I was heading for the Mickey Mouse Pool but saw from the road that my favourite spot was occupied. I happened to be next to Peg 1 of the match pool at the time. Now, I have noticed that this peg is very popular and when I had a closer look it was clear that the adjacent pegs were some distance away, making it ideal for margin fishing. There were reeds to the right (photo) and a corner to the left, where the road bordered the lake.

I started with my float rod as there were few snags. First cast was to the left, where I had an instant bite that I missed. However, there was a high risk of snagging overhanging trees, so I tried the right margin instead. First cast there, at about 17.15, I got a strong bite and hooked a powerful fish. There were no massive runs, but it put up a dogged fight that must have lasted at least ten minutes. The light tackle meant I had to play it to submission and after weighing it, at 8lb 5oz, and photographing it, I had to wait a while for it to recover its strength before it swam off.

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I contemplated changing to my Avon rod but decided that I wouldn’t probably get another large fish, so I cast again to the same spot. Another almost instant bite and another large fish was on, only 15 minutes after the first. Again it was a dogged fight with the fish continually making short but powerful runs. My arm was getting tired after landing the first fish, but again I played it carefully until it came in quite docilely. Although this fish didn’t look as large from the side, it was broader and longer, and on the scales it was just over 10lbs. So, my first double at Docklow.

I now changed to my Avon rod, which was bound to be unlucky, and indeed it was. It was well over an hour before the next fish, a small chub of about 6oz caught to the left under the trees. At 19.15, half hour later, I had a small leather carp of about a pound from the right margin. I continued to alternate between the left and right of the swim, losing a fish on both sides. The first, to the left, took about 5 yards of line in its initial run before shedding the hook. The second similarly ran and took line and again shed the hook. It may be that the lighter float rod minimised the risk of hook pull-outs and that the change to the Avon rod cost me these fish; speculation, I know, but quite possible.

It was now starting to get dark and at 19.40 I caught my last fish, a 1½lb barbel from the right margin.

It was a really good evening even though I did have a quiet spell. All fish were taken on luncheon meat, although I was feeding in bread pellets and did have a few bites on bread that I missed; possibly roach or crucians.