With the weather slowly getting colder as the week progresses it’s a case of getting out early and then making the most of any available time later in the week.

Paul managed to get myself a slot on Tight Lines so l had to find a venue that could deliver the goods for the camera. It is to be a specimen series so tench and bream were the target species but lets not forget its still March!

Anyway after some thought l headed of to Cemex Split Lake, well known for its massive catfish but also home of a good head of tench and bream. Arriving late on Monday with just an hour to set up, plumb around and bait up the desired three rods became two and the method rod and small boilie approach stayed in the rod holdall. The other two rods were cast out on my trusted heli-mag rig, one being popped up the other fished on the deck. Little happened apart from the odd fish rolling and the occasional liner but l knew the spodded maggots and Sonubaits hemp would finally do its job at 11pm the indicator started dancing and a 9lbs 4oz bream hit the net. A lost fish at midnight and one aborted run was the rest of the night’s action and at 6-30pm when l finally awoke feelings were that I’d made a horrid mistake. If l struggled through the hours of darkness what chance did l have during daylight?

With two hours left before leaving l decided to spod a pint of maggots and hemp over the rods and within five minutes one ripped of producing a six-pound tench. Over the next hour a further four similar tench plus another 9lbs bream decided to pick up my double red maggot hookbait leaving me in no doubt that this lake is a daytime water, just what l needed. Looking back seven out of the eight hooked fish fell to the popped up maggot! On my return to the car l was privileged to see Heather the Leather at over 51lbs being returned to her home, what a moment? Over the next week l will be keeping some bait going in with the hope l can repeat the performance.

Feeling under the weather as the week progressed my booked day with my father didn’t materialise, hopefully next week will be better.

The Drennan Cup is now closed and all l can do is to keep my fingers crossed on how the anglers vote. All l know is the last twelve months have been extremely demanding, although rewarding as well. One can only do their best and l'm happy knowing l gave it my best shot.

Alan Stagg called me last week and over the next couple of months we’ve decided to team up and try to unlock a venue close to our homes that has produced some monster tench in the past and after seeing a massive 16lbs bream out of Frimley Pit 3 in this weeks Anglers Mail the next few months are going to be exciting times.