Weather conditions slowing things down

WEST & THE FNS: Cooler conditions and clear water seem to have slowed things down on the rivers. Look over the bank and you can see down several feet in most swims on the Ouse and some of the drains.

Even the grebes appeared to be struggling to find their food. But as the bream anglers near the railway bridge observed, you can't really grumble after the season the river's had so far.

Manny Sayer wasn't grumbling either when he won the Sunday open at Springside Lake.

Drawn in Peg 23, in the car park corner on the road bank, the Heacham-based rod fished method feeder in the margin with corn on the hook, to put 32lbs of carp and a single tench on the scales.

Tench were showing here and there, with the best a 4lbs 8oz sample.

Fishery boss Mick Cornell was predicting more silvers would show instead of the carp that dominated the action, with the best part of a foot of extra water finding its way into the lake after recent rain. Matches are carrying on over the coming weeks, it's 9am draw, fish 10-3pm; tickets �10. Call Mick on 01485 535141 for bookings or venue info.

Anglers also seem to have been struggling at Tottenhill and Shepherd's Port – though the latter does give some pretty un-rivalled views of the geese flying in from their roosts out on The Wash each morning.

With little looking likely to change weather-wise for the next week or so, it remains to be seen whether the fishing will perk up a bit.

Pike anglers might be praying for the first frosts, but some rain would probably prove more helpful to the cause.