River Great Ouse - Houghton (7)
You can view the video on this page or open YouTube by clicking the YouTube icon above.
Arrival time: circa 10.30 at first swim.
Weather: Bright & warm.
Tackle: 12' Korum Multi-feeder, simple SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste & worm.
Fish: one chub
I seem that I forgot to make a diary entry for this trip at the time, so this is based on memory and the video that I posted on YouTube.
Having had a reasonable successful session at the Chubb Stream the previous week I had hoped to repeat this at the Trout Stream. I had assumed that it wouldn't have been as overgrown as the Chubb Stream but I was wrong. It was in fact more challenging because of the beds of 'cabbages' covering the bottom in many places.
I started at a swim near the entrance to the stretch where I had caught on previous occasions but when the stream wasn't so congested with weed growth. On this occasion it was an entirely different proposition with reeds, streamer, lily pads and worst of all cabbages covering much of the bottom.
I tried to find a channel between the weeds but, after a short while, I realised that it was perhaps a bit too challenging and decided to move on. I then tried a couple of spots where I had caught before, but in clearer conditions but wasn't successful for much the same reasons as in the first swim.
In time reached a spot that had produced a chub on two previous occasions. It was a difficult swim requiring a reach over bankside growth and the placement of the bait under a small tree a little way downstream. The first cast was good and after freeing the line from some plant growth and settling the rod, it wasn't long before the tip pulled round. After a short but tricky tussle I landed a reasonable chub. Not big but certainly worth catching in what were difficult conditions.
I wasn't going to get another chub from that swim so I continued to make my way downstream trying a few spots. In one there was a slack near the bank and a worm produced a small perch, confirming my suspicion that it might be a good perch hole. But I only took one.
Towards the end of the stream, just before it joins another Ouse back channel, there's a long open glide that always looks attractive, although I've never caught there. On this occasion I was frustrated by seeing good chub swimming above the cabbages but couldn't tempt one to take my bait. I even tried floating down a piece of crust but without success.
Having given up on the stream I crossed to the back channel and made my way back towards the start of the stretch dropping in a couple of swims, again without success. The final spot I tried had been opened out by somebody, there being a small gap between a high bank of nettles. It looked very inviting with tree branches dipping in the water a short way downstream where a raft had formed.
Casting to the raft I thought at one point that I had hooked a fish, after what seemed to be a definite bite. But I ended up snagged in weed so I can't be sure whether I hooked a fish that weeded me, or whether I had just struck into weed.
And that was my last attempt for the day. While in the 'nettle' swim I slipped climbing the steep bank and fell unceremoniously sideways into the nettles. They broke my fall but also delivered quite a few stings. Not a good ending.