My debut at my local water, a large expanse of water alongside the steelworks. Though I moved to Wales in July, I'd not fished it yet because of my apprehension of Dai the Worm. In order to fish it, one must obtain permission a day or two ahead from this local legend. However I'd been warned to make sure I 'only phone him when he's in a good mood' -which sounded a bit arbitrary, so I thought it best to make a personal acquaintance first and perhaps get him used to my English accent before calling out of the blue telling him I wanted to fish his docks.

So the safety-in-numbers of a pike match arranged by Glamorgan Anglers seemed the idea opportunity to meet Dai in a safe environment, only he wasn't there. Never mind, 13 other anglers were, all keen to pit wits against the Esox in a bid for the Bryn Hedges trophy. 

Perhaps I got a bit of empathy for Dai's position in monitoring who gets in to the venue and who doesn't. We drove through both heavily secured gates into a wasteland of crumbling concrete, scrub and rusting nautical hardware. You really wouldn't want kids there or those who might have an interest in removing the vast ancient metal capstans. I was pegged opposite one of the complexes of the steelworks and with the disintegrating concrete pilings of a once active landing stage standing in my swim. I was concerned that if I hooked any self-respecting pike it would immediately head for these braid-snapping pillars. The toughness of the swim was reinforced by a submerged ledge 2 rod lengths out after which the depth plunged vertically to a depth that once handled shipping.

The silver fish matchmen talk of pike being a total nuisance, grabbing sufficient roach on the wind-in to half their overall catch weights.  Live bait is the only way to go, they told me, but personally I refuse to do this, feeling there is nothing more terrifying I could do to any creature than impale it on big hooks and suspend it in areas they know to be of grave danger. So half mackerel it was, both popped up off the bottom which I was assured was full of hook blunting boulders and lead trapping snags. 

With the temperature having dropped from double-figures to three degrees overnight and a day of bright sunshine after a week of Welsh rain, I felt it might not be the greatest day for pike fishing. And do it proved, with only three anglers catching - two small jacks and one maybe 8lbs. I certainly wasn't one of them, but at least I have a feel of the water now and a confidence to approach Dai the Worm when I surely return. If he lets me.