Returning to Frensham Pond Monday evening coincided with a mild evening and joining myself for the evening was good friend Steve Ansell. Steve had taken the pictures of my catch last week and decided he wanted a go himself but instead of fishing the feeder he wanted to try for them on the waggler.

Now having to wade out and stand thigh deep in water for hours on end seemed brave but to do it in the depth of winter in freezing water seemed bordering on madness, however l sat back and watched with amusement. My amusement got better as a rudd just shy of two-pound fell to my rods and Steve started shivering but then he struck and was in. Catching that first rudd warmed him up and soon a brace of two-pounders graced his net and l kicked myself for not bring the float rod. A few smaller samples came to his rod before a burst on my right hand rod bought a tench followed by a brace of two’s for myself. The action continued until we ran out of maggots at around 11pm. We were back on Wednesday but the weather had changed and after an influx of cold rain during the day the temperature dropped away sharply. We both stood in the water for three and a half hours before the feeling in my toes got the better of me. The rudd were still there but not as active and after a two-pound perch that had the heart racing, four small rudd followed. Steve managed just two, however he lost a big one. When we got back to the car the temperature gauge read a dismal zero!

Thursday was spent in the company of Fred Healy and although l did cast my rods out the day was spent taking pictures for a feature. We both missed runs before Fred landed the only perch of the day just short of two-pound.
Friday night was spent on Cemex Theale again for a feature in which l was the photographer. Unfortunately the session proved difficult and Sam finally managed a tench to save the day.

The last week of the season will be spent on Frensham as l have a feeling it will supply the goods as Steve fished Saturday evening for another big brace however looking out of the window the weather may have another idea.