When I arrived there were around 5 or 6 anglers on the lake. The most I’ve seen. One was in my ‘adopted’ spot, but as I set down elsewhere, I noticed that he was packing up. I went over and had a chat with him. He was from Bradford and has been fishing the lake for about four years. He remarked that it was now getting busier. He was looking forward to some barbel fishing on the Swale as the river season opens tomorrow.

Whether it was because he had been fishing there during the day, or for some other reason, things started much more slowly than on the previous evenings. I had almost run out of my small feed pellets so started flicking in bread flake pellets, rolled between the fingers. I missed a few bites on luncheon meat and it was an hour before I landed my first fish, a rather small tench.

After this things warmed up a bit and over the next few hours I landed another five carp, the best being just over 3lbs, another tench of about ¾lb, and a couple of small bream, both of which were foul-hooked after getting what seemed to be good bites, but were obviously ‘liners’.

I also lost a couple of fish due to failed hook-hold. I had increased the hook link rating to 5lb, which may have been a bit on the heavy side, but I didn’t have anything between 2½lb and 5lb with me.

All fish were on either bread flake or luncheon meat.

We walked along the Leeds and Liverpool canal the other day and I think if we return to this area next year I may give it a try. The setting is very nice and while it may not provide the same sport as a commercial lake, it will be a nice change. I may also check out the River Aire, which looks quite inviting.