I hadn't been out fishing for a month because of a family bereavement, involving some time spent in Durham, and other days were lost because my wife and I both had a number of hospital appointments. On the few days I could have gone out the weather wasn't particularly inviting, cold strong winds not being particularly conducive to sitting by a lake. So, having finally made it, I was hopeful for a bit of sport, anticipating at least a few rudd and perhaps a hungry carp or two. I was to be disappointed.

I fished the swim in the SW corner, under some small trees, a spot I had fished around the same time the previous year when I had caught quite a few rudd. I'm finding carrying tackle a bit more strenuous these days and the swim was the nearest to the car park, but I had caught there on a number of occasions in the past. It's secluded with quite a bit of space and vegetation between it and neighbouring pitches.

So full of expectation I started with sweet corn having groundbaited with crumbed bread, sweetcorn and hemp. I was hopeful of an early response from the rudd but it didn't happen. Not a touch during the first hour. Changing to luncheon meat or bread made no difference. The only positive indication was some reed movement in the left margin, which I hoped was a sign of fish grubbing around.

I had brought a second rod as a sleeper for carp and had cast a lump of luncheon meat along the right margin, hoping for a patrolling carp. That sat there throughout the session totally unmoved except for one bite that I missed. The luncheon meat wasn't taken but only nibbled on one corner, and no line was taken from the reel, so I guess it wasn't a carp.

Meanwhile despite changing baits from time to time the float tip remained stubbornly above the water surface, a few knocks and dips being the only indication of fish life throughout the session.

I had planned to stay later into the afternoon but after over four hours with absolutely no action I decided to call it a day. I was also getting a bit cold, the absence of sun and overcast conditions making things quite chilly.

So not a very auspicious return to the water after blanking on the Mill Stream on the previous outing towards the end of the river season.