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Diary of an average angler

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 Nene - Backwaters (3)

Alwalton

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Arrival time: 10.00 at swim
Weather: Warm & humid, becoming hotter with a freshening breeze.
Tackle: 11' 6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver tip, Shimano 5000RE reel, 6lb line direct to 8 eyed hook with 2xSSG link leger.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste and spam.
Fish: One small chub and one dace.

Today I visited another backwater of the Nene. I had walked the stretch a couple of times but this was my first fishing trip. It's quite a popular water but I didn't see anybody else on the stretch, which allowed me to try a number of swims. With clear water and bright sun the conditions weren't great and, indeed, I struggled to catch.

River Nene - Backwaters (2)

Wellington

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Arrival time: 11.00 at swim
Weather: Very warm becoming hot with a strong wind.
Tackle: 11' 6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver tip, Shimano 5000RE reel, 6lb line direct to 8 eyed hook with 2xSSG link leger.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste and spam.
Fish: One small roach and one small chub.

I returned to this backwater to explore the upstream section, having only made my way along part the stretch the previous week. But conditions were entirely different, it being much warmer with a strong wind that made fishing difficult at times. The combination of heat and wind was also very tiring, especially since I walked quite a long way during the four hours that I was there.

River Nene - Backwaters (1)

Wellington

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Arrival time: 10:15
Weather: Overcast but mild. No wind to speak of.
Tackle: 11' 6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver tip, Shimano 5000RE reel, 6lb line direct to 8 eyed hook with 2xSSG link leger.
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste and spam.
Fish: 4 chub.

My first trip to this Nene backwater having joined a new club this season. I was feeling under the weather after covid so didn't push things, limiting myself to a few swims and not too much walking.

River Great Ouse - Offord (22)

Mill Stream

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Arrival time: 08:15
Weather: Alternating bright and cloudy with a stiff breeze.
Tackle: 11ft 6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver tip, Shimano 5000RE reel, 6lb line direct to 8 eyed hook with 2xSSG link leger.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: Two chub.

Back to the Mill Stream but this time to target the chub. I decided to start at the swim by the bridge that rewarded me with a chub of just under 5lb a couple of weeks previously. Chub are visible from the bridge so at least you know that there are chub in the swim.

River Great Ouse - Houghton (8)

Trout Stream

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Arrival time: 08.15
Weather: Bright, sunny and a light breeze, with increasing cloud cover.
Tackle: 9ft Shimano Aero X1 feeder rod with 1oz quiver, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel, 5lb line with simple link leger and a 14 eyed hook tied direct.
Baits: Maggot
Fish: Small dace & perch.

I had about half a pint of maggots left over from my trip to the Offord mill stream and decided to go to Houghton for a few hours to use them up. I went to a spot I had fished once before where one of the main channels feeds the head of the trout stream.

River Great Ouse - Offord (21)

Mill Stream

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Arrival time: 07.30
Weather: Overcast & breezy - brightening later
Tackle: 10ft EFGear compact float rod, Speedia centrepin, Drennan stick float, 6lb line with Drennan 4lb pre-tied hook length and 14 'red' hook.
Baits: Maggot, bread flake.
Fish: Small dace & perch and a couple of gudgeon.

I returned to the Mill Stream having the previous week thought that the swim at the head of the stream would be ideal for trotting. In fact the cross-flow of the stream and a cross wind made trotting quite difficult.

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