After two years we’re back at Cringles, near Silsden, so I can visit Stake Hill again. The fishery has been open about five years. I first visited four years ago, so I have seen it develop. It’s a very tidy lake and a credit to the owners.

I fished the same corner as on the previous two occasions. Feeding with small pellets I quickly started getting bites on bread flake.

I lost a fish early on due to the hook-hold failing, but after this I was getting a bite a cast. The fish here are relatively small, but they fight hard and are good sport. I landed 16 carp, mostly mirror although there were a couple of commons. Most were around 1 - 1½lb, but a few were between 2 - 3lb, with the best being 4¾lb. I also caught one small tench.

As dusk approached I started using larger pieces of flake and although this didn’t tempt any larger fish, at 21.15 I managed to lose my hook as a fish tore off. I’m not sure whether the fish was a better one or if I was a bit too heavy handed.

A good evening.