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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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River Welland (30)

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Arrival time: 08.30
Weather: Early rain but brightening later.
Swim: Roving.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Specimen Avon, Shimano Exage 4000RC, link leger, 8lb line, 8 hook
Baits: Spam and bread flake
Fish: Blank

Having had some reasonable success in producing videos of my fishing trips I decided on a visit to the Welland at Stamford. It's always been a very reliable venue for me. I had only previously blanked once when the river was in flood. But today was to prove fishless despite conditions seeming to be good.

River Great Ouse - St Ives (1)

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

Arrival time: 08.45
Weather: Bright sunshine with a freshening wind and becoming hot
Tackle: 10ft Fishtec Compact Float, link leger, 8lb line/ 4lb hooklink, 10 hook.
Baits: Bread/cheese paste & luncheon meat.
Fish: Blank

I joined the St Ives Fish Preservation and Angling Society this season and today tried out the stretch of the River Great Ouse on Dolphin Meadow. It wasn't an auspicious start!

River Welland (28)

Summer chubbing

Summer chubbing

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Very warm and humid.
Swim: Roving.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 6lb line, 6 hook tied direct. Three SG shots on a short link.
Baits: Luncheon meat
Fish: Blank

I made the mistake of visiting this stretch on the first day of the season back in 2015, there being rather too much angling activity on that occasion. This time I left it a few days, but I still wasn't the only one there. In fact, there was another chap who had obviously arrived long before me, and was roving the stretch, clearly after chub. Not good news, as having the first cast into a chub lie is preferable, after which subsequent attempts become more challenging.

River Welland (24)

A brief glimpse of the river conditions

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Bright and certainly not too cold for mid-November. It had clouded over by midday.
Swim: Roving.
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 6 hook tied direct. Three SG shots on a short link.
Baits: Luncheon meat.
Fish: Blank

With the mildish weather continuing I decided to take a trip to the Welland.

I was getting over a persistent cold and regretted not feeling well enough to go to the river last Tuesday, as it was a glorious day. Today wasn’t that bad either, but when I got to the river it was racing down and muddy brown. It must have been at least four feet above the summer level.

Syndicate Lake - Fly(1)

syndicate-fly-1
Trout Lake

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

Arrival time: 12..00
Weather: Warm with light breeze.
Swim: Roamed the lake
Tackle: 9’6” SONIK SK3 fly rod, floating line, leader of 7lb & 5lb flourocarbon.
Lures: Selection of flies.
Fish: Blank

I was offered membership of a syndicate in my area that comprises a trout lake and a coarse lake. The majority of the members fish the trout lake leaving the coarse lake almost unfished. This appealed to me and I will report on the coarse lake later.

So this was the opportune time to try fly fishing.

River Indrois (2)

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

Arrival time: 18.00
Weather: Warm with light breeze.
Swim: River walk at Montrésor
Tackle:12ft Greys’ Rova Float rod, 5lb line, waggler, 14 hook.
Bait: Bread flake and spam.
Fish: Blank - one carp lost.

I had been reluctant to return to the Indrois after the mauling I received from the mosquitoes the previous time. In fact, I started off by visiting a lake at Chemillé. I had checked it out a few days earlier. It was a big lake and part of a holiday complex, with pitches set aside for night carp fishing.

I prefer smaller waters and had decided to try the end of the lake by the road bridge, where it narrowed and there were lily pads.

© 2025 Robert Bassett

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