A walk up the Waveney in the evening – providing you are below Harleston – will provide the view of dimpling dace and small roach on the feed in most 100-yard stretches.

There are a few bare patches, but generally speaking it is quite surprising. These shoals are quite large, often comprising 200 small fish, and Ellingham has been a fine example on pegs both upstream and downstream.

Add to this the prolific hatch through almost all of the river, and hopes rise for the future.

No such luck at Billingford though, with no rises and no fry.

Catches have zoomed upwards this week as the first hemp and tares bags appear, with a 34lb bag of roach taken at Beccles near the Yacht Station on an all-day session on the long pole for Davy Paine of Great Yarmouth comprising fish averaging 8-14oz.

From the Church Score in the Town Centre another good bag came out, whilst maggot just produced a stream of small fish.

Commercial fisheries have thrilled their young visitors with Bales Nursery Fishery delighting caravaners staying over with the highly-coloured rudd, some 2-3lb manageable tench and weightier carp on sweetcorn thrown in.

Broome Pits' central Kidney Pit is the most reliable and successful spot for visitors on the day tickets available on the bank.

Bigger baits exclude their smaller brethren as veritable monsters patrol within inches of the bank in some swims.

B pit has required a longer chuck to get the best and the active bailiffs report bream bags knocking the 100lb mark with fish to an impressive 9lb 2oz and roach around 1lb 10oz.

Marsh Trail Lakes continue in popularity with the tench around the tiny islands in B Pit making a lay-on with the waggler, and sweetcorn yet again, more than worthwhile. A pair weighing 7lb 13oz and 8lb 5oz were a splendid result for Alby Johns of Lowestoft. Near to the gate on pegs 3-5 has been a good spot for average fishing with 5-8lb carp in very close.