lake. A beautiful warm spring day in an idyllic setting certainly lifted my spirits.

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Species: Carp, Tench

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