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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

The Chubb Stream (10)

Venue: Chubb Stream

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

Arrival time: 07.30
Weather: Bright sun, becoming very hot.
Tackle: 10ft TFG compact float rod, Speedia centrepin, 2xSSG link leger, 6lb line direct to 8 eyed hook
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste.
Fish: Three chub including a PB for the stream.

First day of the river season and I decided to go to the Chubb Stream. I had walked it the previous week and knew it would be challenging but the extremely hot weather didn't help.

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Species: Chub

The Clay Pit (9)

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: 09.30
Weather: Bright sun, becoming very warm.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, sweetcorn.
Fish: Two tench an a crucian.

I returned to the Clay Pit to have another crack at the side pools with the hope of some tench. On arrival the swim I had fished on the previous occasion was taken so I went to the next pool. The pools are in fact joined by a narrow channel so there was no reason why one should be any better than the other.

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Species: Tench, Crucian

The Clay Pit (8)

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: 09.30
Weather: Bright overcast with rain later and warm clear spells.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, maggots.
Fish: Carp, crucians and a tench.

I had visited the Clay Pit on the Sunday to try to get some tips on fishing the place as I hadn't had much success in the past. I was lucky to chat to a chap who fished the pole, unlike most of the other anglers there who were fishing at distance for carp. This provided some inspiration for my planned visit on Tuesday.

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Species: Carp, Crucian, Tench

Earith (3)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Very still and humid then hot once the sun broke through.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Specimen, Shimano 5000RE with 8lb line direct to a 12 eyed hook.
Simple bomb leger.
Baits: Bread flake & maggots.
Fish: Two tench, four bream and two carp.

Today I tried a different swim, the one that I dropped into on my last visit and where I lost a carp. It offered more open water than the first swim I fished on this lake but unfortunately it was exposed to full sun and became uncomfortable in the afternoon.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Carp

Earith (2)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.15
Weather: Overcast, brightening later. Windy but swim sheltered.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Specimen, Shimano 5000RE with 8lb line direct to an 8 and later 14 eyed hook. Simple bomb leger
Baits: Bread flake & maggots.
Fish: Two tench, two bream and a carp with fish lost.

On my second trip to this lake I tried a differnet approach. The previous week I had noticed activity by a central reed bed so today I legered to this spot with some success.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Carp

Earith (1)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Sunny and reasonably mild with a light NE wind
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Maggot & flavoured luncheon meat.
Fish: Roach & rudd with an unexpected Koi at the end.

Having checked out this new lake the previous day I decided to float-fish a bay containing quite a lot of lily pads. Absolutely delightful surroundings and very quiet. There was only one other angler on the lake.

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Species: Roach, Rudd, Koi

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