After a two week, non angling break in Cuba l was eager to get back on the bank, but unfortunately went down with food poisoning the second day of the holiday which needed some medical treatment and although I’m better, I’m still not right.

I was hoping to get back on a new water l discovered just before leaving for Cuba that produced a five-pound eel on the first night but these will have to wait.

Needing some photos to complete an article for Coarse Fisherman l managed a couple of hours on the river Wey through Farnham and enjoyed catching a few dace and trout, then on Friday had to completely rearrange another feature that proved a complete failure.

I initially was going to fish a lake for some big roach using a very different and new to me approach, the pellet waggler but the publication wanted a running water feature. I headed for the Basingstoke Canal, not exactly running water but different enough to be different but after raking and pre-baiting the night before failed to catch the desired bream and tench, even after a 3-30am start! Cutting the session short at 9am l headed for a swim on the river Wey that used to produce some good roach and perch, albeit twenty-years ago. The roach and perch were still there but only small ones so the day was wasted and after talks with the publication will be going back to my first idea on Monday!

I did learn one thing from Friday and that is to concentrate on what I’m good at and if l feel out of my comfort zone then decline the challenge, especially when I’m up against a deadline!

Hopefully next week should be better and its going to be a full on assault at locating and catching a big eel as l know that targeting any other species over the next few weeks will be frustrating and sometimes nigh on impossible.