I had a couple of tries on the Welland last winter but failed on both occasions. However, another angler had caught fish so I knew it could be done. I went straight to the large bay where I had success on my very first summer visit. I fished close in on the edge of the faster water but didn’t get a touch.

I therefore moved to the stretch above the footbridge to the spot where I caught a 3lb+ fish in the summer. After a tap on the first cast I recast and a firmer pull produced a 2lb 1oz fish. It fought well and was tricky to land from the high bank.

I tried a few more casts but if there were any other fish they were obviously spooked.

Click any image to launch large format slide show.

I next tried a couple of swims just above the footbridge. These spots were not accessible in the summer because of the dense bank-side vegetation. No luck again. I also tried a spot on the opposite bank that again would not be accessible in the summer, but blanked again.

A couple of casts in the large pool below the footbridge were equally unrewarding and I kept getting snagged. This pool is full of streamer weed in the summer and I was obviously catching the remnants of this below the surface.

I went back to the large bay where I had started and this time fished across to the far bank in faster water, the light swan shot leger swinging around to the slacker water on the edge of a large eddy that is created in this bay. This technique had produced two good summer fish. I started getting touches that seemed too tentative for chub. One progressed to a good pull but I missed it.

After a couple of casts in the swim where the chap caught last winter I decided it was just too tricky, both to fish and to land anything I might hook, so I moved back to the bay. I decided to stay there until I packed up. I had a couple more tentative bites and then a really good pull. I think I felt a fish but it was on for only a couple of seconds. I persevered and had two more good bites. I was too slow on both occasions and the second one nearly took the rod out of the rest. I usually hold the rod but my hands were cold so in both cases I had rested it on the ground. Next time the rod will be held.

So, although I broke my winter duck I was annoyed with myself for missing two good bites. The second one could have been a good fish judging by the power of the bite.

There was a lovely sunset as I packed up at 16.20.