[St Helens Stan]

I like to get out between Christmas and New Year if for no other reason than to blow away the cobwebs and walk off some of the over indulgence of the last week. The weather forecast wasn't good and if i'm honest I really didn't fancy it but there's no fool like a pair of old fools so I picked Dave up and we headed off to the Dane hoping for some winter chub. It rained most of the way there but we arrived in slightly clearer skies with the river up and coloured but definitely fishable. We wandered downstream crunching our way through thick puddles of ice and went our seperate ways to a couple of likely spots. I setup a feeder outfit and fished to a now skeletal willow tree using a 2.5oz feeder to hold bottom. After an hour or so without a twitch I sent a stickfloat down but the gusting wind and fast current made presentation difficult. I went back on the tip and toughed it out, I noticed a sharp tap on the tip which I thought was my foot kicking the rod but it went again so I struck into nothing. Dave appeared on the horizon looking weather beaten, he too had struggled. We chatted for ten minutes then went back to the fishing. I soon emptied my flask and after 4 hours of wind chill we called it a day. I was glad we had gone out as the river always offers up a lesson or two but as I type and look out of the window at a cold crisp winter day I can't help but think we went 24 hours too early.
Heres to next year.

[Andy]

Two very brave chaps indeed mate.
Its great to get out after the festivities to blow the cobwebs away, and even just to get away from the never ending food and beer, LoL

[Angler]

Unlucky lads, but at least you got out for a few hours

[Larry]

Your braver the me Ian.

[St Helens Stan]

common sense should have prevailed and we should have stayed at home but when a day becomes available you grab it and get out there but it wasn't the best choice. Like I said 24 hours later would have been perfect with less water in the river and no wind to speak of.