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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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River Great Ouse - Houghton (7)

Trout Stream

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.

The Chubb Stream (10)

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

Arrival time: 07.30
Weather: Bright sun, becoming very hot.
Tackle: 10ft TFG compact float rod, Speedia centrepin, 2xSSG link leger, 6lb line direct to 8 eyed hook
Baits: Bread flake, cheese paste.
Fish: Three chub including a PB for the stream.

First day of the river season and I decided to go to the Chubb Stream. I had walked it the previous week and knew it would be challenging but the extremely hot weather didn't help.

The Clay Pit (9)

Side pond

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Bright sun, becoming very warm.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, sweetcorn.
Fish: Two tench an a crucian.

I returned to the Clay Pit to have another crack at the side pools with the hope of some tench. On arrival the swim I had fished on the previous occasion was taken so I went to the next pool. The pools are in fact joined by a narrow channel so there was no reason why one should be any better than the other.

The Clay Pit (8)

Side pond

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Bright overcast with rain later and warm clear spells.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, maggots.
Fish: Carp, crucians and a tench.

I had visited the Clay Pit on the Sunday to try to get some tips on fishing the place as I hadn't had much success in the past. I was lucky to chat to a chap who fished the pole, unlike most of the other anglers there who were fishing at distance for carp. This provided some inspiration for my planned visit on Tuesday.

Earith (3)

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Very still and humid then hot once the sun broke through.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Specimen, Shimano 5000RE with 8lb line direct to a 12 eyed hook.
Simple bomb leger.
Baits: Bread flake & maggots.
Fish: Two tench, four bream and two carp.

Today I tried a different swim, the one that I dropped into on my last visit and where I lost a carp. It offered more open water than the first swim I fished on this lake but unfortunately it was exposed to full sun and became uncomfortable in the afternoon.

Earith (2)

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

Arrival time: 09.15
Weather: Overcast, brightening later. Windy but swim sheltered.
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Specimen, Shimano 5000RE with 8lb line direct to an 8 and later 14 eyed hook. Simple bomb leger
Baits: Bread flake & maggots.
Fish: Two tench, two bream and a carp with fish lost.

On my second trip to this lake I tried a differnet approach. The previous week I had noticed activity by a central reed bed so today I legered to this spot with some success.

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