Arrival time: 09.30
Weather: Sunny and unseasonably mild but with a light SE wind
Tackle: 12ft Greys Rova Float, Advanta Discovery centre pin with 6lb line, 4lb bottom & 16 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Sweet corn, bread flake, luncheon meat, worms.
Fish: Blank

After fighting the wind the previous week I was pleased to find conditions much improved and was feeling confident of a good day. But fishing isn't like that, is it?

I started on corn and soon had some interest, the float sinking after some preliminary dips. I hooked into what was probably quite a small roach but it shed the hook almost immediately. This was followed by another positive bite that I missed. Unfortunately, although I didn't know it at the time, this was to be the extent of my 'success'!

I persevered with corn, then moved to bread flake, flavoured luncheon meat and worm. I had some touches on bread, and again on corn when I went back to it. But although the float disappeared on a number of occasions I didn't make contact.

There were some other 'sinking' bites that were quite odd, but towards the end of the session I suspected that they were caused as the line sunk and rested across a submerged reed stem that was laying across the path between me and where I was casting. I think the breeze dragged the float while the line was partially anchored by the stem, causing the waggler to sink slightly.

I was also niggled a bit when a group turned up in the corner swim just along from me. There were two guys fishing, standing bolt upright on a platform designed for a single angler. Lots of talking, distance casting and occasionally dropping things on to the platform. Hardly conducive to my margin fishing. But that's life on a commercial.

Just before I was due to pack up I noticed fry jumping by the reeds just in front of me. I suspected perch and dropped a worm in hoping for some last-minute action. But it wasn't to be.

So, fishing wise it was a blank. Nature is, however, waking up and it was very pleasant sitting in the sun watching mallards, moorhens and a grebe, and listening to the noisy Canada Geese. And an unrecognised bird appeared at one point perched on the remains of a bullrush head, which it was picking apart for the cottony material. I later identified it as a Reed Bunting.

Angling isn't always all about the fish but I must admit to being disappointed as things had appeared much more promising than they turned out to be.