Middle Kennet (& Carrier), Marsh Benham

0900 -  1315

Cool, calm and cloudy - a lovely benign winter's day. AT 5º-7ºC. River very full and clear - though down a couple of inches on 10 days ago.

2 Chub: 3lb 5oz & 2lb 7oz. 3 Brownies; 2½-3½lb.

I had a cunning plan for today - return to the south bank flood slack I found last week - pre-bait with copious amounts of red sweetcorn and empty the swim of big winter chub - or at least that was how it played out in my imagination! The reality was somewhat different. I usually have great faith in red corn as a winter chub bait - but after a bite-less hour I switched to maggot and had a 3lb chub immediately - ho hum. It would prove to be my only bite from the main river - so it was a long walk back to fish the top of the carrier - for the inevitable 'trout-fest' (I lost as many as I landed!) before eventually catching a more modest chevin!