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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 - Offord (16)

R Ouse & Mill Stream

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Arrival time: circa 11.00 at swim
Weather: Overcast, no wind and very cold (3⁰C)
Tackle: 11' 6' John Wilson Avon Quiver with 1.5oz quiver, feeder / simple SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste
Fish: Blank

I returned to the point of the Triangle at Offord where I lost a fish a couple of weeks ago. The intention was to make good on that loss, but the conditions were entirely different.

The main flow was almost non existent meaning that the crease between the main flow and the lock cutting had effectively disappeared.

River Great Ouse - Offord (15)

The Triangle

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Arrival time: circa 11.00 at swim.
Weather: Clear blue sky, no wind but cold (5⁰C).
Tackle: 11' 6' John Wilson Avon Quiver with 1.5oz quiver, feeder / simple SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: Blank - one fish came off

The Environment Agency site again showed the river levels normal although the Ouse was still carrying extra volume. But I was more hopeful than on my last outing.

I returned to a swim where I had tried trotting a few weeks ago, on that occasion without success. This time I decided to try the feeder. But after an hour or so I hadn't had a touch despite trying different parts of the swim.

Fields End (111)

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Arrival time: 10.30
Weather: Sunny and unseasonably mild but with a strong SSW wind
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake & artificial casters.
Fish: Blank

With the rivers carrying a lot of the recent rain I thought I would try Fields End as a last day of the year outing.

Recently I haven't done that well at Fields End in the winter but it seemed a better option than the rivers. The Ouse in Huntingdon the previous day was up to the top of the bank and very coloured.

River Great Ouse - Offord (14)

Sismey Island

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Arrival time: 11.15 on bank
Weather: Overcast with no wind and quite mild..
Tackle: 11'6" Masterline Avon quiver with standard Avon top fitted.
Speedia centrepin reel.
(1) Drennan 5BB stick float, 6lb line, 4lb hook length to 14 wire hook.
(2) Cage feeder and 3SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Bread flake / Cheese paste
Fish: Blank

My plan was to fish a swim on the far side of the island at Offord. I had fished it before on the feeder but thought it might fish well on the stick float. But I was wrong!

It was incredibly deep, a fact that didn't register when I fished there previously on the feeder. The water was also turbulent with a fast central flow and a large back-eddy in front of me.

The Clay Pit (5)

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Arrival time: 12.30
Weather: Hazy sun and warm with no wind.
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: Blank

With my hip problem getting worse by the day I chanced a 3-hour session at the Clay Pit. No fish but a very welcome break after a month away from the water.

The Clay Pit (4)

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

Arrival time: 10.30
Weather: Overcast and chilly with a light southerly breeze
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Hempseed & sweetcorn.
Fish: Blank

After a dispiriting visit to Rookery Waters last week I bought a season ticket for an old clay pit where the fishing is challenging but the ambience is tranquil.

I fished this pit around ten years ago and decided to check it out again as an alternative to commercial fisheries. Many improvements had been put in place since that earlier visit with well-constructed fishing pitches, car parking and otter prevention fencing around the lake.

© 2025 Robert Bassett

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