Ridiculously, I thought that the overnight rain (yes, rain!) and slightly lower air pressure at first light might bring the notoriously plentiful but cagey fish out at Alders. After 2 hours without a touch, I took the hint and crossed the causeway to their noisy neighbours in Willows.

A slow start, bumper lunch time then slower afternoon, brought commons of 7lb 12, 4lb 4, 5lb 6, 5lb 15, 5lb 12, mirrors of 6lb 11, 6lb 4, 4lb 11, 7lb 12 and 6lb 5, plus a single 2lb 11 tench. None of the bigger ones again - I've not seen one of those for weeks. I'm not sure what was in the water today, but they all fought like fire-spitting demons - great fun! After losing an unacceptable number of fish recently due to  snaps or dropping off after several minutes of fight, I fished with a much loosened drag. Alhough this led to me striking into fresh air while I got the hang of it, I didn't lose any on the initial surge that has been snapping 9lb hook lengths tied by a company whose name rhymes with Muru, and only one fish dropped off, the last one of the day, moments after I'd congratulated myself for solving the problem.