Diary of an average angler

Today I visited another backwater of the Nene. I had walked the stretch a couple of times but this was my first fishing trip. It's quite a popular water but I didn't see anybody else on the stretch, which allowed me to try a number of swims. With clear water and bright sun the conditions weren't great and, indeed, I struggled to catch.

The walk from the car seemed longer than I remembered it, possibly because of the heavy humid atmosphere. I settled in the first fishable spot, an open section of bank where the stream was reasonably wide. Much of the stretch was inaccessible because of bank-side growth or in-stream vegetation.

I decided to cast downstream towards an overhanging tree, putting some distance between me on the high bank and any fish that might be in that location. But, as on recent visits to other backwater venues, all I got were taps from what I assumed were smaller fish. I eventually hooked a very small chub and at that point decided to move on.

The next swim was entirely different. A spot had been created among high reeds and other vegetation, allowing the angler almost to become part of his or her surroundings. It was an enticing prospect, the stream at this point having more pace and somewhat of a barbel feel about it. I realised, of course, that the chance of a barbel was almost non existent, since my bait choices weren't ideal and I had no feed to encourage them. But I hoped for a chub.

I fished the spot for quite a long time, alternating between bread flake, cheese paste and spam, but in the end all I caught was a small dace that managed to whittle down my bread flake and take in the size 8 hook. I eventually and somewhat reluctantly moved on.

The next spot was a bit like the first, a wider bay narrowing to faster water, and again I cast down towards overhanging trees. There was a lot of streamer weed and invariably my bait ended up in it. I got a few taps but moved on fairly quickly.

I next found a secluded spot accessed through a large patch of tall nettles. Here the water was slower and deeper. On sitting down I immediately saw a couple of good chub cruising near the surface. I tried free-lining a bread/crust bait thinking one of the chub might react to it, but unfortunately neither did. While I was waiting for a possible bite a large chub of perhaps 3-4 lbs cruised through the swim.

I reverted to the link leger working through my bait choices but nothing reacted. The spot was sheltered and in full sun, and without the cooling effect of the breeze I found it unbearable. I would have liked to stay there longer but I was overheating.

I went on to try a couple of more spots. One a wider section of the stream where I cast under a tree, again only getting what appeared to be attacks from smaller fish. The second was a shallow gravelled run that would surely attract barbel but not during the midday sun. As before, a few taps, possibly from dace, but nothing positive. But it was a delightful swim.

At that point I decided to return to the first spot before packing up for the day. But I changed my mind and crossed the stream, trying a spot on the opposite bank that didn't show signs of being fished. It seemed a good idea, having exhausted options on the other bank. But once again there wasn't the hoped for pull from a decent chub.

Shattered by this point, after a lot of waking, and sitting, in hot humid conditions, I decided to call it a day after just over four hours in fact.

It was good to explore this stretch and I think I've narrowed down the choice of swims for future visits. But, fish-wise, today did not impress!