Well today saw a return to the wigan area for a trip to a small river with Tigger once more. We had the intention of doing some tip work for whatever came along just to make a change from the trotting.

We met up at the usual spot and drove down to our destination. As we walked along the bank I couldnt help but admire how nice the river looked but also couldnt help but notice how damn hot I was. The last time I wear the heavy waterproofs on an average day!

We walked a sizeable length of the river before bumping into a chap who said he had had a few roach and was moving off. We moved onto two pegs where he had been and set up and away we went.

Ian was the first to have a touch and then another but no fish. We sat for a good hour chatting away and watching motionless rods before deciding we were for the off. I lifted my rod only to find I had a small stickleback patiently waiting to be unhooked. My first of the season!

At least it saved a blank I though.

My Swim

After unhooking the stickleback we upped sticks and departed to a small pit that Ian had said held some decent sport.

We trecked through a forest and up and down hills before finally emerging into a huge golden cornfield. No sign of the pit I though but I trusted Tiggers internal sat nav as we made our way through the field trying to avoid any farmers gazes.

Finally I saw the venue. The smallest pit I have ever fished. I wasnt convinced. I set up never the less after removing my sweltering thermals and dropped a small maggot feeder by the side of the only reeds in the place. Instantly the tip started knocking and I pulled out a small roach. This continued for the next few hours catching fish after fish. I had perch, roach and rudd some of considerable size for such a small puddle/pit. Ian on the opposite bank managed to find the tench and had a great time digging me about it but I was pleased for him as he said that is what he had wanted to catch. He had plenty of them up to around 1.5lbs.

In all it was a very productive day on a water that most would have walked straight past without giving it so much as a second thought.