Tuesday I headed south once more to Mill Farm Fishery to complete a TCF Feature on tench fishing on the Syndicate Lake and crucians on Mill Pond. The conditions were great but roach, not all small, constantly hit the maggot approach.

After the best part of four hours, in between the roach where nearly three pints of maggots was fed through the feeders I managed three tench, two modest perch plus a couple of silvers around 1lbs 4oz. The middle lake also proved difficult for my target species but loads of fish came to the net including, roach, silvers to 1lbs 12oz, carp, tench and just one crucian.

Wednesday I was once again on camera duty doing a freelance job for Anglers Mail. Travelling to a new complex, Beaver Farm, I spent an enjoyable day in the company of Jonathan Watt. On a difficult day, in not the best area I enjoyed watching a class act as this capable angler switched baits, lines and approaches to catch five modest bream, job done.

Finally on Thursday I managed to get out, albeit late and not on my first choice water as time was getting on by the time I’d written the Anglers Mail feature up and sorted the pictures. Unfortunately and once again the maggot attack got bitted out by small fish and changing to rubber grubs brought little respite until after dark when they produced nothing.

Obviously once June arrives the water warms up, which makes the small fish spread across a lake rather than being shoaled up together. Rubber might work for some but it certainly doesn’t for me.

At long last my Gold card has come through so with a never-ending choice of quality venues at my disposal its time to go catch some fish. I wish it were that easy as looking at my diary next week looks as if it’s booked up with features, although Thursday looks free. Will it be Rudd at Frensham or Eels on the river?