Having caught nothing at the Clay Pit on the Monday, I returned armed with pellets, biscuits and maggots. This time there was no sign of the carp (typical) so I persevered with bottom-fed maggot on a waggler. The water is deep off the fishing stage; about 6 feet just by the reeds.

After a while I tempted some small rudd. Then came a surprise; the float shot away and a better fish was on. I thought I had cracked the carp problem. However, it turned out it was a small jack-pike (about a pound) that had obviously lunged at a fish and become entangled in my line. It wasn't hooked but a loop of line was around its teeth; most odd. It was surprising that I got it in.

Most of the rudd were very small; only ounces. I did hook a slightly better one but it shed the hook. Meanwhile, a cruising carp appeared around my float, so I introduced some pellets and also tried a few dog biscuits, but as on the previous occasion, it just ignored them. Still, this lake has great potential, and according to the chap I spoke to it holds a very good head of tench (up to 9lb) as well as some large established carp.

There is a carp syndicate that costs £100/year, which allows you to night-fish. Normal membership is only £25/year, which suits me fine.