I don’t normally get to fish the opening days of the course fishing season, but have been very lucky this year.

I had a lovely 16^th at a nearby pond yesterday, and today was eager to get to this, my favourite little pool in deepest darkest Wessex.

It was hot, very hot. I did not fancy my chances at all of catching anything. I waited until the afternoon, had a spot of lunch at a local inn and made my way to the pond around 14:00.

I did not particularly wish to fish this particular swim but my own comfort was paramount on a day like today. Shade was the overriding necessity.

After ground baiting an area, I setup an old Mark IV with one of my usual Aerials’ and sat down in total comfort out of the sun.

It was not long before the little red-tipped quill bobbed and went under. Finally, christening this float to a little Roach. (It did not move at all yesterday).

As the afternoon went on I saw a number of Roach and infact a couple of Perch and a Tench; all small and all in the heat of the afternoon.

Around 19:00 I hooked into something substantial and landed one of the finest Tench that I have ever caught at this pool.

The Tench was gently lowered back to its home. I re-baited and re-cast. Again it was not long before my float dipped. I lightly struck and missed, my float lodging itself onto a lilly stem. Managing to free the float and hook from the lilies which then “pinged” to my left and straight into the braches of an overhanging sapling. A sharp pull on the rod only to free the float and hook from the branches which then wrapped themselves around the rod tip many, many times resulting in one awful tangle.

I normally would have cursed, but I sat down calmly and began to unravel the tangled mess. Around 10-15 minutes later the tangle was free, I re-baited and re-cast. Again it was not long before the little red-tipped float began to move. I struck – nothing! I reeling in to find my hook had been bitten off. This was surely the pond now telling me to go home. I had too much good fortune for one day.