Due to my work, I find myself a temporary resident of Wessex. This does mean that I am almost in casting distance of my favourite pool.

As I arrived this warm overcast evening I met the manager who was there in preparation of a friendly get-together he had planned for the following day.

After a chat, I aimed for a swim that I had not fished in absolutely ages, and watched fish roll as I was tackling up.

I hastily cast out and tried to relax with a cup of tea as my float kept being knocked all the time. Line bites I thought, or something small having-a-go as I was using a larger hook and a good sized bait aiming for a Tench.

Nothing happened! I let the situation carry on for about two hours, I then reeled in and dropped a hook size which led to almost instant action.

Firstly, I landed a small Roach and then the Crucian’s appeared. Although I was hoping for a Tench, it was lovely to see Crucian after Crucian. I missed most bites. There were definitely Tench in my swim as now and then I would get a clonking bite and the pin sang for a brief second. These bites never materialised as I’d dropped to a smallish hook. Not to mind, I had a cracking evening. One note, I didn’t land a single Perch, which was the total opposite of my previous visit to this pool.