I went back to the spot I fished last week just below the weir pool outflow. I had set up a quill float with the aim of trotting the swim. Unfortunately the amount of turbulence made this very difficult. I could have tried a heavier float but the speed of the flow meant that the 'trot' was very short before the crossflow pushed the float into the reeds at the water's edge. So I switched back to a link leger.

The Masterline rod is relatively heavy with quite a stiff tip. These facts combined to make it not really ideal for touch legering while holding the rod. But I persevered. I was getting stabbing bites but couldn't hit anything on either bread flake or spam. I worked the swim by casting to different spots within the flow and at 09.40 was rewarded with a firmer pull. After a bit of a tussle in the fast current I netted a chub of just over 2½ lb (photo).

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Following this early success I had quite a frustrating period with lots of touchy bites but no contact. I did hook one fish but the hook hold failed. I was making free offerings of both flake and spam but the turbulence meant I couldn't be sure where these ended up.

I was beginning to accept that perhaps I had had my sport when just after midday I landed a small but perfectly conditioned chub of around a pound (photo). I was then pleasantly surprised to get another take about 20 minutes later. This time the fish felt heavier and I feared it might be an eel. But after a short while, having worked the fish against the strong flow, I saw it was a chub. This time it weighed exactly 2 lb although it felt a lot bigger as I was bringing it in (photo).

After this things went very quiet, which wasn't that surprising. I had a few more quick snatches but nothing I could hook. I had planned to pack up at 13.00 but stayed on another half hour, although nothing obliged.

Next time I going to take my 12ft Korum multi-feeder rod that has a very fine tip. It has proved itself on the Welland at Stamford where I have taken quite a few chub over the years. The only downside is that the Mill Stream has quite a few overhanging trees and with the longer rod it could be a bit more difficult to avoid them.

I'm enjoying the Mill Stream.