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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
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Species
Archive
Venues & topics
Species
Archive

The Clay Pit (23)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Mild with increasing light cloud cover and little wind. Perfect conditions.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler with lift-method single shot, 6lb main line to 14/12 eyed hook.
Baits: Bread flake with crumbed bread ground bait and sweetcorn.
Fish: 7 tench (one juvenile) and 2 crucians.

Following a break of just over two weeks, caused by sitting out a hot spell followed by few days away, and then avoiding a period of heavy rains, I decided on an easy day at the side pond on the Clay Pit. This little pond has nearly always been kind to me and with parking next to the swim, and few people around, it was just about perfect for a restful session. The only disappointment was that the water level was down around a couple of feet, not great given that the pond is only normally about four to five feet deep.

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Species: Tench

The Clay Pit (22)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

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

Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Fresh start but becoming quite warm. Sun all day with light clouds and just a hint of a breeze.
Tackle: Greys 12' Prodigy TX Float rod, Allcocks 4" centrepin, 4BB waggler with lift-method single shot, 6lb main line to 14 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots.
Fish: 3 tench.

With the close season in force on the rivers I went over to the Clay Pit to try my luck for some spring tench. We had had a few warm days and when I arrived the water in the side pond was coloured, indicating some aquatic activity. On my previous trip in winter the water had been clear and I blanked. Chatting to a chap as I tackled up, he informed me that he believed that cormorants had raided the pond, which was a bit disheartening. But I took a positive view that even if this was true perhaps the tench had evaded their attention.

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Species: Tench

The Clay Pit (21)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

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

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!

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Species: Blank

The Clay Pit (20)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

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.

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Species: Blank

The Clay Pit (19)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

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

Arrival time: 10.00
Weather: Beautiful sunny autumn day with a fresh 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-based groundbait with added hemp & sweetcorn.
Fish: Two tench and a carp. Two fish lost.

A mild episode of shingles delayed my return to the water, this being my first outing for three weeks. After a couple of challenging trips to the 20ft drain, and general malaise because of the shingles, I decided on an 'easy' session on the side ponds at the Clay Pit. I usually mange a few fish on this venue and being able to park almost next to the swim was a bonus, given my post-viral state! I was fortunate to get the spot I usually fish although there were a few people on the main lake.

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Species: Tench, Carp

The Clay Pit (18)

Side pond
Venue: The Clay Pit

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

Arrival time: 08.50
Weather: After a very hot spell, chilly with occasional sun and windy.
Tackle: Hardy 11' 6" Marksman Specimen Avon, Allcocks 4" centrepin, preloaded waggler, 6lb line direct to 10/12 eyed hook.
Baits: Maggots, bread flake, spam.
Fish: Two tench and one small rudd.

After a scorching hot beginning to the week I decided to go over to the Clay Pit as I didn't fancy too much walking, thinking it would still be quite warm. In fact it was really chilly with a fresh wind. It was my first visit to the Clay Pit this year as the lake was closed for spawning until just before the opening of the river season. I've had fairly consistent success on the small side pond in the past but on this occasion it was really challenging. I hadn't had a positive bite in the first three hours.

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Species: Tench, Rudd

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