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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
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Species
Archive
Venues & topics
Species
Archive

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

Fields End (70)

Venue: Fields End
Tench 3lb 8oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 08.30 (started to fish at 09.00)
Weather: No wind, lots of rain but not too cold.
Swim: Tree corner
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, 4lb line, 16 hook on 2.5lb line. Insert waggler.
Baits: Sweetcorn
Fish: Two tench, best 3½lbs, a few roach to 10oz and what I think was a dace.

First trip since 19th November! The lake was very coloured. Hard to believe that this was entirely due to fish movement. Perhaps the high winds over the past few days had stirred things up.

Forecast was for 7-9 degrees and calm. It didn’t mention rain, which started at about 10.00 and carried on until around 13.30. January rain is chilling and quite unpleasant. It also made it difficult to spot pre-bite float movements, causing me to miss some of the few bites that I actually had.

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Species: Tench, Roach, Dace

Fields End (69)

Venue: Fields End
No photo message

Nothing worth photographing today

Arrival time: 07.15 (started to fish at 07.45)
Weather: Foggy, no wind and very cold.
Swim: Tree corner
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, 4lb line, 16 hook on 2.5lb line. Insert waggler.
Baits: Breadflake, maggots and pellets.
Fish: Some small roach and perch, and a tench of 2lbs 14oz.

The fog had been forecast but there was a chance it would clear to a bright day; but it didn’t!

I had bought maggots and some soft 4mm and 6mm pellets to give myself some options. On Monday I got lots of bites on bread flake that I couldn’t hit. Today I had very few bites and bread didn’t produce hardly any at all. Neither did the pellets.

Read full report

Species: Tench, Roach, Perch

Fields End (68)

Venue: Fields End
Roach 1lb 2oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.00 (started to fish at 07.45)
Weather: Bright, no wind and very cold.
Swim: Tree corner
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, 4lb line, 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake and sweetcorn.
Fish: Roach to 1lb 2oz, and a 3¼lbs tench.

The gales of last week had passed and a brief spell of high pressure provided classic cold clear conditions with no wind. I was on my own on the lake until around midday, with just an incredibly brave little chaffinch hopping around my feet looking for some tit-bits. I think he was after maggots but I didn’t have any. It may have been cold but the conditions were otherwise idyllic.

Read full report

Species: Tench, Roach

Fields End (67)

Venue: Fields End
Crucian 2lb 1oz

More photos in the full report

Arrival time: 07.00
Weather: Cloudy with sunny spells, hardly any wind and chilly.
Swim: Tree corner
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, 4lb line, 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake and sweetcorn, with hempseed and pellets as attractors.
Fish: Seven carp to 8lbs 14oz and a 2lbs 1oz crucian.

After the frustration last week of not being able to hit many of the bites, today I scaled down my tackle. I bought a match rod a few years ago for use on canals and drains but it hasn’t had many outings. It’s light and fast, and, as I found out today, not lacking where bigger fish are concerned.

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Species: Carp, Crucian

Fields End (66)

Venue: Fields End
Roach 14oz

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

Arrival time: 07.10
Weather: Cloudy bright, not too chilly with a fresh south-westerly breeze.
Swim: Tree corner
Tackle: 13ft FishTec multi float, 8lb line, 12 hook. Sliding pre-loaded waggler.
Baits: Bread flake, worms, luncheon meat and pellet.
Fish: A 14oz roach, 1¾lbs crucian and a 6lb carp.

Back to the Tree Corner to test out my theory that the larger carp patrol this area. As they say, the best laid plans and all that!

Like the previous week it was hard work; perhaps harder. There were touches that either came from roach or cautious crucians. I had taken some worms this time from the composter. Boy did they stink!

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Species: Roach, Crucian, Carp

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