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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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Venues & topics
Species
Archive

Rookery Waters (6)

Magpie Lake
Venue: Rookery waters

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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

Earith (16)

Venue: Earith

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Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Bright start clouding over with rain early afternoon. Strong gusty wind.
Tackle: Drennan 1¾ TC 12ft 'Specialist Barbel', Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, 2SSG on simple line-loop link, 8lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, bread flake & luncheon meat.
Fish: Two tench, a bream and two carp. One lost fish.

After a few challenging sessions at Offord on the river I decided to have a change and went to a favourite little lake at Earith. I hadn't fished there in the autumn before, it usually being a spring venue before the river season opens. There were only two other anglers who were fishing nearer the car park so when I walked around to the back of the lake I was on my own and nobody else arrived. My target species was tench and I had come prepared to leger in view of the forecast for strong winds. In fact it was relatively calm in my little corner when I arrived but the wind freshened during the day.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Carp, Carp 10lb+

Fields End (122)

Venue: Fields End

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Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Continuing high pressure conditions. Bright with some cloud and a light NE breeze.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 10 eyed hook.
Changed to single SSG leger after losing float.
Baits: Sweetcorn, luncheon meat & bread flake.
Fish: 2 carp.

With the forecast for a light NE breeze I decided to go to Fields End Water, my local pit, and fish the NE corner. I was fortunate to get the spot I was aiming for, at the end of a reed bank, which I know often attracts carp as well as offering good sport from rudd. As it turned out the rudd didn't oblige, other than small fish that gave me unhittable bites, although I managed to hook a couple. In view of this I decided to target carp.

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Species: Rudd, Carp

The Clay Pit (19)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

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Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Beautiful sunny autumn day with a fresh breeze.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler with lift-method single shot, 6lb line direct to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, bread flake and spam. Hemp-based groundbait with added hemp & sweetcorn.
Fish: Two tench and a carp. Two fish lost.

A mild episode of shingles delayed my return to the water, this being my first outing for three weeks. After a couple of challenging trips to the 20ft drain, and general malaise because of the shingles, I decided on an 'easy' session on the side ponds at the Clay Pit. I usually mange a few fish on this venue and being able to park almost next to the swim was a bonus, given my post-viral state! I was fortunate to get the spot I usually fish although there were a few people on the main lake.

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Species: Tench, Carp

Fields End (118)

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: 08.30
Weather: Beautiful spring day. Sunny with light westerly breeze (from behind me).
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line to a 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Breadflake & luncheon meat
Fish: Rudd throughout session with 4 carp, a crucian, a couple of roach and a small perch.

After debating whether Fields End would be too busy the week of the bank holiday, I took a chance and was pleased to find that it was actually quite quiet. To cut down walking and ensure that the breeze was behind me, I went to what I call the tree corner, a quiet little niche in the SW corner of the lake. Conditions were perfect for float fishing and after ground baiting with a bread mix I started with bread flake. But things were very slow.

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Species: Rudd, Roach, Perch, Carp, Crucian

Earith (8)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.45
Weather: Sunny with light clouds. Quite mild but with a troublesome wind.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 10 eyed hook (changed to 8 later).
Baits: Seedy bread with 'insect feast' bird food as groundbait.
Fish: A crucian hybrid, 2 bream, a tench and a carp.

My first trip since November last year, and after my left hip replacement in February. High water level at the lake prevented me from fishing my usual spot at the back, the only available swims being nearer the entrance. This wasn't an issue although whereas the back of the lake is very sheltered, in today's location I was exposed to a troublesome wind.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Carp, Carp 10lb+, Crucian

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