Before I set off for Y Waen, in Wales, a visit to the Staffordshire/Worcestershire Canal, in England

I fished alongside a road bridge and lock.

It’s an obvious fish-holding area, especially as we move beyond the summer months.

I was there for about an hour, so a fair number of casts there.

It was very slow and I knew it would be tough as the session progressed because I didn’t see even one sign of fish movement.

Normally you get small roach topping at least but it was a piscatorial graveyard.