The last few months have been chaotic and stressful. My dear old dad became very ill and sadly died on Sunday, June 12. He had lived with us for the last nine years and had been an important part of the family. He will be sorely missed.

During the pikes’ spawning period, I was busy with looking after my father and attending some fly-fishing shows. It was interesting to note that the Danish Fly Fishing Festival drew a very different audience from similar shows here in the UK – more young people and more ladies.

Fishing has been very strange. The normal post-spawn certainties haven’t materialised and my guiding has been markedly less successful than in previous years. The pikes’ prey-fish haven’t run to schedule because of the unusually cool temperatures which has made it difficult to establish a pattern. I looked after a couple of chaps on Lough Corrib in June. It was more like fishing the North Atlantic in January! That said, we have managed to catch some spectacular pike. Lough Erne in the north of Ireland provided some extremely interesting sport in May. I stayed with my guiding client, David Edis, in a perfect, self-catering cottage on the Belle Isle Castle Estate. We both caught good fish by working out where the pike were hunting, which was very satisfying.

The season opened on the old estate lake on June 16. So far, the results have been somewhat disappointing, but Mike Duxbury succeeded in tempting a couple of heavyweights (25lb and 26lb). I’m crossing my fingers that the water won’t cook for a while and will allow us to continue fishing. I work to a self-imposed close season. Once the water temperature goes over 20°C, I call a halt to proceedings. High water temperature goes with low oxygen levels, making it too difficult to return the pike safely. If we fish for wild fish, it is important that we safeguard our quarry.

This evening as I walked home from the village pub, I noted that half the village chimneys were spouting smoke. Jeannie, my wife, had a fire burning and we sat drinking good red wine, wrapped in clothing more suitable for the autumn. Maybe the crazy weather will stretch the pike fishing for another week or two.

My attentions will soon be fixed on fly-fishing for bass. North Devon, Cornwall and Co. Wexford in Ireland will keep me happy for the summer. Also, my beautiful new lurcher is building up some serious muscle and will be ready for proper training for her pot-hunting role.

I’ll be on the FF&FT stand at the CLA Gamefair on the Friday afternoon and will be delighted to meet you.