Arrival time: 12.30
Weather: Hazy sun and warm with no wind.
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Bread flake
Fish: Blank

With my hip problem getting worse by the day I chanced a 3-hour session at the Clay Pit. No fish but a very welcome break after a month away from the water.

After much "shall I, shan't I" self questioning I finally decided to go to the lake. I picked up a small thick-sliced loaf from the supermarket with the intention of trying for roach or rudd.

I headed for the pitch that I finished off in last time, but there were a few vans in the car park and it transpired that these were carp anglers who were bivvied along that bank. I therefore took an easy option and fished a bay literally next to the car park. It was, in fact, quite an inviting looking pitch with a reed border and lily pads, as well as sunken 'cabbages' immediately in front of me.

It was also a haven for the water fowl and I was soon bothered by the swan that made itself a nuisance last time, along with a number of geese and three large white ducks that settled down next to me for a couple of hours.

My strategy was to lightly pinch the bread such that it sank slowly and came to rest on any soft weed on the bottom. As a strategy it sounded fine but in practice it didn't result in any bites. A chat with a chap confirmed that it was a good technique, but on another day perhaps, or in another swim!

I persevered, at times trying mid-water and then shallower, at about 18". Fishing shallow was the only method that produced any interest but it soon became clear that these were very small fish that couldn't even mouth the bait.

In the end I didn't catch anything but I enjoyed being out of the house in a fairly idyllic setting. The birdlife did cause a few problems as any attempt to throw in loose feed brought them hurrying across, but that was a small price to pay in the circumstances.

I still obviously have quite a bit to learn about fishing this pit.