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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

Barnwell (2)

North Lake
Venue: Barnwell

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Arrival time: 08.30 (fishing 09:15)
Weather: Cloudy bright with a gusty wind
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler, 6lb line with 6lb Acolyte hook length to a 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn and custard bread paste.
Fish: A lot of smallish rudd.

My second trip to Barnwell with the hope of catching tench. I didn't think I would get the spot I had last time as I was sure that a local might beat me to it. But when I arrived I was surprised to find that there were no other anglers on the lake. So my initial feelings were of great hope. The wind was blowing into my face, which was a bit of a downer, but I approached things with a very positive attitude. I put in some groundbait before I started tackling up etc., a mixture of Dynamite Frenzied Hemp, breadcrumbs, hemp and sweetcorn. Then the first cast with sweetcorn resulted in a small rudd taking the bait before it reached bottom!

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Species: Rudd

Fields End (126)

Venue: Fields End

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Arrival time: 15:45
Weather: Bright and warm with a light easterly breeze.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia centrepin, waggler, 8lb line direct to a 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, spam & bread/custard paste.
Fish: 4 carp, a number of roach and a couple of perch.

With another hot weather warning forecast for the remainder of the week, I decided to try a late afternoon and evening session at Fields End Water. I hadn't done that well there of late but was hoping that the carp would come into the margins in the evening. I got a favourite spot on the east bank where it's possible to sit on ground rather than a platform. So all was set to try out my theory.

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Species: Carp, Carps 10lb+, Roach, Perch

River Great Ouse - Offord (54)

Top Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord |Top Stream

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Arrival time: 08:00.
Weather: Cloudy start - brightening late morning and becoming hot.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler, 6lb line with a 3.8lb Supplex hook length to a 16 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots, sweetcorn & hemp as attractor.
Fish: Roach, perch, small chub & bleak.

I had cut short my previous session on the Houghton back channel because of the heat and had maggots left over. At the same time another very hot spell was forecast so I decided to go to the Offord Top Stream to try for some perch before it once again became too hot to get out. On arrival the amount of surface weed on the car park pool was unbelievable and the top stream was also affected. But fortunately a gentle flow had kept the middle clear and I managed to find a spot where it was possible to fish over the marginal weed.

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Species: Perch, Roach, Rudd, Chub, Bleak

Houghton (23)

Back Channel
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton

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Arrival time: 09:30
Weather: Full sun becoming very warm throughout the day
Tackle: Korum 10ft 'All Rounder' 1.1lb TC, Shimano Exage 1000 reel, small bomb leger, 6lb line with a 4lb Drennan short hooklength to a 16 red fine wire hook.
Baits: Maggots, worms, corn & hemp as attractor.
Fish: Roach, perch, gudgeon, bream.

With an overcast day forecast following days of endless sun I decided to try the Six Gate weir pool at Houghton. I had fished it a couple of times last July and caught predominantly dace with a few roach along the way. So I set up a light feeder rod and made the around 20 minute walk from the car. I arrived to find a barrier of nettles and other plants obstructing access to the pool. Another 20 minutes was spent clearing an opening using just small scissors from my tackle bag. Not a great start!

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Species: Roach, Perch, Gudgeon, Bream

River Great Ouse - Offord (53)

Mill Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord |Mill Stream

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Arrival time: 08:15.
Weather: Overcast with a cooling NE gusty wind. Warming towards midday.
Tackle: Drennan 1¾ TC 12ft 'Specialist Barbel', Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, SSG link, 8lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread Flake & cheese paste.
Fish: Blank

After much deliberation following yet another very hot spell I decided to return to the Offord mill stream as I felt that with some guaranteed flow the fish would be more comfortable. A cool break in the exceptionally hot weather was also a factor as I just wanted to get out on the bank. The swim I had fished a couple of weeks earlier was free so I settled there hoping for a repeat of the success I had on that occasion. But fishing isn't like that, is it?

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Species: Blank

Houghton Meadows (22)

Checking out the Trout Stream
Venue: Exploring |Houghton |Trout Stream

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After weeks without rain, and knowing that the Trout Stream can be very weed congested in summer, I decided to check it out before committing to fishing it. It was also the case that I didn't want to actually go fishing because of the heat, as we were entering another period of extreme heat, the third this year!

My worst fears were confirmed with the stream being almost completely congested. Rushes were filling the whole width of the stream in many places, while lily pad beds and floating weed covered much of the remaining visible surface. The level was very low, there was negligible flow and the water gin clear! Verdict - basically unfishable.

See photos comparing 2025 with 2026

Species: Roach, Perch, Gudgeon

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