THANKS TO EXPERT

You recently did a feature roving down my local River Ivel, where I fish on a Shefford club licence. Just as your contributors say, a small river, often only two rodlengths wide, is a challenge but the sport is good and a lumpy chub, perch or bag of roach from this mixed fishery is always a joy and tests your watercraft. I'm was brought up on roving for the fish, which I've done since my early teens. But angling has many facets and to enjoy it to the full I feel you should take yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new. This helps build up your knowledge and sets new challenges, ensuring you can never get bored with the sport. Last October I was invited by grandad to join him on a carp puddle, actually a very pleasant local pond in Clifton, with good flat swims. This means he can continue to fish a pole or use a waggler, even though he is physically impaired. It was a terrible day to fish! Bright sun, gin-clear water, and not even a red maggot would lift us a roach. We were totally waterlicked, but then I cast my mind back to the articles I had read from the real experts who contribute to your magazine. I went roving just as the light was fading to find an empty swim and, as the experts say, fish in commercials come to the sound of a dinner gong. Taking our groundbait, I stood on the bank and hurled two heavy balls over a clay bar where the fish were clearly feeding. I pinned a large lump of bread to the bottom using a couple of swan shot 3in from the hook and walked my line backwards, dropping a back lead to keep the line close to the bottom – not something I had ever had to consider when trotting a stick! I then jumped up and down on the bank like a crazy to create the impression I was packing up on the bank and going home. Grandad was incredulous (I can't tell you what he called me) but we stood back from the bank and within 15 minutes that swim was fizzing with carp. Several minutes later I was playing a double which had picked up the bread. The day was complete. Gentlemen, the information from regularly reading your expertise caught me that fish, and I suggest that your readers try everything in the magazine to maximise the enjoyment of our shared passion.