Middle Kennet Estate - Kintbury

0900 - 1630

Damp, murky and drizzly all day. AT 9/10ºC. River low for mid January.

22 Chub: 12 over 1lb, with 9 over 3lb. Best 2 went 5lb 2oz & 4lb 10oz. 3 Dace; a 10oz fish and a couple of tiddlers. 1 Roach - small. A doz+ brownies from 2½-4lb.

It's my birthday tomorrow and as I've got the week off (and being whisked away from tomorrow by Mrs P to an unknown (to me) destination) I thought I'd treat myself to a bit of all out chub fishing. I headed straight for the the spot I bagged up in last March - and whilst there were plenty of chub in residence it proved to be a bit of a battle to keep the trout count down. Switching to another swim at the top of the venue after lunch proved a good move (and worth the long walk) - both my biggest two chub came from here plus a couple more (and no brownies!). All the big chub on trotted red corn - got through 3 tins of the stuff. Last ¾hr on the carrier trotting maggot in search of big dace - though found mainly ½lb chub which did a very good imitation of big dace...

Biggest of the day.