The Big Fish Column by Ian Welch

The Christmas and New Year break is one of the most popular for fishing with almost everyone looking to get out for at least a morning to blow away a few cobwebs.

The problem, as ever, is that fishing is usually very tricky – and this year looks like it may be more challenging than usual.

At the time of writing many of the smaller and more sheltered pools are frozen and with river temperatures depressed and some seriously icy winds ahead prospects are not too good for the run-up to Christmas.

The longer range forecast suggests a slight warming after Christmas and into the new year but probably not enough to bring a major improvement.

As far as the fishing goes chub will provide the mainstay for most anglers and with the water cold and clear scaling down and fishing bread or maggot will be the way to go. The cage feeder with liquidised bread is usually worth a pull or two in the current conditions with the smaller rivers likely to produce the occasional bite.

St Patrick’s Stream is always one of my favourites at this time of year with areas such as Borough Marsh usually bringing a few pulls with the upper water better for fish of a slightly bigger stamp.

The Loddon through Twyford usually produces a few good chub in these conditions and the recently re-opened section of the river at Stanford End  looks a good bet as the fish have had a long rest from angling pressure and were certainly feeding hard when I took a look up there earlier this week.

Some excellent perch have been showing on the Loddon in recent weeks and with the species likely to feed, especially in the post-Christmas warming, they could well be worth targeting with worms or livebaits.

On the Kennet the Old Mill remains a good bet for chub action with both the lawns and the weir guaranteed to provide a couple of bites no matter how tough the going gets.

The weir tends to respond to all baits but if you are on the lawns the better results, with chub at least, do tend to come to the maggot feeder.

Few Kennet beats will fail to produce the odd chub but the bottom end of Lower Benyons down into Theale is looking particularly good at present.

Kennet perch have made little impact so far this season although the first reports of fish to three pounds are beginning to filter through from the canalised sections at Ufton and indeed from the Kennet and Avon canal itself.

Chub and perch should both feature in Thames catches with the chance of some half-decent roach if the warming really does kick in. Bourne End and Cookham have both fished particularly well for the chub and perch with the roach showing better as you head towards Reading.

The main river is, as always, capable of turning up a surprise at any time of year and is always worth an outing at this time of year.

If the stillwaters freeze then many pike anglers may well be looking to the rivers for their sport too and although there have been no reports of 20lb fish locally so far this winter there are certainly fish of that stamp to be found in the Loddon, Kennet and Thames although small fish can be a nuisance, especially in the latter.

For an action-packed day out a trip after grayling is always a good bet at this time of year and with back-up roach, perch, dace and trout waters such as Barton Court are great value for money.

Wherever you choose to fish over the holidays, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a fish-filled New Year and will be back early in 2008 to let you know what we can look forward to next year.
*To report catches call 07780 755138 or e-mail ian@bigfishtrail.com