Gary's day

Sunday's trip to Home Farm's small lake was a lot warmer than last weekend but a day of heavy rain beforehand could make things tricky as this is a shallow lake which can cool down quickly.

Out of the bag came peg 6 for me, the same as last time so set up was quick. With us well spread around the lake we all had a good chance as long as the carp were near you and feeding.

It was the usual slow start but after not getting any signs even from roach after 30 mins fishing maggots the doubts started. Fred then across from me on peg 5 started to get the odd bite and then struck into a decent carp on his roach rig. And then Rob on peg 8 caught a carp. In fact he had it landed before Fred had his landed. Finally, my float went under but it was a brief battle as it was foul hooked and quickly shed the hook.

There was another flurry on the lake about 30 mins later when we all seemed to get a carp about the same time and I was off the mark. At this stage Rob and Phil (on peg 1) were neck and neck. And it stayed this way until midday as the rest of us could only watch them catching fish. By the half way mark they were each admitting to about 5 carp.

All this time my float was staying motionless. A quick try on a method feeder whilst I had a hot drink had a liner but no bites. Around 12 I started to get a few bites from roach up to 6oz or so. Some action at last but I needed carp. As the afternoon wore on Tiinu had a couple of carp and lost one when it went through a branch that had fallen in the lake. Rob was having a steady day but Phil's swim looked to be fading. For me the roach never turned into carp and I was 1 carp down on Tony and Fred's carp was much bigger.

Although Rob looked to have things sown up Phil had also been catching steadily - the rest of us were battling for 3rd. 1st Rob Calderon 51lbs 5oz, 2nd Phil Whitmill 19lbs 14oz and 3rd Gary Pickard 8lbs 10oz. Photo today is Tony on a very damp peg 3.