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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

River Welland (20)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 3lb 12oz

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

Arrival time: 10.45
Weather: Bright and frosty on arrival (3℃)
Later it was quite warm in the sun - no wind.
Swim: Roving.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 6 hook tied direct. Three SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Luncheon meat.
Fish: One chub 3¾lbs

With all the recent snow and high winds it’s been a few weeks now since I visited the river. It was still running high and a lot of water was coming down.

I started at a spot where I picked up a chub a couple of visits ago. On that occasion there were reeds that were creating a small slack near the bank but these were now below the water level. There was, however, still signs of slacker water. Second cast the rod top kicked and then pulled round and I was into a good fish. It went out into the flow and it took a bit of effort to get it back into the slacker water nearer the bank, where I could net it. On the bank it weighed 3¾lb. Not a bad start after only ten minutes!

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Species: Chub

River Welland (19)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 4lb 0oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 10.45
Weather: Bright cloudy.
Moderate westerly wind.
Swim: Roving.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 6 hook tied direct. Three SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Luncheon meat.
Fish: Three chub, best fish 4lbs.

It’s been nearly two months since my last visit, although the lead up to Christmas accounted for the best part of December.

The river had obviously overflowed the meadow during the last deluge. There was a lot of flotsam laying around and the bank-side trees were decorated with various litter that had washed down with the flood water. Considering the banks are normally about six feet above water level, there must have been a lot of water!

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Species: Chub

River Welland (18)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 4lb 8oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 10.45
Weather: Bright morning clouding over in the afternoon.
Light south-westerly wind.
Swim: Roving.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 6 hook tied direct. Four SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Luncheon meat.
Fish: Three chub, best fish 4½lbs

Only the second time on the Welland this season. The forecast was for a mild day and they were right. About 13º C, which is good for November. The river was running quite strongly, which was good to see, as I can’t remember the last time that I saw a decent flow on this stretch. Hopefully it will clear out some of the debris and dead vegetation.

I decided to walk the bank today and had my new ‘Chub’ bag, which is a very small shoulder bag for essentials. I had my canvas bucket for bait and food. Other than this I was only carrying the rod, landing net, rod-rest and a light stool.

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Species: Chub

Syndicate Lake (8)

Venue: Syndicate Lake
No photo message

Nothing worth photographing today

Arrival time: 11.30
Weather: Sunny / cloudy.
Hardly any wind. Very mild for the time of year.
Swim: Lily pads and SW corner
Tackle: 10 ft Fishtec compact float rod with Shimano ST5000 reel, 6lb line and 12 hook.
Baits: Used luncheon meat on the hook and sweetcorn as an attractor.
Fish: One small roach

On arrival I went straight to the lily pads swim. Since my last visit somebody had cleared a lot of the bank-side growth, exposing another platform about ten yards further along. I didn’t even know it was there. I’m always a bit suspicious when I encounter ‘clearance overkill,' my inclination being to retain as much cover as possible.

I was also a bit worried that whoever had been fishing there might have overdone the ground-baiting, a tendency that often goes hand-in-hand with over exuberant vegetation clearance. I’m stereotyping again, but I’ve witnessed this sort of ‘fishing’ in the past.

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Species: Roach

Syndicate Lake (7)

Venue: Syndicate Lake
Common 8lb 4oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 11.00
Weather: Sunny / cloudy.
Hardly any wind. Very mild for the time of year.
Swim: NE Bay and SW corner
Tackle:14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel with 5lb line and 14 hook.
11’6” Hardy Marksman, Shimano Exage 4000RC reel, 8lb line, 12 hook.
Baits: Used luncheon meat on the hook and sweetcorn as an attractor.
Fish: Two carp and a nice roach. Best fish carp 8lbs 4oz.

My neighbour Steve accompanied me today and I suggested he fished the ‘lily-pads’ spot, as it was the most accessible place, and I had caught there previously. This left me to find another fishable spot - not that easy!

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Species: Carp, Roach

River Welland (17)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 3lb 0oz

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

Arrival time: 10.15
Weather: Sun and clouds.
Strong westerly wind.
Swim: The large pool and roving.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 6 hook tied direct. Three SG shots on a short link.
Baits: Cheese and luncheon meat.
Fish: Two chub, best fish 3lbs.

First trip to the Welland this season.

Unfortunately I hadn’t managed to get to the Welland so far this season, so I missed my summer chub stalking. However, the river was low and there were still opportunities.

I started at the large pool, which has been very consistent over the past few years. Today, however, I didn’t get a touch on either cheese or luncheon meat.

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Species: Chub

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