4 February

River Kennet Newbury

0800 - 1045

COLD and clear. AT -9ºC when I drove off confirmed by a reading of 16ºF when I arrived on the bank. WT a balmy 35ºF - coldest day I think I have ever been fishing. However dressed appropriately and standing IN the river for warmth I was really quite toasty apart form the thumb and index finger on my right hand -which kept 'sticking' to the metal of my Witcher. Thought that frozen rings would be a mare but in fact the water froze on the line so quickly it was solid before it got to the rings - bit of a nasty grating noise when I caught a fish though! River very clear and very low (and very cold).

1 Chub; 2lb 13oz. 2 Brownies; 2¼lb and a tiddler. 5 Dace - including one clonker of 10oz. 1 Gudgeon.

Chub first cast which I took as an excellent omen and anticipated a morning's bagging up in the cold. Alas the bigger trout was pretty much second cast and went absolutely mental, jumping ½doz times and completely killing the swim - so my morning's chubbing was over 5 minutes after it started! Rested the swim hoping they'd return but only caught dace after the hiatus.

Unfortunately I'm not the only one who knows of this hotspot.....