Small reward

Bastard winds again. 40mph but no rain. No roaching either. Set off across the flood plain with the wind behind me at least, headed for the Royal Confluence which marks the half way point though with my short pass out I'd only be fishing the top end. A series of slow bends and reed stands, and an area that has served up to different twenties for me in the past. Home in the past  to big bream, famously dark with red fins legend has it. And recently some serious pioneer chub have been rumoured. A pair of still to me exotic looking egret and that old ditch stalker a great, pterodactyl-like harnser (heron) quartering the wetland behind thee raised banks 

Standard  float tactics, over to the reeds or twitched back up along the near margin. Been lashing up some basic pop up lifters but they need some work still. Manky Morrison's mackerel the bait of choice today. 1.50 for three so that's six baits. Manky but tempting enough for a decent brownie to have an abortive slash at as I brought one in at my feet.

Worked along with no further response from trout or pike till just before curfew time, and after  a twitch on the near bank tail section a shrill sound from the Ron Thompson alarm and the baitrunner signalled something was heading down stream at a brisk rate. Good resistance and boring about in the decent flow, a short and solid snapper saved the blank and upped the species tally. Long walk back against the wind.