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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 & topics
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Earith (21)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Bright with light cloud and becoming very warm for early October. Light breeze.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia centrepin, waggler, 8lb line direct to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Worm, bread flake, flavoured bread paste and Spam.
Fish: A perch and 2 carp.

After a few challenging sessions on the river, the last one involving a lot of walking, I decided to sit and watch a waggler at the small lake I like near Earith. That plan changed when I started to get negative vibes in the first swim. A move offered more hope when there were clear signs of fish feeding near the edge of a lily pad bed, but actually getting a decent bite proved difficult. A perch broke the impending blank after quite a long wait but then two carp made it a day to remember.

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Species: Perch, Carp, Carp 10lb+

Fields End (126)

Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 15:45
Weather: Bright and warm with a light easterly breeze.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia centrepin, waggler, 8lb line direct to a 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, spam & bread/custard paste.
Fish: 4 carp, a number of roach and a couple of perch.

With another hot weather warning forecast for the remainder of the week, I decided to try a late afternoon and evening session at Fields End Water. I hadn't done that well there of late but was hoping that the carp would come into the margins in the evening. I got a favourite spot on the east bank where it's possible to sit on ground rather than a platform. So all was set to try out my theory.

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Species: Carp, Carp 10lb+, Roach, Perch

Earith (16)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Bright start clouding over with rain early afternoon. Strong gusty wind.
Tackle: Drennan 1¾ TC 12ft 'Specialist Barbel', Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, 2SSG on simple line-loop link, 8lb line to 8 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, bread flake & luncheon meat.
Fish: Two tench, a bream and two carp. One lost fish.

After a few challenging sessions at Offord on the river I decided to have a change and went to a favourite little lake at Earith. I hadn't fished there in the autumn before, it usually being a spring venue before the river season opens. There were only two other anglers who were fishing nearer the car park so when I walked around to the back of the lake I was on my own and nobody else arrived. My target species was tench and I had come prepared to leger in view of the forecast for strong winds. In fact it was relatively calm in my little corner when I arrived but the wind freshened during the day.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Carp, Carp 10lb+

Fields End (120)

Autumn session
Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Bright autumn day and unseasonably mild. Light breeze from behind.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Speedia centrepin, antenna waggler, 6lb line to a 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Sweetcorn, worms & luncheon meat
Fish: 2 good carp, a rudd and small roach & perch.

Still suffering from the effects of the shingles virus, I had decided against a fishing trip two days earlier. Feeling a bit better I went to my nearest water, the Fields End Pit, hoping for some sport with roach and rudd, with the possibility of a carp coming along. As it was the roach and rudd proved to be illusive but a couple of good carp made up for their absence.

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Species: Carp 10lb+, Roach, Perch, Rudd

Earith (8)

Venue: Earith

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

Arrival time: 09.45
Weather: Sunny with light clouds. Quite mild but with a troublesome wind.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 10 eyed hook (changed to 8 later).
Baits: Seedy bread with 'insect feast' bird food as groundbait.
Fish: A crucian hybrid, 2 bream, a tench and a carp.

My first trip since November last year, and after my left hip replacement in February. High water level at the lake prevented me from fishing my usual spot at the back, the only available swims being nearer the entrance. This wasn't an issue although whereas the back of the lake is very sheltered, in today's location I was exposed to a troublesome wind.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Carp, Carp 10lb+, Crucian

Fields End (109)

Venue: Fields End

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

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Warm and sunny with a light breeze
Tackle:
11' 6" Hardy Marksman Specimen Avon with Shimano Exage 4000 reel. 8lb line direct to a 12 hook with an Insert waggler.
Baits: Hemp seed & sweet corn feed, corn & luncheon meat on the hook.
All fish taken on luncheon meat
Fish: Two carp and one small rudd

After a chilly week with cold winds last week, today we were treated to a glimpse of spring with sunshine and a hint of a breeze. But the fish seemed still to be a bit reluctant after the cold spell.

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Species: Carp 10lb+, Carp, Roach

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