Back to the Tree Corner to test out my theory that the larger carp patrol this area. As they say, the best laid plans and all that!

Like the previous week it was hard work; perhaps harder. There were touches that either came from roach or cautious crucians. I had taken some worms this time from the composter. Boy did they stink!

I tried a worm down the margin in the hope of a bonus perch but nothing took. I then cast the worm out to my baited area and an immediate bite resulted in a fine 14oz roach (photo). I thought I had hit on a winning formula but, as is often the case, this was not to be repeated.

The roach was caught a 08.45 and I plodded on. At 10.10 a 1¾lb crucian gave a slower ‘running’ bite that I managed to hit.

Click image to view larger version.

Thereafter it was bleak. Half-bites on bread flake. No joy on luncheon meat. One missed bite on a halibut pellet. But no fish.

A chap and a young lad turned up about midday and fished to my right, each on a separate platform. The platforms are high and the two of them were moving about a lot, so this may have spooked the fish nearer the bank, where I was fishing. Whether it was this, or just a lack of interest from the fish, I didn’t catch anything else until 17.00. The pair had left about twenty minutes earlier and I at last got a positive bite. At first I thought it was a good crucian but it then increased the revs and just as I was coming to terms with the fact it was a carp the hook came out. I recast and quickly got another good bite; another carp. After a brief but interesting battle on the light float rod a 6lb mirror was in the net.

I was tempted to cast again but dusk was setting in, and as dusk and darkness are effectively one and the same thing at this time of year, I reluctantly packed up.

So, no big carp today but the swim deserves more attention. There are obviously good roach to be taken and next time I’m going to risk using my 14’ match rod and 4lb line. This may reward me with more roach and crucians and if a big carp comes along, we’ll just have to see. Although there are reeds at the margin they’re not deep, so they don’t offer much refuge for the fish, and there’s plenty of open water out in front, so with a bit of luck I might be able to deal with a carp on the lighter tackle.