I had reason to be in Thatcham first thing so decided on a rare trip to Brimpton. I'd convinced my wife the night before that liquidising a loaf of bread with a tin of corn was a prime use for her mixer, and I delivered several balls of the luscious confection in six chubby swims to fish in turn. The three pieces of betaine-soaked corn link-legered on a size 6 hook would surely be irresistible. Sadly, it was, and no matter how stealthily I moved and cast, I didn't get a bite. The good thing was I wasn't troubled by crayfish either, but then they would have given me some bend in the rod.

Frankly I'd half expected this given my awful history with chub, and at lunch time moved to Collins lake to take my chances piking. It was a chilly 5 degrees even with the forecast easterly wind not arriving. I sat there feeding the visiting robin with bits of sandwich when finally, one of the most exciting few moments in fishing started tappen. The bung, which had steadfastly sat squat in the water for several hours spun slowly on is axis. Then it bobbed a couple of times, stopped for a few seconds then started to draw away. I struck hard, prepared to miss a fish than leave it any longer and risk deep-hooking. It may only have been 5lb 7, but it was 5lb 7 of welcome blank-busting meanness and made the whole day worthwhile.