Sorry not to give the exact location, but club rules require a veil of secrecy. Like this report will have you clamouring to follow in my footsteps!

Finding myself with a shed load of holiday left, I’ve booked every Friday off between now and December and with the temperature barely above freezing I plumped for an hour or two roving on the club stretch of the Lymington River. At least I’d be able to keep moving and I armed myself with a pretty basic kit: one rod, with eight pound line and a size 8 hook and a running arsley bomb, a net and a thermos of soup. Bait was equally basic, crust or flake! The river was low and clear, the car thermometer said it was 2 degrees. Add to that in four trips to this stretch I’ve only ever caught one fish here, a pound and a half chub on opening day this year. Oh and did I mention there was a pollution spill into the river in July from Brock’ sewage works. So perhaps it is no surprise that I blanked on this occasion too, with only one possible bite and even that could have been autumnal detritus getting caught up with my line.

Still at least I was away from the chores for a spell and out in the fresh, if cold, air and I do like small stream fishing – it brings back memories of chubbing on the former WADAS stretch of the River Eden in Kent. Plus I saw three separate herds of deer, had a robin for company in one swim and also saw a green woodpecker.

Here’s to better luck this Friday

GG