A raw start to the week delayed my first outing till Wednesday, however it coincided with a couple of other anglers, so l only spent a couple of hours trying new swims for chub. One small chub came but it did come from a swim l pinpointed last week and had a good feeling that it might produce so although the chub wasn’t big l went home happy knowing that l had located another fish holding area for future sessions.

Friday l headed off to create a feature on the river Test at Timsbury for TCF and although l had been looking forward to the session immensely it coincided with myself aching through the neck and shoulders badly from either decorating or something that was going to hit me the following week.

Arriving at the river l instantly realised that the Test was far bigger than its neighbour the Itchen and had luckily packed away a closed face reel just in case the centrepin proved difficult to use. I started on the pin and managed a few trout plus the odd grayling but changed later in the day as although it was perfect on the feeder streams proved a hindrance on the main river, but by the time l did this l was only covering ground previously visited from other anglers. Andy, the owner, was a star, pointing out all the good swims and what they held, and l wish l had fished far better, but its amazing how short the days are and how quick they pass, anyway l now know the stretch pretty well and will be back very shortly in search of its monster pike and massive roach.
 
I did have a couple of hours fishing for roach in an area that can produce the odd three pounder once the photographer had left and nearly had a heart attack as after half an hour hooked a fish that initially felt like a roach, however although around the right size, it turned out to be a rainbow, which was followed shortly after by another.
 
The venue is a stunning piece of river with loads of features and set in peaceful, idyllic surroundings and has proved in the past that it has the potential of producing some specimen fish, including roach, grayling, chub, pike and dace. The trout are always obliging and will put a bend in your rod what ever the conditions, however its not a walk over, but then if your after a fish of a lifetime, where is.