I’m not sure whether the weather forecasters knew exactly what was happening this week as each day the forecast changed.

At the start of the week the heavy cold rain raised the rivers and the same cold rain going into the stillwaters would have killed most. Having booked a day off on Tuesday with my brother I decided to look for a commercial stocked with roach that would give us a fighting chance, the solution was one of the MBK lakes situated at Liss. Unfortunately the temperatures dropped over night and a hard frost covered the car, a dismal –3.5 degrees was recorded. Lakes were frozen on the way and we expected to have to rearrange our pre-booked day tickets, however amazingly the lakes were free of ice.

The fishing wasn’t hard but at the same time became frustrating as bite after bite was missed. Finally I decided to watch exactly what was going on and after the initial fast bite that was continuously missed came a nice slow dip. Striking at this slow dip I soon started catching and put a double figured bag of roach together with fish to around 12oz. My brother fished the waggler and caught less but a better stamp of fish to the pole.

Wednesday came and so did the drizzle, which lifted the air temperature to a warm nine degrees. I knew there was a chance of a barbel and freed up a few hours, arriving at the river after dark. Heading to a swim that has supplied a few but big barbel to me in the past it only took ten minutes for the tip to pull round. The hoped for monster didn’t come but one of the babies of Carters put in a rare apperance.

Any fish from this stretch is a result so after another four swims failed to produce I headed home happy. The following evening I was back and fished the same swim but someone had been there before me so I dropped into the swim that failed to produce for my brother the previous night knowing a little bait may have pulled in a fish or two. My suspicion was right but this time a modest chub grabbed the bait.
 
Friday afternoon had been left to complete a feature for TCF on Cemex Pumphouse. No need to arrive early as action in the past had normally happened at dusk so with three rods out I waited and waited. The fish were obviously there as every now and again an indicator would lift and fall but nothing positive materialised. I had planned to fish the night but unfortunately placed one of my legs to close to the bank and slipped in. Cold and wet I headed home to get warm but planned to return at first light in hope of a catch picture. No frost meant I had a chance and soon after casting one of the indicators lifted and stayed put, the culprit an eight-pound bream. Once the sun was up the bites stopped so after a quick picture it was time to return home and start writing.

Next week looks like it’s going to be another gruller with heavy snow forecasted. Luckily I’m back after the roach at Willow so couldn’t be in a better place in such conditions.