Teenager Dean Brookes was confused by a pike angler along the bank from him on a morning session on his local River Thames near Kingston, writes Ray Robson.

He couldn't understand why the angler kept firing a pouchful of maggots at his pike float and rang me to ask if maggots attracted pike well.

The answer is that the pike angler was using his head - not losing it.

Where there are prey fish is where you will find pike so the maggots are used to attract prey fish which in turn attract the pike to the angler's bait.

Croydon's Paul Turner landed his biggest club yet at 5lb 1oz on a trip to the Kennet.

His first intention was to target roach with trotted break flake but, after a biteless couple of hours, he changed tactics to legered lobworm and that did the business.

Pete Jordan, who despite being a Man Utd fan lives near Stamford Bridge, has rarely fished, but got a bit of new tackle for Christmas. He chose a swim near Teddington and feeder fished maggot with one red and one white on the hook.

After catching a few very small roach and bream, Pete struck into his next bite and knew straight away it was no skimmer.

Five minutes later, he had a superb 3lb perch in the net.

Carshalton security officer Derek Beaumont has only just moved from his native Birmingham, but it hasn't taken him long to adjust to the fishing scene down here.

Derek trotted double caster and loose-fed caster on a stretch of the Mole and sat biteless for two hours before landing three 3lb-plus chub in three trots through the swim.

Tell me about your catches on 07935 330216.