EARLIER this week the new river season began on June 16 – but will there have been a mass exodus from work as in the past? I doubt it.

While older anglers enjoy the romanticism that the start of the new season brought and what was one of the highest days for absenteeism, the abolition of the Close Season on stillwaters has changed things. Coupled with the obvious decline in river sport this past decade and June 16 is no longer special. Never mind that river sport was usually quite slow, one minute after midnight or first light brought about a certain type of magic.

An amazing turnout of 26 members and two guests showed up at Passies Ponds last Sunday for the Warlingham DAS club match. And with a further 26 anglers taking part in an open match on the high numbers, the 68-peg Match Lake was pretty packed.

Top weight went to Paul Oliver who was at peg 26 (pegs 24 and 25 either side of the access bridge being left out). He alternated between pole and feeder tactics, mainly towards peg 25 to net 36-12-0 of carp to 6 lb. New members John Gibbons and Martin Cook were next with 24-12-0 and 21-7-0 respectively and Croydon's Bruce Scott was fourth with 20-8-0. Despite six hours of fishing without my broken glasses, I was pleased with 16-7-0 from peg four of mostly carp taken on pole and meat down the track or tight over as I beat anglers at least three either side and put me fourth amongst Division One anglers.

Whilst the numbers showing up for club matches is generally welcome, it does pose problems for some of the smaller venues.

But the take-up for Lake John next month where last week three anglers broke the ton, not with carp but with bream, has been poor. The owners have insisted peg fees are paid in advance and it is incomprehensible that such a good venue is not better supported. On the open match, Lee Perry (Trabucco SE) fished peg 36 with pole and meat over meat long and down the track to net 89-6-0 of carp for victory. Young Dan Glynn (Meatbashers) fishing at peg 68 behind me was second with 68-6-0, having practically run to his swim and Sutton's Ian Manning third with 37-7-0 on what is regarded as the better half of the lake.

Finally, Redbridge Lakes officially opens its doors on Saturday July 3. I hope to visit the venue again before then to sample the excellent facilities that have been put in place.

Matches have been taking place and catches have been modest with "traditional" baits paying off such as waggler and maggot over groundbait. Visit www.redbridgelakes.co.uk for more details.

Croydon Postal visited Apps Court Fishery near Sunbury on Sunday and initially had to queue among the car boot sellers and buyers, but they were given considerable help to overcome that difficulty by the bailiff. With around 30 pegs packed fairly tightly and varying depths, secretary John Vincent of Norwood took top honours fishing a long rod and double or triple red maggot for 15-8-0 of carp and crucians from peg eight. Second place was Andy Russell of Coulsdon who fished a long pole for three carp and silver fish at peg 1 for 13-12-0 with Add Hodd third with 11-5-0 of carp, tench and silver fish from peg 10, again on maggots.