Things aren’t looking good as its going to be another cold night, however undeterred it was back to the rudd lake in the hope of a monster.

As it got dark the heavens opened and a heavy sleet storm dropped the air temperature and l once again questioned my sanity. Not long after it stopped the indicators started twitching and a couple of tench lifted my hopes. The third bite saw myself put my foot in a big cold puddle and losing the fish; another tench l decided that an hour on the float would be enough for one night. Steve had joined me and we both tried hard on the waggler but they just weren’t having it. The temperature gauge showed a dismal two degrees as l left the lake.

Looking at the weather forecast things have taken a turn for the better and as the week progresses it looks like the temperatures going to rise. I delayed my arrival till Wednesday and little did I know what was in store for the evening. Three hours on the waggler supplied around thirty fish including three two’s, the best 2lbs 11oz 8drams! Changing to the feeder bought another four, the best an incredible 2lbs 14oz specimen plus numerous tench. Seven two-pound rudd in March, it’s unheard off!

With three days left l decided it was all out for a three and returned the following evening. Adopting the same game plan things didn’t look good as the wind had changed and with it taken the rudd, however seventeen tench by the morning is good by anyone’s standard. The next evening the wind was back to a favourable southwesterly and the rudd were back. Steve took two, two pounders on the float whilst l managed the same on the feeder, the best 2lbs 6oz, along with twenty-one tench to 6lbs 13oz.

The final night and the wind is variable leaving me to think that things would be tough, especially when six anglers from the tench fishers had failed to obtain a bite between them all day. Casting out the feeders soon showed signs that fish were around and a couple of modest rudd raised my hopes. Kevin my brother had joined me and soon started catching on the float, however it was a bite at 7-45pm that had me shaking as in my net lay a rudd that may go three. The weigh in had to be double checked by my brother who confirmed a weight of 3lbs 8drams. What a way to end the season. Kevin continued to catch including a personal best rudd of exactly 2lbs plus a good perch of 2lbs 5oz. The tench moved in on the feeders and at a little before midnight we reeled in and said goodbye. What a few days, probably the best fishing in March l will ever experience!