NATIONAL Fishing month began last Saturday, which sees several opportunities to try fishing for free at various events up and down the country.

Events are being planned at Epsom Stew Ponds and Cannon Hill Common, Morden. For full details have a look at www.nationalfishingweek.co.uk/

Although I have limited time to spend coaching, last Thursday I was especially pleased to help the Wren Academy of Barnet who were an excellent group in 2009 and again this year.

We were hoping to fish the prolific Lake John Top Lake that I wrote about last week but due to the windy conditions were advised to fish the Bottom Lake. Previously it was a carp-only type match fishery but I am pleased to report that it also has the same "nutter" bream that the Top Lake possesses and other silver fish.

Lots of fish were caught and the lead teacher Tom Hopkins revealed that for the school activities week out of 330 pupils, an amazing 114 put fishing down as one of the activities they would like to do.

Sadly with only 15 places available, none of the 2009 group could come leaving one of them in tears on hearing the news!

A group of Atos Origin employees accompanied me to Tandridge Lane fishery near Lingfield on Friday afternoon. Not an easy fishery but everyone caught with returning angler Stuart Bolton landing a nice 3lb carp on the method feeder, though pulling out of other good fish on pole and pellet in the margins.

With the Fish 'O' Mania Final live on Sky Sports last Saturday and the first ever Champion of Champions last Sunday both screened live from Browning Cudmore Fishery, I was the definitive couch potato.

No local stars qualified this year so I was rooting for Tom Pickering from Barnsley as I have met him a few times and fished next to him at Willow Park one day. But an amazing 10kg burst by fellow Yorkshireman Neil McKinnon saw him lift the £25,000 prize.

Louth's Nathan Watson won the Champion of Champions consisting of all previous winners of the event. Both finishes were exciting and compelling and well done to Sky for being brave enough to broadcast the events once more.

South Croydon's Robbie Taylor made the long journey to Coleman's Cottage, Witham in Essex for the Fish 2 Win qualifier.

Drawn on Wood Lake, the 22-year-old Preston Innovations Delcac star fished method feeder to the island to tempt 205-0-0 of carp to 5lb and beat 58 others. The other qualifier was Essex angler Jake Hopper on 185-12-0 but the next best local angler was Purley's Adrian Marshall on 105-8-0 for 15th spot.

In Sunday's Garbolino Kent Summer League held at Monk Lakes 1 and 2, Taylor helped Preston Innovations Delcac B to victory with fifth spot out of 60 anglers with 114-14-0, team mate Dean Lock of New Addington coming second from peg 57 using pellets and paste for 156-0-0 of carp and barbel.

Warlingham DAS visited Old Bury Hill Lake where Coulsdon's Micky Biles romped home with 77-5-0 of bream. Paul Oliver was second with 11 bream and a tench of 3.5lb on pole tactics as well as the feeder for 32-9-0, Thornton Heath's Mark Merrett using feeder tactics for 12-14 bream for 30-5-0.