Please rotate your device

This page is best viewed in Landscape orientation
(or tap anywhere to view in Portrait orientation)

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!

QR code

YouTube channel

Venues
& topics
Species
Archive
Venues & topics
Species
Archive

River Welland (8)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 3lb 13oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 11.30
Weather: Bright with cloud building and the threat of rain.
A fresh breeze accompanied the darker clouds.
Swim: The large pool
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 8lb line, 8 hook tied direct. Two SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Luncheon meat and cheese.
Fish: Three chub, best fish, two at 3lbs 13oz.

After my depressing comments about the last trip to Fields End (24 June) I grabbed the opportunity today to visit the River Welland. Helen had her car in for service at Peterborough so we arranged to ‘picnic’ by the river while the car was being attended to.

The river was low and clear, not ideal conditions. Also, as I walked along to my intended swim I didn’t see any chub, which is unusual in summer. It seemed that it might be a difficult day.

Read full report

Species: Chub

River Welland (7)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 4lb 1oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Bright frosty morning but soon warmed up in the sun.
Calm to start with but fresh easterly breeze blew up.
Swim: Roving
Tackle: 12ft Korum multi-feeder, Shimano bait caster, 6lb line, 6 hook tied direct. Two SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Bread flake.
Fish: Three chub, best 4½lbs.

After the disappointment of missing a couple of cracking bites on my last visit to Stamford this was my last chance to put things right before the close season.

I used the quiver-tip top on my Korum feeder rod to present less resistance. Having sold my Mitchell reel, I used one of my small Shimano bait caster reels with 6lb line.

Read full report

Species: Chub

River Welland (6)

Venue: River Welland
Chub 2lb 1oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 11.30
Weather: Overcast and cold. Some bright spells later.
Swim: Roving
Tackle: 12ft Korum light feeder rod, 8lb line, 8 hook. Two SG shots on a short link.
Bait: Bread flake.
Fish: One chub of 2lb 1oz but some silly misses.

I had a couple of tries on the Welland last winter but failed on both occasions. However, another angler had caught fish so I knew it could be done.

I went straight to the large bay where I had success on my very first summer visit. I fished close in on the edge of the faster water but didn’t get a touch.

Read full report

Species: Chub

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.

Read full report

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

River Wye (1)

Venue: River Wye
Chub 3lb 8oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Sunny with no wind at first, although it blew up a bit during the day and then subsided late afternoon.
Swim: Third pitch downstream from hut.
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Avon, 8lb line, quill float and 12hook. Then a small feeder with 10 hook.
Baits: Maggots, luncheon meat, bread flake and pellets.
Fish: Five chub, best 3½lbs.

My first trip to the Wye. As mentioned in the previous posting, an advance recce had shown only a few fishable spots. I fished the third pitch downstream from where you park. It was a good looking spot with trees overhanging and entering the water about 10 yards downstream.

Read full report

Species: Chub, Dace

Docklow Pools (5)

Venue: Docklow Pools
No photo message

Arrival time: 16.30
Weather: Sunny and almost calm.
Swim: Mickey Mouse Pool - Peg 19
Tackle: 12ft Hardy Avon, 8lb line, pre-loaded waggler and 10 hook.
Baits: Bread flake and luncheon meat
Fish: Three carp, best 6¼lbs, a roach just under a pound, some small barbel and a small chub.

Having tried the Figure of Eight pool yesterday I was ready to return. However both the corner swims were taken today. I therefore went on to Mickey Mouse and set up in my now regular pitch 19.

I dropped in down the left margin and quickly had a small barbel of about 12oz. The margin then went quiet so I tried fishing just off the lilies about 25 feet out. The lack of wind made this easier than on previous days.

Read full report

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

< Previous Page Page 15 / 16 Next Page >

© 2025 Robert Bassett

Report bugs to webmaster

Built in RapidWeaver
with Shaking The Habitual's
Source micro framework

Your privacy
Cookies are only used for the correct functioning of this site and to prevent you seeing this message every time you visit.

Read more about third party cookies ☞

Note that links to third party sites can result in cookies being loaded. For example, there are links to YouTube to display the embedded videos from my channel.