Bob Goes Fishing

Fields End (117)

On the waggler

13 September 2023 Venue: Fields End

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Arrival time: 09.20
Weather: Fresh start, warming up later with sun and light cloud. NW breeze.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line. Started with 12 hook, later changing to 14 and then to 10.
Baits: Sweetcorn, bread flake and luncheon meat with hemp loose feed.
Fish: Mostly rudd with a couple of roach and one perch.

After the Clay Pit last week I fancied another session on a stillwater. I had struggled on the streams this season, finding them more heavily weeded than normal, and had also been avoiding venues requiring too much walking because of problems with my hip. So I set off to Fields End Waters which is very local. I was, however, a bit worried as to how busy it would be given the Indian summer we're enjoying, and sure enough it was literally full when I left at around 3.00pm.

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Species: Rudd, Roach, Perch

The Clay Pit (16)

Side pond

05 September 2023 Venue: The Clay Pit

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Arrival time: 10.15
Weather: Very hot during a late summer heatwave, reaching 27⁰C by the time I left.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn & cheese paste.
Fish: 5 Tench (one very small) and a small crucian.

For various reasons I hadn't been out for over two weeks and when the opportunity arose we were in the middle of a late summer heatwave. I really didn't fancy too much walking as would be the case on a stream or river, so I decided to go to a local pit where in the past I had been almost guaranteed some fish.

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Species: Tench, Crucian

River Nene - Backwaters (8)

Castor

15 August 2023 Venue: River Nene |Nene backwaters

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Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Sunny and becoming very warm by midday.
Tackle: 12' Korum Multi-feeder, 1xSSG sliding link, 6lb line to 6 eyed hook.
Baits: Cheese paste & cheese.
Fish: One chub.

My second trip to a Nene backwater this season, this time to Castor. I was surprised to be the only car in the lane and when I got on the stretch there were only two anglers. The last time I was there it was much busier. I was also fortunate that the two guys appeared to be 'static', which meant that in all likelihood nobody had dipped into any of the other swims.

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Species: Chub

The Chubb Stream (13)

08 August 2023 Venue: Chubb Stream

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Arrival time: 09.45
Weather: Mainly overcast but warm with a light breeze.
Tackle: Ryan Burns 'Arrow' 10' split cane rod, Mitchell 300 reel, 2xSSG link leger, 7lb line to size 6 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: 2 chub and one lost fish

After a blank on the Chubb Stream on the first day of the season, which I still believe might have been because somebody fished my chosen spots before I arrived, I decided to make a return visit in the hope of a better outcome. The meadow had been mown, the grass having been almost waist high on my last visit. But the vegetation on the banks was still dense and access to the stream was very difficult. Unfortunately the session ended with me breaking my new cane rod but up until that point I quite enjoyed the challenge.

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Species: Chub

River Great Ouse - Offord (30)

Mill Stream

03 August 2023 Venue: River Great Ouse |Mill Stream |Offord

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Arrival time: 09.50
Weather: Bright but cloudy with sunshine between clouds. Windy and certainly not overly hot.
Tackle: Ryan Burns 'Arrow' 10' split cane rod, Mitchell 300 reel, 2xSSG link leger, 7lb main / 5lb flouro-carbon hook length to 6 eyed hook.
Baits: Cheese paste, spam, flake.
Fish: One chub, an unwanted eel and a foul-hooked dace.

With my left hip playing up I hadn't been out fishing for over three weeks, but it had calmed down and I decided to go to the Offord Mill Stream as it would involve less walking than the other river venues that I normally fish. With no cars in the car park when I arrived it wasn't surprising to find nobody on the Mill Stream. I set up at the head of the stream and proposed to then work my way downstream, dropping in the few swims that exist.

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Species: Chub, Eel, Dace

River Nene - Backwaters (7)

Wellington

10 July 2023 Venue: River Nene |Nene backwaters

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Arrival time: 09.15
Weather: Sunny start, clouding over with freshening wind. Mild.
Tackle: 11'6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver, Shimano 5000 RE reel, 6lb line direct to 6 hook.
Baits: Bread flake & cheese paste.
Fish: 4 chub and one small roach.

Having had to cut short my trips to the Nene backwaters last year because of my back problem, this was my first trip this season. The banks were much more overgrown than on my trip last July, indicating perhaps that fewer people had fished there before me. I should have read my report from last July since on that occasion the better fish were taken on spam, a bait I didn't take this time.

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Species: Chub, Roach

Bob Goes Fishing

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Diary of an average angler

Fields End (117)

The Clay Pit (16)

River Nene - Backwaters (8)

The Chubb Stream (13)

River Great Ouse - Offord (30)

River Nene - Backwaters (7)