With heavy rain forecasted l headed back to Cemex Little Moulsham so that l could set up before the heavens opened. Rods were positioned back on the pre-bated area and l sat back to await events. Within ten minutes a liner indicated something was around but by morning nothing had transpired apart from other occasional liners.

Wednesday l needed to catch a chub on cheese to get a decent main photograph for a feature and my trusted chub swim on the river Loddon didn’t disappoint producing one of exactly 5lb. Dad had ventured out and after numerous pulls, taps and missed chances connected to what is a modest chub on this beat, at around 3lb 8oz. Sitting with Dad and watching his tip constantly get pulled we came to the conclusion that numerous chub were getting away with our more directed at barbel set up. Next week lm going to swap to a Korum Precision Power Float rod, 8lb line and try using a tiny feeder packed with Sonubaits 4mm Elliptical pellets and then band a couple onto the hook. This scaled down technique is sure to bring a few more chub and if a barbel is hooked then lm confident it will also be up to the job in taming them.

Thursday and at long last l headed to Cemex, Horton Church Lake, my target species eels. After reading Tony Gibson’s recent capture l was expecting to be up all night but just two runs around 11pm came resulting in two eels of around 2lb apiece.

Friday my brother suggested we headed to Godalmings, Harris Lake, more for a social than a fish catching exercise. I wanted to have a practice for the following Thursdays filming with Onlinefishing.tv and soon caught a crucian albeit around 5oz! The southeast wind has made things difficult this week and put most species in a strange mood but the scaled down bolt rigs and the Sonubaits Supercrush Green groundbait did the trick again and fooled seven crucians to around 2lb 12oz plus a modest tench to Kevin and myself in a short after dark session.