I had visited the Clay Pit on the Sunday to try to get some tips on fishing the place as I hadn't had much success in the past. I was lucky to chat to a chap who fished the pole, unlike most of the other anglers there who were fishing at distance for carp. This provided some inspiration for my planned visit on Tuesday.

He had suggested a proprietary groundbait (Swim Stim) and cat food as baits but neither of these appealed to me, being convinced that bread and maggots should do the job. But his other advice was to try the small pools that had been created as part of the restoration works around the lake.

I had assumed that these pools were created as safe and easy fishing for youngsters, but he assured me that they contained good carp and tench, and that if I couldn't catch from them then "I must be fishing without a hook". These are small pools that remind me of a duck pond. But given my previous lack of success at this lake I was prepared to try anything.

To be honest I love small intimate waters and these pools were certainly that. Also, with a very blustery wind blowing they were very sheltered. So I settled down after introducing a mix of liquidised bread and some proprietary groundbait over by the far reeds.

I didn't have to wait long before a bite close to the reeds resulted in a fighting carp coming to the net. Probably around 3lb it wasn't large, but it was the first fish I had taken from the Clay Pit that wasn't a small roach or rudd. So the advice I had been given had already paid off. And shortly after the chap I had spoken to on the Sunday actually turned up, giving me a bit more advice as to precisely where to fish in the swim I had chosen.

I was getting fiddly bites but with quite long waits in between. I finally hooked one and it turned out to be a nice crucian, a species the chap had mentioned when we spoke. A while later I took another crucian of about the same size. I also had a fish come off that felt heavier than a crucian.

My next fish was again certainly not a crucian, tearing towards the reed bank opposite and taking some stopping. After a spirited fight I was weighing a lovely tench at just under 3lb. My first tench from what is recognised as a tench water.

After this I took one more fish, which at first I thought was another good tench, but was in fact a very spirited carp that fought way beyond its actual size.

I had missed quite a few bites throughout the session and had to sit through a short downpour at one point, but it was a good day. I had at last managed some decent fish from the Clay Pit, or at least from the side ponds. It wasn't easy fishing by any means and I don't think the comment regarding fishing without a hook truly reflects the degree of difficulty in catching. But I accept that the ponds are certainly easier than the main lake.

I have a season ticket and will return.