Strike Right Duraflow De Lux Reel

This month I did something I haven't done for many years. I spent the night under canvas. I loaded up the car and went to Springwood Fisheries, where I've fished before.

I arrived on a sunny Saturday morning, set up my tent, then headed to the top lake. After rigging up my Lee split cane rod and Mitchell 304 with a small float, I had a great afternoon catching Ide and Carp on sweetcorn and red maggots. My partner came in the evening, and we enjoyed fish and chips, then she went home to a comfy bed. Then, I chatted with other anglers into the evening.

After a good night's sleep, I prepared a cooked breakfast, then headed back to the same peg on the top lake and fished into the afternoon, landing Carp, Ide and Roach.

It was a great weekend, not quite Swallows and Amazons, and I'm already planning my next night under canvas.

Also this month, I had a short session at one of my favourite 'Earl' waters, Mill Dam. As it was last minute, I didn't buy any maggots. I thought I'd try bread and sweetcorn for bait. I fished with my black hollow fibreglass rod and Duraflow De Lux centre pin reel.

After two hours without a bite, I had a few knocks and missed some bites through lack of concentration. I saw fish topping, then it all went quiet again.

Another hour passed, and the fish started topping again. I changed bait a few times and with ten minutes until it was time to pack up, the float disappeared. After striking, I could tell I'd hooked a decent Bream - or a dustbin lid - and I landed a lovely Abramis Brama.

Time was ticking, and I thought where there's one Bream there's usually another. I cast out again for 'one last cast' and gave myself five minutes before it really was time to pack up. After throwing out my last handful of sweetcorn, I waited about a minute before the float went under again. I struck, reeled in and landed another nice Bream.