Arrival time: 10.00 in car park
Weather: Overcast but not too cold with a fresh wind.
Tackle: 12' Korum Multi-feeder, simple SSG link, 6lb line, 8 hook.
Baits: Cheese paste.
Fish: 4 chub

First fishing trip after a hip replacement in August and although only 2½ hours, it was quite successful with two nice chub.

For my first outing I went to the mill stream. Although the banks aren't ideal for somebody still a bit unstable on their feet, the idea was to drop in a number of spots and not sit too long in any one place.

I started about midway along in a swim that has been generally reliable in the past. After a not-too-good start when I lost my hook in an overhanging tree, shortly after I was into a decent chub. Normally one chub per swim is the norm but I cast again and didn't need to wait too long until the second chub was on. A much better fish that was chunky in the body and weighed in at 3lb 6oz. A PB for this stream.

I continued to get taps and one more positive pull but after a while decided to move upstream a bit. The next swim was tricky to fish and after a couple of unproductive casts I decided to move to the head of the mill stream.

It wasn't long before I was in to what at first felt like a big chub, but it turned out to be a pike that ceremoniously shook off the hook just before I could net it. I'm not sure whether it took the cheese paste or perhaps a chublet that I had hooked.

After the disturbance the taps on the rod top ceased and I moved back to the first swim, where I took a small chub before moving again to the pool by the road bridge. There I took another small chub.

I hadn't planned to stay too long as I didn't want to overstress my hip joint so I packed up about 12.30. I must admit to being more than happy with this return to the water. Just being there would have been enough and the fish were definitely a bonus.