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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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Species
Archive
Venues & topics
Species
Archive

River Great Ouse - Houghton (16)

Trout Stream & main river
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: 8.30
Weather: Still warm after a few days of 30+ temperatures. Some cloud cover clearing late morning and a freshening breeze.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, 2SSG link, 6lb line to 8/10 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: One roach.

I had taken a look at the Trout Stream a week before the season opened when there were a few difficult but fishable spots. After the very hot spell I thought a flowing stream might be a good bet, but talking to the bailiff on the walk down to the river he said that there was very little flow. This was indeed the case and the weed growth had increased significantly since my walk-about a few weeks earlier. I did however find out from the bailiff how to access the stretch upstream of the bridge.

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Species: Roach

River Great Ouse - Offord (43)

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

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

Arrival time: 09.30.
Weather: Warm & windy with strong gusts.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner' simple 2SSG link/cage feeder, 6lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste & prawn.
Fish: A dace & a chub.

A return to Offord a week after the opening day and on this occasion I got the swim at the head of the Mill Stream. It had been occupied the previous week. It's probably the best looking swim on the stream and always looks promising, and I had seen numerous chub there a few days before the season opened. But I guess some early season fishing had taught them to be a bit wary as I was unable to tempt one.

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Species: Chub, Dace

River Great Ouse - Offord (42)

Mill Stream & Car Park Pool
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: 08.30.
Weather: The beginning of a very hot spell of weather with little cloud cover.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner simple 2SSG link, 6lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste & prawn.
Fish: Two chub.

I had walked a number of streams the previous week before deciding on a venue for the opening day. In the end I chose Offord because it offered different types of water, although I had planned to fish the Mill Stream. My destination was the swim at the top of the stream and I was pleased to see nobody in it as I approached. My bubble was burst however when I found tackle stacked in the swim - no anglers, just tackle. Slightly annoyed I went back to a spot just upstream of the road bridge where I had seen chub the previous week. As it turned out this forced change of plan might have been fortuitous.

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Species: Chub

River Great Ouse - Houghton (15)

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: 10.15
Weather: Chilly again after a warm spell. Cold northerly wind, alternating between overcast & sunny.
Tackle: Korum 12ft 'Multi-feeder', Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, two SSG link, 6lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: One Pike & one chub.

My final trip of the river season so I decided on the Trout Stream as it had been the most consistent of my winter venues. The level was down considerably and the water clear, and with bright sun when I arrived it wasn't the best of conditions for chub fishing. Overcast periods followed but these didn't improve the fishing, which can be summarised as not having a bite! Fortunately, after trying numerous spots I did have a bit of luck to round off the river season.

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Species: Pike, Chub

River Great Ouse - Offord (41)

Mill Stream & Car Park Pool
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

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

Arrival time: 10.30.
Weather: Much milder than of late with warmth in the sun and a gentle breeze.
Tackle: Drennan 1¾lb TC 12ft 'Specialist Barbel', Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, 2SSG link, 8lb line to #8 eyed hook. (Tackled up for small stream chub!).
Baits: bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: One bream.

Having been away from the water for almost three weeks I was keen to get out, even though recent heavy rain was affecting the rivers - again! I missed a perfect day the previous week when the rivers had fined down but I wasn't feeling up to going. It turned out to be a last minute decision on choice of venue as I compared the water level data on the government web site. In the end I opted for Offord as it was the only one of three possible choices that was not showing rising levels. It also offered some choices if the mill stream proved not to be fishable.

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Species: Bream

River Great Ouse - Houghton (14)

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: 10.00
Weather: Overcast with a bitter easterly wind. Some dampness in the air.
Tackle: Drennan 1¾lb TC 12ft 'Specialist Barbel', Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, 2SSG link, 8lb line to #8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste & maggots
Fish: One Pike.

After blanking at the Clay Pit I decided to return to the rivers, choosing the Trout Stream as it had been kind to me on recent visits. The forecast was for an easterly wind with a low risk of rain, so I took a chance. This turned out to be a mistake, as the wind was strong and absolutely bitter. And to make things even less appealing, the stream was high and coloured. I started about midway along the stretch as I had done on earlier visits.

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Species: Pike

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