CHRIS BISHOP With the rivers and drains in west Norfolk looking their best for several seasons, Friday could just see a start to rival last season. Last weekend aside, it has not been too warm and, more importantly, we've had some rain to top things up and inject that all-important colour.

CHRIS BISHOP

With the rivers and drains in west Norfolk looking their best for several seasons, Friday could just see a start to rival last season. Last weekend aside, it has not been too warm and, more importantly, we've had some rain to top things up and inject that all-important colour.

Contractors have been out on a couple of King's Lynn AA's flagship waters, giving the banks a haircut and tidying up around the platforms.

They report seeing numerous carp in the Cut-Off, along with a sizeable bream shoal and plenty of roach around the bridges at Hilgay and Fordham. This reach can fish its socks off in the right conditions. Not too bright and not too clear puts the odds on your side.

Carp are also evident in the Ouse below Ten Mile, where some sizeable fish were caught last season.

Tench to 5-6lb are likely to feature here, usually at the bottom of the shelf or just off the rushes where there's depth close in.

Good shoals of roach are evident on the Middle Level Drain at Crooked Chimney and Aqueduct.

Recent surveys have shown silver fish in the Relief Channel largely shoaled at the bottom end with those rushy bends below St German's Bridge a good bet for roach, bream, hybrids and rudd.

On the stillwaters, Bear Lake at Snettisham was on fire as the water warmed, with up to 15 carp to 14lb being taken in a session.

Waggler fished close seems to be outscore pole fished across, maybe because the fish are wising up to having 12m of carbon waved over their heads.

Still at Snettisham, Ken Hill Marsh Lake has been producing plenty of tench, though mainly smaller samples. Early pegs as you go into the water seem to be favoured, with strawberry flavoured corn and luncheon meat having the edge.

If you're out for the start of the season on Friday, have a good day.