Recent visits to the Devon rivers and Sussex lakes are blurred in my memory. The contrast between the rivers and the lakes was stark as was the fishing but I don’t recall the details.

Devon – I walked the Abbey Beat and admired the water, I didn’t bother with a rod. The walk on the high moor beside the Cad was uplifting. I should have taken a rod.

The Plym was in prime condition, up a few inches and clear water. I took a rod. I anticipated a trout or two but nothing bothered my fly.

The spring scenery was a distraction, the water was cold and nothing hatched.

Large rocks had moved, trees had fallen and been washed into the margins by the winter spates. I saw no fish in the crystal clear water, it was too early in the season.

Sussex – I went to the lakes at Lower Bognor in the knowledge that the deep valley and mature trees would keep the worst of the north wind off the water. The lakes were slightly coloured and there were no signs of trout. I had made up my mind how I was going to fish on the drive south. A single size 14 black buzzer, slow sinking on a light tippet. It seemed overly optimistic to drift such a small insignificant fly across the ruffled lake surface. Surely the fly could not be easily seen.

I missed the first take, I was not concentrating. Over the course of two hours I missed a few takes, connected with four trout and landed three. I was cold and tired and three fish was a good result in poor conditions.

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