Arrival time: 09.00
Weather: Warm and sunny with only a slight breeze after lunch
Tackle:
14ft Shimano Speedmaster match rod, Rapidex 2400 centre pin with 5lb line, 4lb bottom & 14 hook. Insert waggler.
Baits: Hemp seed & sweet corn feed, corn & luncheon meat on the hook.
Fish: Blank

As a change from Fields End, today I went to Rookery Waters in the hope of catching roach from Rook lake. I was to be disappointed.

Having spoken to a chap at Fields End I was led to believe that Rook lake was good for roach. Previously I had only fished Magpie lake at Rookery Waters, but as there had been matches on it on both days over the weekend, I thought I would try something different.

While Magpie has quite a bit of character for a commercial, Rook is more classic comprising a largish oval lake with pegs equally spaced about 10 metres apart. It was already quite busy by the time I arrived and was at capacity when I left. It was not an environment that I enjoyed with much talking and activity.

I fished the left margin pre-baiting with hemp and sweetcorn and thought I had a touch quite early on. But this was, it seems, a deception as after that I never had another touch. I tried cheese paste and luncheon meat before reverting to a single grain of sweetcorn.

I plodded on until 2.00 pm but as the lake became busier, I became more and more disenchanted. I go fishing for peace and quiet and to be at one with nature, not to listen to the guy next to me chatting all day, including quite a bit of swearing.

I did walk across to Magpie, which was in fact far less busy, but the water colour was awful, a bit like brown soup. I'm afraid that Rookery Waters is unlikely to get another visit. It's just not 'me'.