About the only species that I would have been confident in catching this week would have been grayling, but with no venues available the next best species had to be either chub or pike.

Awaiting my Ringwood club ticket to arrive I decided to dust off the pike rods and after a six year break pick a water that although had the capability of throwing up a monster also could provide some action of some sorts. Cemex Theale was finally decided after a tip off that the pike had packed up the small fish off one bank.

Tuesday saw my first visit and arriving at first light with a temperature at just 1.5 degrees and a cold wind making it feel like minus two I headed straight for the deeper water. No action came to either my float fished roach or sardine deadbaits until 11am when over a period of forty minutes they received four takes resulting in one missed, one dropped and two lost! One felt like a very good fish staying deep. My return to pike fishing wasn’t one to remember. I really need a fish for an imminent feature so having to leave at midday I felt extremely unlucky as well as beginning to feel the pressure.

The temperature slowly rose and on Wednesday afternoon I felt there maybe an opportunity late in the day. The temperature had risen to six degrees, however no action came although the surface became alive with roach topping.
 
Thursday was to be a treat as I had managed a day on the Stour with Chris Holly in search of chub. Myself the photographer and knowing Chris also had to deliver knew he would have to explore and visit some of his secret chub swims. Deliver he did with two chub, one around 4lbs 8oz, the other a right lump of 6lbs 2oz plus a small pike. Showing me his style of fishing wasn’t a million miles away from how I search out barbel on the Loddon so can’t wait to get access to a venue steeped in angling history.

Friday the pressure was really on as a pike was needed, so arriving at Theale at first light I returned to the area that produced the takes and at 10am received a take on the roach deadbait that produced a pike just shy of double figures. With the temperature hovering just above freezing, and with toes and fingers painfully cold I questioned my sanity, saw no reason to stay, realised why I gave pike fishing up and returned home to a hot bath and warm cuppa.

Hopefully next week will bring a day after perch on the Thames if the rain stays away and if it comes then a day at Bury Hill Fishery after Zander as well as collecting my Throop ticket and heading south with the intension of putting loads of time in, in search of a seven pound chub.