The Ouse Really Is Great At Littleport

After some excellent weights in the recent Angling Trust World Club Qualifier, the River Great Ouse at Littleport is proving its worth as an excellent natural venue.

The waterway is currently fishing as well as it has done for many years with roach, small bream, and significant numbers of tench being caught in nets to 25lb.  Large bream 5 lb to 7 lb can also show on any peg to either feeder or long pole tactics. The depth is a good 9-10ft deep so heavy pole rigs of 2-3 grams with size 18 hooks and 0.08 hooklengths are not uncommon and the venue often responds well to a balling-in approach. To do this fish a groundbait such as Bait-tech Pro Natural, Sensas Gros Gardens or Dynamite X River and feed around 5-7 balls at 11-13m, fishing maggot or caster over the top. Once bites die off it is time top up with a couple more balls of groundbait.

There has been a recent explosion of perch in recent years with loads of fish from an ounce or two up to around ¾lb to be taken on maggot but if chopped worm tactics are used in the right areas expect anything up to 3 lb.  The same tactics can produce some of the many big tench that have recently started to show.  At this time of year the pegs opposite the mouth of the ‘Boat Haven’ are the most popular for the pike/zander anglers with pike in the mid/high teens common place although 20lb plus fish are quite rare.  

TIP: When balling-in, add damp leam to your mix, particularly in the deeper swims to help get the mix to the bottom quickly.

Prices: £5 a day on the bank or £15 a season, Littleport AC,
Location: River Great Ouse, Littleport, Cambs, CB6 1NT
Contact: Benwick Sports, 01353 721009, info@littleportanglingclub.co.uk
Rules: No fires, no litter