Welcome to the start of yet another season. If this year ends up being as good as last, then well, we're in for some spectacular fishing.

During the winter months the lakes froze over for quite a while. This is brilliant, as the colder water helps kill off a variety of bugs that may infect fish. The water clarity and quality are outstanding. Making the lakes 'boilie only' has been a major success, not only in water quality, but fish growth and, of course, the thing we are judged by – the amount of big carp caught every week. We boast of the "10 Tonne Weeks", but most weeks see 7, 8 or 9 tonnes landed.

Two weeks before the season started, we were busy preparing the lakes; regravelling some of the swims, tidying up the banks of branches and leaves, by the tipper truck full, pruning back the undergrowth and burning it.

I love a good fire. I think we all do, don't we lads? It's all part of being a boy! Then we'd roast a few spuds and French onions for a snack on the ashes, melted cheese and butter to finish it off.

After we'd done all the little jobs around the lakes, Oryst decided that our garages looked jaded and could do with a lick of paint; 6 gallons of Buttermilk sorted that out. We all stood back to admire, then realised that our main lodge could do with a fresh coat of paint; 15 gallons of Country Cream did the main lodge and also the lodge down on 3, 4 & 5 got a new paint job as well.