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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

Fields End (64)

Venue: Fields End
No photo message

Nothing worth photographing today

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Chilly, light to fresh north-westerly breeze.
Swim: Reed-end swim
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Marksman, 8lb line, 10 hook. Sliding pre-loaded waggler and light Arsley leger rig.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: Two smallish carp, a crucian and a 2¼lb tench.

What a difference a week can make. Last Thursday it was like spring. Today was very autumnal. Last week I caught fish regularly throughout the day. Today I slogged until 15.30 for my first fish.

Conditions seemed promising when I arrived somewhat later than usual because of a doctor’s appointment. There were about five people on the lake and I got the reed-end swim.

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Species: Carp, Tench, Crucian

Fields End (63)

Venue: Fields End
Mirror 10lb

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.30
Weather: Warm, light southerly breeze and bright
It was like a spring day.
Swim: Reed-end swim
Tackle:12ft Hardy Marksman, 8lb line, 10 hook. Sliding pre-loaded waggler.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat with pellet feed.
Fish: 16 carp to 10lbs, three tench to 4lbs 3oz and four crucians to 2lbs 2oz. Lost four fish.

Back to the end of the reeds in the NE corner where I fished last week. I was the only one on the lake when I arrived and throughout the day nobody came anywhere near the corner where I was fishing. There were in fact no more than six people on the lake at any time. So, the conditions were perfect; it was quiet and I had a really good day.

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Species: Carp 10lb+, Carp, Tench, Crucian

Fields End (62)

Venue: Fields End
Mirror 11lb

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.30
Weather: A quiet day after heavy rain the previous day.
Light breeze alternated from W, to NW, to SW, to S and then back to W.
Swim: Reed-end swim
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Marksman, 8lb line, 10 hook. Sliding pre-loaded waggler.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat.
Fish: 12 carp to 11lbs and a 3lbs 3oz tench.

Back to Fields End on a pleasant day sandwiched between heavy rain and wind the previous day, and more of the same predicted for the following day.

Today I went to the opposite end of the reed bank to the left of my usual reed-corner swim. A chap was there last week and did well, but more importantly it seemed easier to fish than the reed-corner swim, which is now a bit awkward since a new platform has been installed.

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Species: Carp 10lb+, Carp, Tench

Fields End (61)

Venue: Fields End

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.30
Weather: A foggy start with a very light breeze. The fog lifted around 0830 and then the S-SW wind freshened, becoming quite strong after midday.
Swim: Reed corner
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Marksman, 8lb line, 12/10 hook. Alternated between sliding pre-loaded waggler and small Arlesley bomb leger.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat.
Fish: 10 carp, best fish 9lb 12oz.

First time at the local lake since the end of July. I eased off in August pending my fortnight’s fishing holiday at Docklow.

A bit late arriving but not many people about. As the wind was forecast S to SW, I went in the reed corner swim. There was a chap at the other end of the reeds and he was literally pulling them out when I arrived, and continued to do so throughout the morning, losing a few in the process.

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Species: Carp

Docklow Pools (9)

Venue: Docklow Pools
Common 10lb

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 16.30
Weather: Another fine calm evening.
Swim: Match Pool Peg1
Tackle:13ft Multi-float, 6lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 12 hook.
12ft Hardy Avon, 8lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 10 hook.
Baits: Luncheon meat
Fish: Three carp, best fish 10lbs, a barbel and a small chub.

I was heading for the Mickey Mouse Pool but saw from the road that my favourite spot was occupied. I happened to be next to Peg 1 of the match pool at the time. Now, I have noticed that this peg is very popular and when I had a closer look it was clear that the adjacent pegs were some distance away, making it ideal for margin fishing. There were reeds to the right (photo) and a corner to the left, where the road bordered the lake.

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Species: Carp 10lb+, Carp, Chub, Barbel (lake)

Docklow Pools (8)

Venue: Docklow Pools
Mirror 9lb

Only one photo today.
Larger light-box version in the full report

Arrival time: 16.30
Weather: A beautiful evening following earlier heavy rain.
Swim: Mickey Mouse Peg19
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Avon, 8lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 10 hook.
Baits: Luncheon meat and bread flake.
Fish: Two carp, best fish 9lbs, four small barbel and a small tench.

After a disappointing trip to the River Teme earlier in the day (see previous posting) I went down to Mickey Mouse for a couple of hours. Peg 19 was free so I slotted in there, as I knew it from previous occasions.

I cast out near the lilies and having missed one bite, the next cast I hooked what felt like a heavy fish.

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Species: Carp, Barbel (lake), Tench, Roach

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