As soon as I stepped out this morning, I felt like Alec Guinness in Bridge on the River Kwai. It was so darned hot that, within ten minutes, Alec wasn't the only cool Guinness I felt like but I soldiered on and a twelve pack of Spa cola had to suffice. Quality I didn't expect but at that price, I couldn't say No.
I travelled light with just pole rigs and plummets in my box and the usual suspects for bait - corn, meat, prawns for the hook and chili hemp for loose.
With the landing net handle in my pole bag and the net attached to the box, all good to go.
I fished a regular swim, in fact one I've fished many, many times over the years and settled in with the pole, 8lb main line, a .75g float to a 14 to 6.1lb bottom - meat on the hook, cubed to 8mm.
It all felt, with the roles reversed, like Wellington's famous quote - they came at us in the same old way and we fought them off....
Not much waiting today though, they were on it in a flash and a steady train of small carp (biggest around 5lbs), skimmers (up to the pound mark or so), the odd roach and rudd and a gift off El SKipperondo, a solitary eel around the pound mark.
The birdlife was its usual splendid display with a Jenny Wren that seemed happy with the warm weather, a beautiful singing voice, far more talented than the troglodytes Simon Cowell calls capable.
After a while I also had Springsteen and some fine Seattle grunge for company and my line of coke kept me topped up nicely. It didn't impact on the catch rate which held steady and the hours flew by until I called a halt with an estimated 45lb bag.
I enjoyed it but I really need a wilder challenge so I think the natural, normally stocked lake at Milton Abbas may feature fairly soon.
Until the next trip, have a blinder if you're out over the weekend and please take and use the relevant sun protection - it can sometimes be warmer than you think
