I decided on another trip to Fields End and was surprised to find the lake almost deserted, with only two other anglers and an empty visitors' car park. I subsequently discovered that there had been problems with travellers on site and that the lake had only just reopened.

The absence of people allowed me the choice of my preferred spot, which I call the reed end, situated at the end of the reed bed that stretches to the NE corner swim that I've fished on a number of previous occasions. I like the reed end because it can be fished off firm ground alongside the platform, and also because there's more chance of steering larger fish away from the reed bed when hooked.

I pre-baited with maggots and once I started fishing was catching nearly every cast. It was a mix of roach and rudd with some nice fish coming to the net. This continued up until around 1.00pm although the number of bites fell off a bit, especially when the RAF decided to carry out some manoeuvres overhead, treating us to deafening noise for about 5 minutes.

Nearly all the fish were caught on maggot and although I got bites on flake I couldn't connect. While the fish were taking the maggots boldly, with many needing the disgorger, they were less bold with the flake.

I had decided to pack up at 3.00pm and at 1.00pm I changed to a small bomb leger with luncheon meat on a 10 hook tied direct to the 6lb reel line. The idea was to try for a carp in the margin. There hadn't been any signs of carp moving about in the reeds and sure enough the luncheon meat was left untouched.

Still on leger I changed to a bunch of maggots and fished closer to the reed bed. There were indictions of the roach trying to take the larger bait on the 10 hook, but again no carp.

Having eventually seen a bit of reed movement I swapped back to the float but still with the 6lb line direct, fishing a bunch of maggots closer to me and up against the reeds where I had seen movement. Once more the roach tried to take the bigger bait and I managed to hook a couple. But the carp didn't make a showing.

I also had a bit of a problem with a grebe that had decided to fish the same spot as me!

So the outcome was a considerable number of roach and rudd, with quite a few lost when the hook pulled out. It was very enjoyable sport and the time passed quickly. But despite conditions looking good, and a very peaceful and almost deserted lake, the carp remained elusive. A chap opposite caught a few distance fishing to the island but it clearly wasn't a day for the margins as far as the carp were concerned.

I'm not sure that I'll ever see Fields End as quiet again.