At last, a day with no wind. Overcast, a bit of drizzle at times and mild. Ideal really.

First cast produced a good solid bite on float-fished flake, a run for the reeds (I was in the reed swim again) and one lost hook! So the first big un got away. Next cast a mirror of about 2lb, again on flake.

I switched to cheese, as this had worked for the tench a couple of visits ago. This time first fish was a 4½lb mirror, but shortly after a 3lb 6oz tench came to the net. I then lost another fish in the reeds. Another tench came a bit later, this time 2lb 12oz on float-fished flake.

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I spotted some activity on the surface after lunch and tried floating pellet. I'm still getting used to fishing pellet and was delighted when I got a strong take. After a bit of a battle a 10lb leather came to the net.

After this things fizzled out, which was disappointing as conditions were good. I formed the view that the fish move more to the southern end of the lake as the weather warms and this view was supported by watching a chap catch fish after fish from the surface at that end. It was this that prompted me to try the surface pellet.

I did take a couple of crucians after the big carp (1¾lb and 1lb), the first on luncheon meat, which was a bit unusual. The final fish was a 2lb 2oz tench caught on float-fished flake. The expected evening 'rise' when the carp start taking surface food with gay abandon unfortunately didn't materialise.