The charity match took it’s toll basically for not drinking enough fluids so it wasn’t until Tuesday that l managed to get back on the bank.

Last year l had a few big crucians swirling under my rod tip at Frimley Pit 2 so it was with these in mind that the session was made. The weather was still hot but a blustery changeable wind probably didn’t help and no crucians rolled over the baited spot.

I'd spodded some maggots and hemp out slightly further either side of the swim with the hope of a tench or two. Both spots erupted in bubbles soon after introducing this but try as l did not a liner was received, they knew something was wrong and avoided my rigs like the plague!

Thursday l returned to Sandhurst after numerous unsuccessful trips last spring targeting bream. The lake was empty and once again l rubbed my hands together as l dropped into peg 4. After introducing a bed of pellets l recast every two hours to make sure the pellet hookbait was fresh but fish as well as l could not a fish came to my rods. Sandhurst has lots of good fish in it but they’re not easy and as much as l love the place it certainly doesn’t like me!

Saturday it was a case of taking desperate measures and l returned to Marsh Farm, a water that l know like the back of my hand and with tried and tested tactics proceeded to take the place apart. If you have fish rolling, then they are feeding and if you’re not catching then you need to keep changing your rigs until you find the solution.

The first hour was just like this but the answer came by hair-rigging a single grain of Sonubaits Pineapple flavoured corn. I always keep a supply of bits of bait in the van and thank god l do as they didn’t want small boilies or pellets and as a last resort l remembered that ld left a can or two in my reserves. Once the change was made 38 crucians fell, the best two both going 3lbs 11oz plus 18 tench to 7lbs 5oz.