Each day the sun is rising ever higher in the sky.

And despite the stubborn easterly breezes defying nature's intention to warm the wildlife habitat into an ideal comfort zone, the water temperature is steadily on the up following several days absorbing radiant heat.

Fishing land-locked lakes, especially those containing mixed species, at this time of the year has its special attraction. For apart from catching increasing numbers of fish without risking serious attacks of hypothermia, there is added interest of observing the sudden burst of spring among life's organisms be it fish, fur, feather and even new shoots of aquatic vegetation displaying an optimism that at long last this relentless debilitating winter is ready to give way to the more benign westerly winds.

Hopefully, anytime now, a picnic hamper may be packed ready for a decent day out at one of the more family friendly angling venues, of which there are many to choose from dotted on the maps within a 30-mile radius of Norwich.

But there is one golden rule for the recreational angler taking along the wife and kids; avoid match venues and carp specialist waters, for these two disciplines simply do not get along with masses of casual weekenders.

One of the many reasons why there is lamentably low recruitment into the sport from primary school age upwards is hostility on the banks.

'How you doing, mister? Caught anything yet?' is not a welcome interrogation a match angler desires and the common response is; 'buzz off' or words to that effect.

Thus little Tommy's hopes of joining the rod and line action have already been crushed. He is unlikely to ask again.

• On the match lakes sport continued to pick up.

Top rod at the Colton Open was Terry Bolingbrook of Attleborough with 80lbs 15oz while at Barford the Beavers winner was Billy Hunter with 63lbs 8oz.

Paul Creasy was Norfolk's top cop with 56lbs at Bartles Lodge and at Holly Farm Reg Napper of Zenith headed the card with 67lbs 1oz.

Terry Wilkinson won the Stalham outing to Melton ponds with 50lbs 14oz and Fakenham's cliff hanger at Decoy ended with Dave Playford narrowly ahead by 35lbs 4oz.

Meanwhile, Barford requests club secretaries to inform the office of their top three results for record purposes.

The specimen carp waters are coming good. At Taswood Byron Mann of Colton bagged his PB common at 30lbs, Norwich rod Stu Payne had a common of 27lbs 8oz and Lingwood's Kevin Smith netted a 21lbs 6oz mirror.

A crop of carp in the low 20s at Swangey featured for Norwich rods James Wilkin, Shane Gold, Neil Lloyd and Ben Addison of Tasburgh. Bream to 10lbs were also netted.