Fenland Fishing Diary

Monday June 17th – Old Bedford (River Delph)

Had an evening session on the Old Bedford between Mepal and Welches Dam for the bream and tench. Two bites on the feeder, that’s it!

Plenty of fish moving around, but nothing big.  Well that’s fishing!

Friday June 21st until Saturday June 22nd – Ten Mile Bank

Not a bad session over all. Got to  Ten Mile bank at about 5am and spent an hour or so setting up camp and feeding my swim. Bites from the off, on my faithful cage feeder right up until 1230 pm. Then went quite. So had a quick power nap, and was hoping for a busy night. Cast back out about 2pm and was a picking up a few skimmers and bream up until evening.

My mate turned about 9pm and had a couple of bream. The zander rods went out and we had nothing all night, not even a touch. Morning approached, it was a very windy and wet start to the day. We had breakfast, and the rods were recast again. Just a s I was giving up hope, at about 1015 am, the rod beeped a few times and the tip was twitching. Struck into it and bang the fish was on. At first I though it was a pike, as it was keeping low and fighting really well . After about five minutes, the fish appeared. It was a beautiful lower double zander, my first for the 2013 river season. It took a day and a half to catch, but worth it. It was also the first time my mate had seen a zander. Overall I was a happy bunny!

Monday July 1st – Ely Ouse

Just an evening session after work. Just a few skimmers and a couple of roach. Plenty of fish moving around. Only real excitement was losing a nice, surprise carp, which was rolling about in my swim. Taking fly’s off the surface and having  a good feed on the bottom. My zander rod was brought in, rigs changed and then cast a maggot feeder out, tied direct to 12ib line with a nice bunch of maggots as hook bait. Had no other carp gear, as was totally unexpected!

Anyway Carp was still hanging around and picked up my bait about half an hour later. Had a fair scrap with it, but the line just gave up as the fish dug itself into the weed bed. Gutted isn’t the word! Probably will never see it again.

However, will continue to concentrate on this swim, just to see if I can repeat the experience I had again and actually bank it!

Saturday 13th July – Forty Foot nr Chatteris

Just went out for a couple of hours with the float rod. Had a few bleak, perch and a couple of skimmers. Off to the Middle Level tomorrow, for the day so see how that goes.

Sunday 14th July – Middle Level

Arrived about 5am. Had a skimmer first cast on feeder. Skimmers and small bream throughoout. then in the afternoon, the roach moved in. Had some nice ones aswell. Kind of wish I had a lure rod as there were pike jumping and chasing the dragon flies and damsel flys. Lovely day. Next trip very soon.

Sunday July 21st – Old Bedford (River Delph)

Well thought I would give this drain another go, but visited Sutton Gault.

This area of the drain  is on my doorstep and I have not really giving it a chance. This stretch is full of features and lily fringed all the way to Earith.

Anyway, I have been watching some lovely Rudd topping down here for the last few days and seen some crackers. So thought I would get the float rod out, and give it a go. After a three hour, evening session, I had a lovely net of quality rudd and some cracking Roach. I even had a few chublets.  Seeing chublets this far up, is quite rare.

When it went quite, I had a quick wander towards Earith and spotted some fizzing most likely to be tench. Seeing this, I kind of wished I brought my feeder outfit with me.

Anyway, will be heading back in the next few days. Going to be an early morning tench session this time though!

Monday 29th July – Ely Ouse (am)

I got here at around 5am and had a cracking early morning session. Fish from the off!

Bagged some very chunky bream, roach and rudd. Keep net weighed in at approximately 33ib. Not bad for an early morning session.

I also had something take my rod clean off the rod rest, but lost in a lily bed. Possibly a very nice tench. Will be back soon.

Monday 29th July – Old Bedford (River Delph – pm)

Would of stayed on the Ely Ouse for the day, but the dog walkers were really beginning to annoy me, so decided to move somewhere quiter.

Not as good as last time I visited, as was being constantly pestered by tiny bleak and chublets, although I did winkle out a couple of nice Rudd and Roach.

I was baiting the swim up, and was successful in getting some fizzing going from tench, but nothing obliged. Will be heading back for a proper tench session one morning towards the end of week. Would be nice to get a tench from here again, as it has been a while!

Thursday August 1st – Old Bedford (River Delph – am)

Arrived first thing and the drain was looking lovely.  As I was mixing up my ground bait, a heron disturbed what looked like a nice carp on the surface. Watched it move away, then it just simply disappeared into the depths. Kind of wished I brought my carp gear along as well!

As for the fishing, I had no tench today, but had some fun exploring the drain. Found a lovely tree lined, reasonably deep swim and had a few hours on it. Plenty of nice sized roach and perch. Perch were very active chasing the fish, and even chased my plummet as I was winding it in! There was also a pesky jack chasing the dragon flies as well.

Float was good at first , then died down as the sun got higher. Changed to feeder tactics and was getting quality roach and perch a cast. Worm and maggots worked really well today.

Sunday August 4th – Old Bedford (River Delph)

Just had a couple of hours, just to introduce my two year old son into the world of fishing. My wife even had a go!

Anyway my son caught his first Rudd and so did my wife. I had a few nice sized rudd and even a chub!

The chub took a fair bit of free offerings to get it’s confidence up but was worth it. Never seen them this far up the drain!

 

Saturday August 10th – Middle Level

Middle Level has been fishing well according to reports, so thought I would give it a go.

Got there at the crack of dawn, and thought I would try for the Zander. Had a couple of beeps, but turned out to be an eel having a go at the roach. Feeder rod went out, and I had a few good quality roach, perch, skimmers and bream. I also lost something big, which succeeded in snapping me up. Could of been a nice tench or even a carp. Will never find out now.

On the way back I tried a very nice looking land drain. I have been sizing up over the last few days, but today I actually had a go fishing it.

There was fish topping everywhere and quite a few nice sized perch and a couple of jack pike, giving the fry and damsel flies grief.  No fish for me this time.

Going to concentrate on this in the winter though, as I think there is potential for a big pike lurking somewhere within it’s depths.

Overall the Middle Level wasn’t as good as it usually is for me, but I will be back soon to give it another go.

Saturday August 17th – Ely Ouse

Well had my first evening zed session on my local stretch of the Ely Ouse. No fish for me, but my mate managed to land a jack and a surprise GIANT pike on a small zander he was winding in.

He shouted me over and said he had the fish resting in the net. He was a like quivering wreck.

Anyway I strolled over and started to get the camera ready. My mate went to get the net in, but couldn’t see it. He looked into the river and could see the handle suspended on some lily pads. The pike had recovered and pulled the net in. He fished the net out of the river and could only see the zander. The beast had escaped!  Very gutted for him. He wanted a photo to show his family and me.

Anyway, after getting over the shock, he showed me the zander which was around the 1.5ib mark. The bite marks on the zander left by the pikes jaw were not far off the width of my hand.  Just wish I had some pictures for you.

I think this just proves that pike are still the top predator in the fenland rivers and drains, not the zander as some people may think. I’m sure we will back very soon!

Monday September 2nd – Great Ouse Weir pools

Fancied a break from the drains today, so tried a couple of  Great Ouse Weir pools not to far from me.

Started off on the Buckden and Offord stretch of the Ouse and didn’t do that well. Just a couple of perch and bleak, so moved to Eaton Socon. Had a few perch and a couple of small barbel. Not massive, but was happy as not caught a barbel before. Looking at trying again soon for the bigger ones, but counting down the days to the start of the predator season on the drains.

Tuesday September 17th – Ely Ouse

First trip since my weir pool trip, due to a well deserved holiday in sunny Devon!

Just had a quick evening session after the Zander. Caught two zeds, which was a result. The predators were very active last night, plenty of them smashing into the bleak and fry on the surface. Think there was some good perch about as well.

First fish was on my first cast within ten minutes and weighed between 2/3ib.

Second fish came about 10pm. This was around the 7ib. Put up one hell of a fight. Really clean fish, unfortunately the photos do not really do it justice, as I forgot my main camera, and ended up using my mobile phone, but you get the idea.

Both were caught on dead roach hard on the bottom. I also had a sardine out for the pike, but nothing obliged. Overall, a cracking evening.

Hoping to go on a all-nighter for the zeds on the Middle Level, in the next couple of weeks. Fingers crossed!

Sunday September 22nd – Old Bedford/Land Drain  

Started on the Old Bedford. Bit disappointing to be honest. Just a few perch and that’s it. There were some pike feeding but not interested in my baits. I spotted some nice rudd on the surface, but didn’t catch.

I packed up and made the 20 minute walk to my favourite Land Drain.

I arrived to find it teaming with rudd and roach, and a couple of pike harassing the shoals. Fish a cast on the float. All nice sizes. Got a bit too hot after a couple of hours and was being eaten alive by red ants after sitting on there nest!, so headed back.

Plenty of fish in the net which I was happy about. Shame I left the lure rod in the car, as probably would of caught a couple of jacks as well.

Will be back after the bigger roach, which I know live here and the pike, when the weed starts to die back in a month or so. Have arranged my all night zed trip on the middle level. Hope the weather holds, and the zander are about. Something to look forward too!

Saturday 28th September/Sunday 29th  – Cut Off Channel

Middle Level form had dropped quite considerably, so we headed to the Cut Off as a lot of good reports have been published on this water.

Probably the best day for a long time on this drain. Plenty of roach on the feeder during the day and tench coming out to other anglers. Although our main quarry, was the zander and pike.

Unfortunately I lost a big fish during the first hours of darkness and got snapped up in the early hours. I am thinking the fish I lost in the early hours, may of been a large eel, wrapping around a snag. I also missed a classic pike run, first thing. My mate though, had a 3ib 4oz perch and a 19ib pike, so he had a good session.  Heading back soon, so watch this space! Live and fresh course baits, seemed to be producing the most runs.

Monday October 7th – Sixteen Foot

 

Not been to the sixteen foot for a while now, so thought I would have a go for the pike and zander, after spotting the large amount of prey fish in there, the night before.

I just had a quick evening session after work. No fish on the bank though, due to mitten crab or crayfish stripping my baits and not even setting the alarms off!

When I did get a run, struck too early and lost it in the weed. It felt like a nice fish aswell. Kept on the bottom, and didn’t have characteristic head shake of a zander. Gutted. Two valuable lessons learnt from this trip to the 16ft.

First lesson – Check baits regularly in the 16ft, especially during night sessions otherwise this will happen! lol

Second Lesson – Don’t get too excited, when you get that first run after waiting for hours!

Anyway, probably heading back this weekend for another attempt but this time during the day, and with the feeder rod for the roach and bream down there at the moment.

Saturday 12th October 2013 – Ely Ouse

Abandoned the idea of having a go with the feeder rod on the sixteen foot, due to weather and time, so decided to visit the Ely Ouse, for a predator session. Unfortunately no fish on this occasion, not even a run, despite using coarse and sea baits. Bit disappointing really, but will be back when the temperatures drop a bit more.

Friday 18th October 2013 – Ely Ouse

Had an evening session on the Ely Ouse for the zander. Started off slow, but turned out to be a cracking session. Two zeds for me, biggest one caught was 9.5ib and my first on a sardine. I also lost a couple of fish, but had plenty of runs. Some of which were small zander just plucking at the baits. Has been very good for me for zander this year, just waiting to catch my first 2013 pike!

 

Saturday 26th October – Old Bedford

It’s that time of year again!

I spent an entire day wandering down the Old Bedford after the predators. After walking a total of four miles, it was very enjoyable, but no fish on the bank . 🙁

I had a dropped run and lost one at the net. Hooked it as I was literally picking the rod up for a recast. It was an immaculate fish and looked as though it had never been caught. From what I saw of it, it was between the 8/9ib mark. Best baits on the day were roach. I was also using various sea baits. Want to try and get back down there, before the washes flood for the winter. Got the Marie Curie Predator Cup on the Ely Ouse on Sunday November 3rd. Something to look forward too. Keep an eye on my diary, for a report from the day.  Tight Lines!

Sunday November 3rd – Marie Curie Predator Cup 2013 – Ely Ouse

Well this was the sixth year I have done this, and blanked on this occasion. Was a very hard days fishing. There was a strong SW Wind which made casting difficult and blustery showers, which was also unpleasant. The gusts got very strong at one point and changed direction, which then ripped my carp shelter from the ground and bent my bank sticks.

Very good turn out though. The winning fish was a 22ib 12oz specimen which I was lucky enough to see a photo of it. It was a stunning fish. The winning weight was a total of 23 ib. There was even a smallest pike winner. Weighed in at a total of 8oz!

There was also a zander prize, but not one zander was caught, which was a disappointment.

Apart from blanking, the day was a success, as we all successfully raised £1600, and even that wasn’t the final amount. Everyone was very friendly and I will be back next year as I always am. Got a photo from the day which someone kindly sent me, but will put some more on if I can get hold of any. I was stupid enough, not too charge the camera the night before. Turned it on, and the battery exhausted message came up! Doh! : )

Monday 12th October (Evening) – Ely Ouse

Lovely evening session after work by the river. River had a bit more water than usual pushing through, but the weights were holding bottom, which was the main thing.

No fish until quite late in the session. One dropped run on the small bait, which was most likely to be a zander. In the last hour of my session, I had a nice little pike which weighed 11ib. Apart from a slight scrape on one side, the fish was immaculate. Caught on a nice sized  roach dead bait. I also used sardine and mackerel, but these didn’t even get a touch.  Course baits were definitely the most successful, probably due to the huge amount of roach and skimmers in the stretch I was in last night.

Hoping to head back soon.

Saturday November 16th 2013 – Sixteen Foot

First full predator session of the winter for me. I tried two swims on the 16ft and it was very hard. Other anglers were struggling too. All I had was one jack pike at around the 4/5ib mark. This was the only run I had all day, and was literally during the last hour of daylight. Better than nothing, but will be back. There are some lumps in it, it’s just a case of finding them, and being patient with this water. Hoping to squeeze a few hours in, on a land drain this weekend. Watch this space!

Sunday 24th November 2013 –  First trip of the winter on the Land drains

Well fished two land drains in the morning today. The first one was still very weedy and proving to be unproductive, so I tried another which I have been meaning to try for a long time, but kept on putting it off. Anyway it turned out to be a very successful trip. Rods had only been out about half an hour and I had a screaming run on the right hand rod on the sardine bait. Struck into the fish, and had the best fight for a very long time.  Five minutes later, I banked a 15ib 50z beauty. Immaculate condition. Only run I had, but for a morning session, was very happy with it. Biggest pike for me this winter so far. Will be back again, to try for one of the 20ib+ fish that have been caught from here.

Saturday 7th December 2013 – Various Land Drains

Very quite day out in the fens today. Had no runs until mid afternoon. The pike were just not playing ball today, and when I did  get some runs in the afternoon, they were very finicky, and I lost what felt like good sized fish. Gutted. Anyway probably try and squeeze one more evening/morning session before Christmas, and try and end the year on a high. Looking forward to 2014 already! : )