River Kennet, Newbury, Thursday 17th December 2009

Today I was able to make an early start and so armed with lobs and maggots I arrived well before dawn (and questioned the wisdom of not having a head torch). The plan was to fish for Perch where I’d previously caught and when light levels increased I’d head off and search for Chub. Of course if the Perch continued to feed as it got lighter I’d continue to fish for them. Sadly this wasn’t the case, in fact they didn’t even start feeding where I was, plan A had fallen a bit flat.

Plan B was still there so off I went looking for Chub this time focussing on fewer swims and spending more time in them. Despite one of them being an acknowledged hot spot none of the snaggy, slacky chubby looking places I tried produced anything, the only fish of the day was a chublet caught in open water.

At about 1:00pm I’d decided to try the Lambourn for Grayling but as I trudged back to the car I had a quick look at a back stream that I hadn’t yet fished in my four previous visits. It just looked so promising it was almost like starting a completely new session and so with renewed enthusiasm I decided to stay. Walking the stretch identified several places where Chub would feel comfortable and as time was getting on I picked one with the intention of fishing into dusk. The northerly wind was picking up and was bloody cold but at my back so it really helped trotting the far bank.

Alas more flattery to deceive, my float stayed resolutely buoyant despite trotting every line I could using both lobs and maggots. At 3:30pm having endured a couple of mini blizzards I’d had enough and admitted defeat.

A bit of a disappointing day but it’s not all bad news. Every visit I learn a bit more about the venue and will gradually build up sufficient knowledge to be confident of a better success rate.

The best thing about this venue though is that at the start of any session it always promises to be a great day, it hasn’t quite worked out that way for me yet but it will.