Ha. You got to love those fish. One day you think you've got this angling lark sussed, the next you're at the same swim but without the cold northerly wind - and nothing even waves a fin.

Turned out to be an exercise in sittin' on the dock of the bay, watching the my neighbour rolling his bait boat back and forth. I'm sorry, but these just seems too unfair on the carp. At least casting way into the distance to within a foot of an island takes skill. You earn the right to catch those fish. I can't do it, so don't try. Anyway, I prefer fishing the margins. After all, if these beachcasters were on the island wouldn't they be doing exactly the same thing, casting football pitch lengths to the bankside where I sit? These boats don't give the fish a chance to hide, putting the odds too much in anglers favour, akin to walking to the crease at Lords with a bat wide enough to cover all of the stumps. I won't catch so many fish, but I won't be spending the £600+ on one, though I'd be happy to consider purchasing a U-boat to torpedo the things.

This said, I didn't get a bite whereas Pirate Pete caught two and seemed to lose more in the snags he was dropping his bait in, so who am I to condone.

I made the short hop to Warwicks for the last hour or so. There were four other anglers attracted (as I was) to the thought of newly stocked tench and crucians. All I saw come out in my short time appeared to be tiny roach, of which I nabbed six, before switching to a feeder and larger baits hoping for something longer than my finger to no avail.

Fish 1 Martin 0