Northcroft Stream & River Kennet - Newbury

0615 - 1000 plus an hour at Hambridge*.

Bright, frosty start. Soon clouding over. River full, pacey and gin clear!

2 Chub; 4lb 8oz & 2lb 11oz. 5 Dace & 2 Grayling*

Chub were the initial target and thankfully it paid to get bankside early (it got rather busy later). Both chub in the first half an hour. Spent the last hour trying to catch a large (12-15lb at a guess - got a good look at it) pike which repeatedly was attacking my trotting float. Unusually for me I had some deadbaits with me (for Plan B later in the morning) so put on a dead roach and trotted that through the swim - only for the pike to keep attacking the float on the retrieve and not the bait!!! - it happened half a dozen times yet also showed no interest in a floating plug when I switched to that. Plan B was to fish a large slack on the river proper with trotting gear and pike rod - but already 2 other anglers in occupation so I was left with a short trot in 3rd choice swim for a couple of grayling.

Frosty chub - covered in black spot - though pic's a bit over exposed so can't really pick them out...