I was pleasantly surprised to find I had the lake to myself for most of the evening considering it was still a shirt-sleeves 15 degrees an hour after dark. But there was a stillness and strange atmosphere and the light had an odd yellowish quality. Even the birds seemed quiet. A brown rat swam past my feet several times, a kingfisher flew across the water and the jumping fish regularly crashed through the surface while large patches of bubbles suggested much activity below. There was an intense feel in the air as if something fishy could happen at any moment.

I pinged in some mixers, but they remained untouched. I tried a zig-rig for fish under the surface, but nothing. I switched to a lift-method float, two rod lengths out where the bulk of the bubbles were now appearing and had two mirrors and two commons, all around the 6lb mark. They fought like little devils - there was certainly something in the water tonight. In the last hour I missed strong bite after strong bite - carpy magic - or maybe the crayfish?

Not a large haul by recent standards, but a mesmeric evening and great fun.