Willows Lake - Thatcham

1830 - 2330

Warm with a nice breeze in my face, much more clement than the oppressive heat of recent days and kept the dew and mossies away. 26ºC - 17ºC.

5 Carp: 10lb 6oz, 9lb 8oz, 6lb 11oz, 6lb 2oz & a 3lber. 1 Tench (1lb and a bit).

Got off to a promising start with the tench first cast - though I nearly lost my rod to it as I was still 'setting out by stall' and not paying attention to my float! Alas, it would prove to be my only one - and not a hint of my other target species - crucians. At least the carp kept me busy all evening and I also lost a couple to hook pulls (twas only on a 16) but both only after extended fights. One of these was hooked in the tail - and took me over 20 minutes to get to the bank - only for the hook hold to eventually give as I got it to the lip of the net (twas no great size - another of the 6lb class at a guess). Biggest two were caught dapping bread crust under my rod tip after dark.