The 16 March trip had broken my winter duck and the weather had warmed up some more, so back to the lake. I arrived just after 07.00 and there was nobody there. I fished the reed swim again, which while difficult is fairly reliable. And early in the year there is at least half a chance of keeping the fish out of the reeds.

The conditions were good. The lake was calm and although a breeze was forecast things started off perfectly; except that the fish weren't cooperating. Bread flake didn't produce a response and although I got bites on sweet corn, they were clearly roach, and I did in fact hook and land a few. I also had what looked like a couple of dace!

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I was using the 13ft Fishtec rod again with a waggler and 4lb line. I dropped to a 14 hook and switched to small pieces of luncheon meat. At 09.00 I was rewarded with a 2lb 5oz mirror. Persevering with luncheon meat I got a 4lb 4oz linear mirror at 10.00.

Things then went quite dead during the middle of the day, the breeze having got up. Mick was on the lake and didn't take a single carp, which is very unusual. At 15.45 a nice 8oz rudd (at least I think it was a rudd) took luncheon meat, then at 16.40 another carp, this time a 4lb 12oz common.

All the carp were lethargic and I managed to steer them away from the reeds before they 'got into gear'.

Things were obviously looking up as late afternoon/evening approached, and at 17.00 I hooked a fish that screamed line off the reel. It felt like a very good fish but, unfortunately, after playing it for perhaps 10 minutes, the hook-hold failed. I was a bit upset at losing what could easily have been a good double.

The fish were now clearly feeding in the margins and at 17.40 I landed a lovely 6lb 8oz common.

Three quarters of an hour later I hooked a better fish that again took line. It didn't feel as heavy as the one I lost, but when landed was a fine 8lb 10oz leather.

At 19.00 I landed a dumpy little mirror that weighed in at 7lb, but it may have been in spawn judging by its shape. I then hooked another good fish that screamed off line but the hook-hold failed after the first run. There was part of a scale on the hook when I retrieved it, so it could have been foul-hooked.

All the carp were taken on luncheon meat.

So, despite a quiet midday period, and losing four hooks and a float on a snag near the reeds, and two fish, it was a pretty good day.