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Diary of an average angler

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!

Venues
Species
Archive
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The addition of embedded YouTube videos to this diary resulted in the web page taking far longer to load. To improve things I have changed the way in which the YouTube videos are activated. This has modified the size and appearance of the video placement images.

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Venues
Species
Archive

Earith (7)

On the waggler!
Venue: Earith

Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Chilly start with drizzle. Remained overcast with light wind.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 12 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots and bread with hemp loose feed.
Fish: 5 tench, 5 bream + small roach/rudd/dace and tiny perch.

After the frustration of missing so many knocks on the bobbin the previous week, I returned to the same swim at Earith to try fishing it with a waggler. I took maggots for hook bait and hemp seed loose feed. I also had four slices of seedy brown bread as a fallback, which turned out to be a wise decision.

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Species: Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Dace

Fields End (115)

Venue: Fields End

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Sunny with increasing cloud. NE wind freshening through day.
Tackle:
Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook. Changed to 16 hook with 3.5lb hook link after a while.
Greys 12' Prodigy VX Rova Specimen, Shimano 5000 RE baitrunner, small bomb leger, 8lb main line, 6lb fluorocarbon hooklength to 10 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggot & bread flake.
Fish: A couple of nice rudd and some smaller roach. One large fish lost.

For a change of venue I decided to pop over to my local commercial at Fields End. With a fresh NE wind forecast it was always a risk as this Fenland lake is exposed. I had hoped to fish the NE corner, which provides some relief from the wind. But unfortunately other anglers had the same idea and all the swims were taken. Not a great start. I set up on the east bank, near the NE corner, and sure enough the wind was already making its presence felt.

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Species: Rudd, Roach

The Clay Pit (13)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Frosty start to a sunny day with light wind.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler (with 1.2g olivette), 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggot & corn.
Fish: Three tench, a crucian and some roach/rudd.

My first fishing trip since the end of November, following back surgery in February. I chose the Clay Pit side pond as it is not far from home and I could park next to where I was fishing. It is also a fairly easy water that hasn't disappointed in the past, so I was almost assured of a fish or two.

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Species: Tench, Crucian, Rudd, Roach

River Great Ouse - Offord (28)

Mill Stream
Venue: River Great Ouse |Mill Stream

Arrival time: 10:30 (at swim)
Weather: Bright but cold. Little wind throughout the session.
Tackle: 11'6" John Wilson Avon with 1.5oz quiver, Shimano 5000 RE reel, 6lb line direct to an 8 hook. Flat bed 1oz leger.
Baits: Cheese paste, luncheon meat & maggots.
Fish: A couple of small chub, a roach and a gudgeon.

With no rain for a couple of days I decided to take a chance on the Mill Stream at Offord. The river had been up and fast the previous week but I was pleased to find the Mill Stream in good condition. There was a good flow and it was still coloured but general speaking it looked very promising. I made my way to a swim about half way along that had been reliable in the past.

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Species: Chub, Roach, Gudgeon

River Great Ouse - Offord (27)

The Triangle
Venue: River Great Ouse |Offord

Arrival time: 10:30 (at swim)
Weather: Overcast and chilly. Little wind to start with but blew up during the session.
Tackle: 9ft Shimano Aero X1 feeder rod with 1oz quiver, Shimano Exage 1000RC reel, 5lb line direct to a 14 hook. Link leger with 2SSG.
Baits: Maggots and worms.
Fish: A number of smallish roach and dace, with the occasional gudgeon and one small perch.

After yet more heavy rain I was unsure about going to a river but I took a chance, with the intention of going to a particular swim if the river was up. And up it was. Coloured and moving at a pace I was pleased to find that the spot I had decided upon offered some slack water.

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Species: Roach, Dace, Gudgeon, Perch

The Clay Pit (12)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: 10⁰C, overcast with a NW wind. Brightened for a short period.
Tackle: 10ft TFG Compact Float rod, Speedia centrepin, light (5 x no.4) waggler, 6lb line direct to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggot & worm.
Fish: Three tench, a small carp, roach, rudd, crucian & perch

I had proposed to go to a river but because of torrential rain the previous day I decided to go over to the local Clay Pit and fish a side pond. I had had a fair measure of success in these ponds earlier in the season but hadn't fished them in colder weather. I hoped for some roach and perch but things actually worked out a lot better.

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Species: Tench, Crucian, Rudd, Roach, Perch

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