Roach have been conspicuous by their absence – it is just possible the warmer weather will have helped to bring them on the feed but I doubt it.

The final Team Championship practice match takes place on Sunday and once again the pegs used will be Railworld, Middleholme and the North Bank.

There are still one or two stewards places available, so if you know how to weigh in big events please feel free to give me a call on 01733 565159.

ELSEWHERE there is a little better news to report, several of the teams fishing the new Fenland League have been down to this weekend's venue for a spot of practice and have had remarkable results from the Old Nene at Benwick.

Tench, bream and even roach have been taken, with some anglers bagging double figure weights so all looks well for a fine match this Sunday.

The whole length will be matches but it is certainly a venue for pleasure anglers to make a note of after the weekend. Still on the fen drains the Twenty Foot has hit some form both on the March end at Chain Bridge and along the Whittlesey sections such as Beggars and Popular Tree. It is mostly tench and bream showing with a bold chop worm and caster approach best.

Top of the list of must-fish waters out that way though has to be Cock Bank, all the hot pegs around Burnt House Bridge have been in cracking early season form with one angler taking nine tench and several bream in a mid week session recently. Again it was a worm and caster approach that proved to be best.

THE North Level drain is still fishing well and take a look at the South Holland Drain too, well worth a pleasure session.

SPALDING anglers have told me that the River Welland has hit some early-season form down at the bottom end in the pegs close to the sailing club, with skimmers being taken in double figure nets.

AT long last it looks as if Ferry Meadows has sprung to life.

It is still a little patchy, but that's bream fishing for you. Gunwade looks to be your best bet as very few anglers have yet to try the usually more productive Overton Lake. Very few fish have yet to be taken on the pole or waggler so it is going to be an out and out groundbait feeder approach with plenty of caster and worm mixed in.

STILLWATERS are now approaching their best with the likes of Gerards, Weston and Ross Lake all in cracking form.

All the pools at Decoy have been producing well to pellet fished up in the water.

If you prefer to fish off the top then give Kingsland or Eldernell a go. Northey Park is the venue to head for at the weekend for a little less hurried approach, plenty of fish in all the pools but not so many anglers.