Well, after last week's disastrous day I decided to fish the west bank. Unfortunately despite arriving at opening time that spot was taken, the problem being that the normal entrance was closed and access was from the 'pool', where there is nothing to stop people arriving before 7.00.

I went back to the reed corner; in fact this is the first swim you reach when you enter from the pool car park. However, on this occasion there was no wind, so fishing the swim was a delight compared with the previous week. Also, I had loaded my new reel with 12lb line, and this combined with my medium carp road proved a very well balanced rig, with enough power to muscle fish out of the reeds. In fact I had no breakages all day, even when hand-lining a snagged hook out of the reeds.

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I still lost a couple of fish in the reeds, and although it was a better day things were still a bit slow. The fish started feeding in the margins as evening approached and I had some fun trying to tempt them with floating crust, with some success.

However, things were disrupted by the arrival of two 'pellet kids', as I've come to call them. They arrive a couple of hours before dusk and bombard the surface with pellets, long casting a floating bait. It's very successful, as they catch repeatedly, but the power casting and the commotion as they land the fish kills the margin fishing. It may be me, but their approach seems to miss the spirit of pleasure angling, the intent seeming to be to land as many fish as possible while taking no time to admire the catch; each fish being returned within seconds, without emotion, and the next cast made.

Three common carp (around 2-3lb) - flake [08.45/11.15/13.15]
Leather carp (5½lb) - luncheon meat [10.30]
Mirror carp (8¾lb) - luncheon meat [14.35]
Common carp (4¾lb) - crust [16.10]. Not large but in superb condition.
Mirror carp (6½lb) - crust [16.35]
Mirror carp (7lb 6oz) - crust [18.15]