Arrival time: 11.15 (bankside)
Weather: Bright sunshine, cold and windy.
Tackle: 9ft Shimano Aero X1 Finesse Feeder (1.5oz quiver), link leger, 5lb line, 8/6 hook.
Shimano Exage 1000RC reel.
Baits: Bread flake & Cheese paste.
Fish: One chub

With a 'new' right hip since August I'm still very much in recovery. The 2-bar metal fence between the first and second meadow was, therefore, a no-go. This meant that I needed to walk across the middle of the field to where there was an unrestricted opening, adding a good 10 minutes to the distance.

I headed to what I call the 'tree swim' and found the water clear and the level low. Combined with the bright sun these weren't ideal conditions.

There was no 'quick bite' on this occasion when I flicked in a piece of cheese paste. In fact I had to wait a while before I got a bite, and even then it wasn't as positive as I have come to expect in this swim and I didn't connect.

I persevered for quite a while but then decided to move to the pool by the bypass. It was now around 12.15. At least there I was getting bites, although not hooking them. I had bought a new 9ft Shimano feeder rod after missing numerous bites on recent trips. At 9ft with either a 1.5oz (which I used today) or 1.0oz quiver tip, I felt it was more suited to fishing small streams. I was at the point of moving back to the previous spot when a 'last cast' resulted in a hooked fish, which came off as I brought it to the net.

Having lost a fish this convinced me to move back to the first spot, but unfortunately when there I didn't get another bite. I did, however, discover that the size 8 hook had a burr at the point, possibly explaining the loss of the fish at the pool, and perhaps the failure to make contact on other bites. I changed it for a size 6.

I decided to return to the 'pool' where at least I had had some bites, as well as a lost fish. Sure enough I again had bites, missing a few and then hooking a fish that came off almost immediately. Once more suspicious, I discovered that the 'new' size 6 hook also had a burr. Quite unbelievable. So I once again changed the hook.

It was approaching packing-up time (which I had set a 2.00pm) when, much to my surprise, I hooked a third fish in the swim, this time landing it safely. At around 2lb it was a blank-saver and very welcome. And I had christened my new rod.

So, somewhat of a strange day. I have since bought a small hook sharpener as I don't want to fall into that trap again.