2013 is nearly at an end and I've decided to look back at some of the highlights of the year.I've not ventured to any new venues this year and been concentrating mainly on the club waters that I'm a member of.I think the highlight of the year has to be my old mate Dave getting back onto the bank and to see his enjoyment in catching fish.We've had quite a lot of days out and he's broke his personal best several times.

We both enjoy fishing the waggler and over the year I have been honing my skills, picking up tips and trying out new things. I had a surprise one day while out pleasure fishing on the waggler with very light tackle, I managed to catch my biggest fish of the year a 20lb carp.I must admit I was not fishing for it and was also not geared up for it, I managed to get it on the bank and after a quick photo I put it quickly back into the water.

I've been fishing the waggler for most of the year and I've learnt a lot of things from the free booklets out of the angling times.I've been experimenting with the various float arrangements for different types of conditions and surprised how with the correct set up you can catch fish easily.

The first three months of the year were quite cold but at least we did not have the thick ice as per previous years and I was only frozen off once. I've managed to get out each week and caught a lot of fish with fine tackle and careful feeding.

I missed the annual trip to Hereford this year with the boys due to my 20th wedding Anniversary. While they were catching plenty of fish I was cruising around the Baltic with St Petersburg being the highlight of our cruise.On a tour of St Petersburg we visited a fish market and on one of the stalls there were carp for sale along with sturgeon.

We had a really good summer this year for a change which meant I could also get out for a few hours after work.I fished a lot of the club waters with Dave and we caught plenty of fish between us.

Autumn was quite wet and nearly everytime I was out on the bank it seemed to be raining,on one occassion I had all the seasons in one day apart from some snow.I was blitzed by wind,rain, hailstone and then warmed by glorious sunshine.

It's now December and today is quite mild after a frosty start,this month has been one of the windiest I have ever known, I've come off many pleasure sessions feeling I had just done twelve rounds with a boxer.

I'm an angler who fishes for whatever swims but I do have a softspot for roach, this is my favourite fish and a month ago I had a red letter day.I had three roach one after the other all touching the pound mark, not massive or specimens but they did make my day and were among a big bag of silverfish. I'm hoping that one day I will catch an elusive two pounder.

It's Boxing Day today and my mind is on tomorrows session at a local pool.I'm going to be fishing for silvers using very fine tackle with casters & maggots as bait.If it's a frosty start like today I may have a go using breadpunch.Hopefully I catch a good few fish and maybe squeeze another session in before the year ends.

Thanks to everyone who has visited my site in 2013, I hope you have enjoyed the site and visit again.