I had been waiting indoors for a delivery that never came. I also had a headache, not helped by the stormy weather. Come five o’clock I decided to go over the lake. The conditions were good and I thought some air might clear my head.

I had arrived and set up two rods by six o’clock. Unfortunately in my haste to get out I had left my coat behind, and I didn’t have a brolly with me either. Sod’s law prevailed and it started raining just after I had tackled up and cast. I sat it out and fortunately it was short-lived, but my shirt had got wet and my headache wasn’t getting any better.

Despite conditions feeling perfect I didn’t do that well. I put a leger into the corner to my left with a largish piece of luncheon meat and also fished luncheon meat for roach by the reeds just in front of me. There were obviously oodles of small fish tugging at the bait and I did manage to hook one very small roach, but getting to the bigger ones obviously needs a different tactic. Perhaps some heavier shotting further down the line to get the bait down more quickly. Something to try next time.

As for the carp, I didn’t have a positive bite all evening but think I may have pulled the bait out of the mouth of a fish. I saw a carp near the surface in the corner so re-cast nearer to it. As I was setting up the bobbin and bite alarm I felt a pull, so tightened. For a brief moment I felt something heavy. I find that carp will often take a bait fairly quickly after casting and it’s not the first time I’ve been caught out like this. I must remember in such circumstances not to worry about setting up the alarm until I’ve waited a short while to see if there is a quick take.

I stayed to just past nine o’clock but drew a complete blank. What with the headache and the wetting I think I might have been better off staying at home.