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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 (17)

Top Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: circa 11.30 at swim
Weather: Mainly sunny with a strong westerly wind. But not too cold.
Tackle: Shimano 9ft Aero X1 with 1.0oz quiver, simple SSG link and later a small cube leger weight, 5lb line, 2½lb hook link, 16 hook.
Baits: Maggot with hemp as attractor
Fish: A number of small perch, 1 roach and 1 bream

After struggling for chub recently I decided today to try for roach in the Top Stream at Offord. I hadn't fished this stream before but had been advised that it held some good roach. I think they're best fished for with the pole but as I don't have one it was to be match rod and centrepin. However, on arrival not only did my planned swim look uninviting because of the strong wind but the idea of float fishing in such conditions wasn't appealing.

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Species: Perch, Roach, Bream

River Great Ouse - Offord (16)

R Ouse & 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: circa 11.00 at swim
Weather: Overcast, no wind and very cold (3⁰C)
Tackle: 11' 6' John Wilson Avon Quiver with 1.5oz quiver, feeder / simple SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste
Fish: Blank

I returned to the point of the Triangle at Offord where I lost a fish a couple of weeks ago. The intention was to make good on that loss, but the conditions were entirely different.

The main flow was almost non existent meaning that the crease between the main flow and the lock cutting had effectively disappeared.

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Species: Blank

River Great Ouse - Offord (15)

The Triangle
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: circa 11.00 at swim.
Weather: Clear blue sky, no wind but cold (5⁰C).
Tackle: 11' 6' John Wilson Avon Quiver with 1.5oz quiver, feeder / simple SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: Blank - one fish came off

The Environment Agency site again showed the river levels normal although the Ouse was still carrying extra volume. But I was more hopeful than on my last outing.

I returned to a swim where I had tried trotting a few weeks ago, on that occasion without success. This time I decided to try the feeder. But after an hour or so I hadn't had a touch despite trying different parts of the swim.

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Species: Blank

River Great Ouse - Houghton (4)

Trout Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton |Trout Stream

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

Arrival time: circa 11.15 at swim.
Weather: Cloudy/bright intervals, breezy and cold - 5⁰C.
Tackle: 11' 6' John Wilson Avon Quiver with 1.5oz quiver, simple SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: 2 chub

With the rivers reportedly fining down after the recent rain I decided to give the Trout Stream a try.

The Environment Agency site showed the river at normal level but on arriving it was clearly carrying extra volume and coloured. I had been hoping for better conditions.

I started at the swim where I caught the 'last minute' chub last time, quite close to the entrance to the stretch. But conditions were very different today and despite trying various parts of the swim I didn't get a touch.

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Species: Chub

River Great Ouse - Offord (14)

Sismey Island
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: 11.15 on bank
Weather: Overcast with no wind and quite mild..
Tackle: 11'6" Masterline Avon quiver with standard Avon top fitted.
Speedia centrepin reel.
(1) Drennan 5BB stick float, 6lb line, 4lb hook length to 14 wire hook.
(2) Cage feeder and 3SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake / Cheese paste
Fish: Blank

My plan was to fish a swim on the far side of the island at Offord. I had fished it before on the feeder but thought it might fish well on the stick float. But I was wrong!

It was incredibly deep, a fact that didn't register when I fished there previously on the feeder. The water was also turbulent with a fast central flow and a large back-eddy in front of me.

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Species: Blank

River Great Ouse - Houghton (3)

Trout Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Houghton |Trout Stream

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

Arrival time: 11.05 (bankside)
Weather: Bright sunshine, cold and windy.
Tackle: 9ft Shimano Aero X1 Finesse Feeder (1.5oz quiver), link leger, 5lb line, 6 hook.
Shimano Exage 1000RC reel.
Baits: Bread flake & Cheese paste.
Fish: One chub

I had forgotten how far it was to the end section of the Trout Stream. Good exercise but with the new hip and following a bad cold I did find it a bit exhausting. I set up where I caught my first chub on the last visit to this section of the stream, but this time not a touch.

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Species: Chub

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