So the return from the China excursion sees me catching up with the mundane aspects of life before heading off a week later to the Kennet and Avon at Semington in preparation for the return visit of Clive, aka Sidestream Bob. Main duty was to cut out two comfortable pegs but I managed to fish 10:05 to 14:05 trying a few different things. I was feeding 4mm meat and had not taken any worms or pellet, just maggots and the meat. Tackle was identical to previous visit with a 1g Paster on 0.12mm to 0.10mm and a 16. Two balls of groundbait introduced at 2+2 length and a few cubes of meat loose fed (later started to loose feed maggots) only topping up after any boat went through. Bites were fairly consistent with me ending up with 31 skimmers (best 2-04), 4 perch, 16 roach, 6 gudgeon and two rudd. An hour on the meat produced the best roach of the session at 5oz and a solitary skimmer.

So Monday arrives and Clive texts to say the traffic is bad and he is still 15 minutes away so for me to go ahead and he would join me when he could. I set up in Clive’s swim from the last visit leaving my previous swim for him. I had just finished setting up when Clive arrived, greetings completed I said I would watch for the first hour then start fishing. Clive admitted to being a bit rusty but was soon getting bites over the worm and caster laced groundbait and by the time I started he had got into a more comfortable rhythm. However, the canal was in one of it’s moody days and it was hard work compared to previous visits, nonetheless Clive managed to winkle out a respectable net of 3-14 including a net perch while I could only get 3-04 before two boats killed my action. I ended up with 20 skimmers, 8 roach, 1 rudd, 5 perch, 1 ruffe and 2 gudgeon.

Wednesday sees me go to High Penn for a brief session of 2hours. I had taken the seat-bag and a waggler with just maggots as bait and some left over casters. I settled in to the first swim on the North bank accessing via a fairly steep slope that in wet conditions would be problematic! The fishing was easy although the bank did not suit the seat-bag and despite making a makeshift stone platform it was very uncomfortable. The stamp of fish was generally good and the 21 roach, 31 perch and 2 rudd I estimated at 8-03 given I was doing a weight count in ounces (131oz) along side my fish tally.

Sunday sees me return for a couple of hours in the morning before it got too hot. This time I opted for the first peg on the West bank but took a seat box and pole for a change. Fishing at 10 m with the bulk set at 3 feet from the hook with three droppers below I fished and fed just maggot, no groundbait. The weather was having an effect as the bites were slower in coming but I still managed 18 perch, 7 roach and 5 rudd for approx 4lb.

That ended up being the last session of the month as the high temperatures were not conducive to me going out and fishing! June sees a trip to Meadowlands for a Maggot Drowners match and before then I have booked in to a match at Viaduct for a change of scenery and approach!