Pulling myself away from the bream on the gravel pits is going to be tough, as l know lm going to come back down to earth with a very big bump and trying to find a venue that comes anywhere close to competing will be almost impossible. I thought long and hard at the venue then followed my instincts and headed for one hell of a hard water, Little Moulsham, knowing that Frensham was just around the corner.

In the past l have been lucky enough to catch to four-pound plus crucians from this historic water but the previous year they had done a disappearing act, however the feeling of fishing a water that not only could produce a British record crucian, but also a grass carp bigger than anything else ever recorded gives me such a buzz, l just cant leave it alone.

Monday night l headed towards Yateley, the weather forecast showers. As soon as l saw the lake l realised that my target, a crucian or grass carp was going to be somewhat harder than expected, as the weed seemed to cover every inch of the bottom. After a while leading around l found a clear spot close in as well as a gravel hump further out, in an area close to where the crucians used to show. Placing a corn stack on the hump and a single piece of corn in close l settled down for the night. The rain started soon after and continued throughout the night with the first shower lasting some twelve and a half hours. Little happened apart from the odd liner to the distance rod and a big liner to the close in rod at dawn. I wasn’t expecting anything an hour after sunrise but to my surprise the distance rod was away but after a short fight, in which my suspicions pointed at a tench the fish became weeded and the hook pulled. I felt that it wouldn’t do any harm to recast the crucian rod and ten minutes later a stuttery take had me trembling, but as soon as the rod was picked up line ripped from the clutch. Twenty minutes later my size 18 Korum S5 and 5.94lb Grand Match hooklink as well as the parabolic action of my Korum Precision 1.75lb multi-tip rod looked like it had the upper hand but it wasn’t to be as an upper double stockie decide to shake its head just before landing, breaking the hooklink in the process.

Wednesday with forecasted overcast and wet conditions myself and dad headed towards Mill Farm Fishery for what would be a last chance session at silver bream, however the weather was more like shorts weather and it proved tough with a few small silvers, the odd bonus tench and perch but loads of annoying small roach that made presentation almost impossible.

Thursday it was a work session at Frimley Pit 2 where l was photographer for Tony Smeets, a knew recruit by Sonubaits l believe. I threw out a couple of eel rods baited with lobworms without any success, whilst Tony showed me a master class in snag fishing taking three stunning commons to 23lb 9oz plus a trio of modest tench for good measure. The wet weather was kind and the social over a hot chilli; good glass of red wine in idyllic surroundings was extremely enjoyable. A big eel would have been nice, though.