It has been hard work on a lot of the upper River to catch much at all with the impetuous flow and colour.

With the marshes around Bungay flooded it has been filling the Environment Agency with joy as aquifers become topped up, but unfortunately access has become limited for a while. The main river around the bridges at Beccles has provided exceptional sport for those taking a long session with up 40lbs of roach and skimmers. At 11 metres on the pole or running through a heavy quill or stick float with maggot has been as good as the caster. Fishing on the Quay at Beccles has been good with some bags approaching 30lbs of quality roach and skimmers with Harleston's Nigel Poll leading the way pleasure fishing and Paul Manthorpe a good match. Already a big fish has been whipping away with pikers' dead baits where it joins the main river, running out to the centre of the stream.

The Waveney holds all the mystery one can wish for on conjecture of just what it contains and how big some of the species run to. Fishermen may be renowned for their exaggeration but truly the greatest Waveney, if not Broadland, fish of all time recorded must be the one coming to light in a 1923 edition of The Norfolk Broads by W. A. Dutt. In the glossary a sturgeon is reported as a picture having been seen thus: 'This Sturgeon was taken upon the shoals above Beccles Bridge, on the 7th April 1753. The fish is said to have weighed 11 stones 9lbs.' Now that takes a bit of beating in all of Broadland today, at 163lbs, even including the still-water commercials if a big cat fish is putting on weight somewhere.

Wissett Lake near to Halesworth had a day when only smaller carp appeared to feed with enthusiasm but sweet corn ledgered on a half ounce direct lead accounted for a fine brace of perfectly conditioned roach from the Middle Lake.

Taken well out on two grains of sweetcorn they scaled in at 1lb 13 ozs and 1lb 15ozs and Ipswich angler Peter Downey just hopes his scales were correct.

The Far Lake has been the best bet for larger carp with small pellets on the pole, larger offerings being ignored.

Broome Pits Kidney Pit in the middle area with its heavy stocking has been the most reliable and here too silver fish have been good feeders.

Marsh Trail Lakes' consistency has best shown in Lake C with small baits on the feeder doing well. At Aldeby Fishery the choice is wide and well sheltered, and, maintaining more colour than many places giving confidence to feed. Topcroft carp appear to have deserted the margins now with the first frosts but this rather open aspect fishery can give good sport from behind an umbrella with a back wind selected.