IT'S a good job that renowned angler, author and photographer Chris Yates found one of his old angling diaries hidden among a box of Christmas decorations.

Because the discovery led to his latest book, a delightful account of a summer-season of fishing in the 1980s.

The Lost Diary, published today, gives hope to mere mortal anglers such as myself, that even the likes of Mr Yates suffer days when everything ends up in a tangle, bites are missed one after the other and every cast is a bad one.

Chris Yates, who lives on Cranborne Chase, near Salisbury, is regarded by many as the best writer on fishing today.

His latest book lives up to that reputation.

The reader can once again enjoy Yates’ wonderful observations of the wildlife he encounters as he goes on his last season in pursuit of monster carp.

He revisits the famous Redmire Pool, from where he caught the 51lb carp that once held the British record, as well as many other lakes, ponds and rivers, some wellknown to him, others fresh waters for him to explore.

Sometimes he fishes on his own, other times with friends, old and new.

The Lost Diary published by Unbound and priced at £12.99, is a must for every angler's bookshelf. It is another gem from the pen of south Wiltshire’s celebrated angler and author.

Locally, the excellent fishing enjoyed by anglers over the last few weeks, continues with some huge carp and tench coming out of lakes in the Ringwood area. Spinaker Lake has yielded carp to 38lb whilst Hucklesbrook Lake is still fishing well for tench and carp – tench up to 9lb-plus and carp to 24lb. Mixed bags of fish from Wedgehill Lake from where anglers have also been netting some superb perch up to 3lb 5oz.

Another big carp has also been caught from Barnmoor Lake at Witherington Farm Fishery. Teenager Danny Cooper landed a common carp of 26lb 10oz, among the biggest of the year from Barnmoor. The fishery's other lakes are also fishing well giving mixed bags to pleasure anglers and match anglers hauling in bags around 60lb to 70lb.

Monks Lake at Waldens Farm Fishery is also giving good sport with mixed bags of bream and carp with roach, rudd and perch also about.

Deacons Lake continues to fish well for carp between 5lb and 8lb – off the surface if the sun is out – and silver fish as well can be expected. Larger carp from Bishops and Abbots lakes plus the chance of some larger bream.