Having a tight lines feature booked in on Monday afternoon and one for TCF on Tuesday morning at Old Bury Hill l was granted permission to fish the night and was really looking forward to the experience.

Unfortunately the weather conditions that were so perfect the previous week had changed for the worst and although great for filming they were probably as bad as you can get for zander fishing. High pressure bought with it cloudless blue skies, plummeting temperatures after dark and worst still and chilly brisk north easterly wind. Meeting at midday we quickly headed off to our swims, my brother accompanying myself as a backup, leaving the Sky crew in the car park. Casting out straight away we laughed that it would be good to get one in the net quickly but as the Sky crew made there way along the path my bobbin rose and before the camera was switched on the first zander was in the net. Hoping that things continued in the same vain we then experienced a very slow afternoon in which a further five small fish came to the net, the last taken once again on the feeder. Kevin was catching at the same rate but again only small fish.

Once the camera crew had left and the sun dropped the lake exploded into action and the bigger fish started to feed and by 10pm l had landed a further 16 zander, the best two going 9lb 5oz and 9lb 15oz with a very big fish lost under my rod tip. Kevin was also catching well with fish to 9lb 4oz.

At 11pm l decided to get some sleep as action had stopped and with hopes of a quick fish in the morning awoke at 5am, however the wind had eased and the lake looked dead. A bite was missed at dawn but over the next seven hours just two small zander came, luckily though both on the feeder, which was what the feature was all about so tired and smelling of sardine l packed away one happy angler.

Thursday l had to look after my godson due to an ‘inset day’ and returned to Bury Hill in the hope that he could catch his first zander, however with just a three-hour slot allocated in the middle of the day it was a tough call but Max did catch the only fish whilst we were there, a small pike, which made his day.

Friday l hoped to visit the Thames to start my perch campaign but knowing other anglers were going to be in the swims, and not wanting to step on any toes decided to leave the tackle at home and go for a walk instead. The anglers were fishing and had caught perch to 2lb 12oz so at least l now know where to go next week.