Arrival time: 10.30
Weather: Sunny but chilly with a strong NW wind
Tackle: 14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Hemp seed & sweet corn feed, corn, prawn, cheese paste & artificial casters on the hook.
All fish taken on corn
Fish: Four roach

Back to Fields End after my hip operation having missed the summer. After a few mild days the temperature had dropped and a fierce NW wind made things difficult.

After heavy rain the previous day and overnight, I decided to avoid the rivers and try a trip to the lake before the weather became too cold. Unfortunately the strong wind made life difficult.

I was trying out my recently purchased Fox EOS2 chair, bought to give me the higher sitting position necessary for the early days of hip recovery. I had also bought a Korum 'Any Chair' tray attachment to avoid the need to bend down to reach the bait. So, in a way, the trip to the lake was a try out for these new acquisitions.

After feeding an area close to the left margin with hemp and corn I quite quickly caught my first roach. But, after that, things went very quiet.

Quite early on I needed to retackle after the wind blew my rig into the reeds resulting in the loss of the float and everything else.

With the corn no longer appearing to tempt the roach, I first tried prawn in the hope of a perch or two, but no bites were forthcoming. I then tried some artificial casters that I bought a couple of weeks ago, thinking that the roach might be tempted. But that ploy failed as well, as did trying cheese paste, although there were a couple of dips on the float.

My alternative baits having been largely ignored I reverted to corn and persevered with it, managing three more roach and one other that came off before I could net it. Not a lot to shout about as none of these fish was large, probably around 4-6oz.

But it was good to get out again after months of enforced separation from fishing. I would have liked to have done better but the conditions were poor and it's certainly not the first time that I've lucked out at Fields End; and I doubt it will be the last!