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Diary of an average angler

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

The Chubb Stream (17)

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Arrival time: 10.00 am
Weather: Warm for early March with a strengthening breeze
Tackle: Ryan Burns 'Arrow' 10' split cane rod, Trudex centrepin, 2xSSG link leger, 6lb line direct to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake & worm.
Fish: Blank

The Chubb Stream hasn't been that kind to me of late, with only one chub from my previous two visits this season. But with the end of the season approaching and the reported water level being the most favourable of my local venues, I decided to give it one more go. I took my cane rod and centrepin hoping for a memorable session but it wasn't to be.

The Clay Pit (21)

Side pond

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Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Cold with a clear blue sky. Very light breeze.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler with lift-method single shot, 6lb main line with 3lb pre-tied hook length to 16 wire hook.
Baits: Maggots.
Fish: Blank.

Once again the rivers were flooded so I decided to go to the Clay Pit as it was local. I had bought maggots having not done very well back in November on sweetcorn. I was alone bar a couple of hardy carp anglers on the main lake. I immediately became a bit concerned when I saw how clear the water was in the pond. This can be an indication of lack of aquatic activity, and so it was to prove!

The Clay Pit (20)

Side pond

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

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Sunny autumn day but extremely cold. An occasional light breeze.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler with lift-method single shot, 6lb line direct to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, bread flake and spam. Hemp loose feed.
Fish: Blank.

With the rivers in flood again after two recent storms I decided to go to the Clay Pit side pond. I had never fished it in such cold conditions so realised that I was perhaps chancing my luck. Also, because I didn't want to drive to the tackle shop, I relied on corn, bread and spam for bait, which I think was a mistake. A single maggot on much lighter tackle might have been a far better bet.

The Chubb Stream (16)

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Arrival time: 9.30 am
Weather: Overcast but quite mild for late October. No wind.
Tackle: 11'6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver, Shimano 5000 RE reel, 6lb line direct to 6 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake & worm.
Fish: Blank

I had walked the first two meadows of the Chubb Stream a few days earlier and with some extra water flowing it looked really inviting. I was, therefore, feeling quite positive when I arrived but the water level had dropped somewhat and the stream was running very clear, neither being good omens for chubbing. My confidence was then dampened further when another angler turned up shortly after I arrived and walked off before me. Following somebody into a swim in such conditions would almost certainly kill any chance of a chub.

River Great Ouse - Offord (36)

Top Stream & Car Park Pool

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Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Bright sun & clear blue sky, becoming very warm.
Tackle: Korum 10ft 'All Rounder' 1.1lb TC, Shimano ST2500FB baitrunner, small bomb leger, 6lb line to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Worm.
Fish: Blank

After a week of very hot weather I had been deliberating whether to go fishing, but as the forecast was for a slightly cooler day I finally set off. I planned to fish the Top Stream at Offord with maggots and worms, after the good perch that I know can be caught there. Unusually for me I took no other bait, so when I got to the tackle shop to buy my maggots it wasn't good news to find out that they had none! A supplier problem also affecting other shops in the area.

River Great Ouse - Houghton (10)

Trout Stream

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Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Cloudy, becoming warm with a freshening wind and sunny intervals.
Tackle: Ryan Burns 'Arrow' 10' split cane rod, Mitchell 300 reel, 1xSSG link leger, 7lb line to 6 eyed hook.
Baits: Cheese paste, cheese & worm.
Fish: Blank.

After a couple of outings to still waters I decided to give a stream another try, following some quite difficult sessions earlier in the season. As there had been quite a lot of recent rain I expected the water level to be up, but in fact it was very low. And I had also hoped that some of the weed growth had died down, as well as the dense bank side vegetation. I was disappointed on both counts, at one point doubting whether I would find a fishable swim.

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