At the end of the previous two days courses I had chopped up the remaining dead baits and thrown them around the dead weed bed that had been the focus of our fishing. Imagine my frustration when on Thursday morning I arrived with another group from Slough, to find the pre-baited swim and the swims either side occupied.

We moved a couple of hundred yards up the bank towards a corner into which the wind was blowing and set up there. I had just got the four baits out when the sky went black and the wind stepped up to what must have been about force six. The temperature plummeted and it started to rain.

The next two hours were uncomfortable for me with my wet weather gear but a misery for those less well equipped. At their request we packed up early and retreated in ignomy, fishless. These are the chances you take booking days fishing in advance this time of year. I am sure we would have caught in the other swim despite the weather.

All the students are looking forward to further courses in the Easter holidays.

The saving grace of today in my eyes was that despite having to really punch the baits hard into the strong wind to get any distance and even with barbless hooks no baits were lost. The Solu-Ties were tested to the extreme and passed with flying colours.

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