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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

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

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

River Great Ouse - Offord (52)

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

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

Arrival time: 08:30.
Weather: Cloudy bright and warm with more sun appearing after lunch. Light downstream breeze. Tackle: Ryan Burns 'Arrow' 10' split cane rod, Trudex centrepin, 2xSSG link leger, 6lb line direct to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread Flake & cheese paste.
Fish: One chub - lost three!

My second chub session of the season and this time I went to the Mill Stream at Offord. I got the swim I was aiming for but during the session I was surprised by how many anglers walked past me, some dipping in the stream while the majority seemingly walking on to the main river. It's certainly a much busier venue than when I first joined the club a few years ago. I usually rove the few fishable swims on the stream but on this occasion decided to stay put, especially as there was evidence of chub under the tree overhanging from the far bank.

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Species: Chub

Rockells Farm (1)

Venue: Rockells Farm

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

Arrival time: N/A.
Weather: A very warm weekend but cooler on the Saturday.
Tackle: 9ft Shimano Aero X1 'Finesse Feeder' rod with 1oz quiver, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel, 5lb line direct to 10 hook.
Baits: bread flake, lobworm & hookable pellets.
Fish: A number of small carp, best around 3lb.

Something a bit different, a Fathers' Day weekend away with my son who had dabbled with fishing a bit before but was keen to learn more. And it was an opportunity for us to chat as we don't get together that often. He was fishing with a 13ft Fishtec Multi Float rod that I had given him years before, along with a Mitchell Prince reel, also a gift from me. I took a couple of small carp off the surface on the Friday evening and we then returned to the lake on Saturday morning.

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Species: Carp

The Chubb Stream (19)

Venue: Chubb Stream

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Arrival time: 09.00.
Weather: Cloudy start and brightening later. Very warm and humid.
Tackle: 11'6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver, Shimano 5000 RE reel, 6lb line direct to 8 hook.
Baits: bread flake.
Fish: 2 chub - best 3½lbs.

I had been deliberating as to whether to go out on the Opening Day but as I had other things planned during the week it was then or not at all. I worried about the fact that so many anglers would be out so, having decided to go, I headed for the St Ives Chubb Stream as I knew it was lightly fished. In fact the bankside vegetation had not been disturbed in the swims I fished, so I was the first to try to tempt the chub. And I succeeded but it was very challenging.

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Species: Chub

Barnwell (1)

North Lake
Venue: Barnwell

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Arrival time: 09.20 (not fishing until 10:45)
Weather: Cloudy bright with a gusty wind
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler, 6lb line with 3.8lb Supplex fluorocarbon hook length to a 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots & sweetcorn.
Fish: A PB tench & a few small rudd.

The previous week my wife and I had gone to Barnwell Country Park as I wanted to check out a couple of Nene back channels on the Wellingborough club ticket. Unfortunately I couldn't gain access to the back channels but found the lakes in the park quite interesting, particularly as there were reports of good tench fishing. So I returned to buy a season ticket and have a go fishing the lakes. It ended up involving a few changes of swim but in the last spot I took a PB tench.

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Species: Rudd, Tench

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