Labour’s Angling spokesman and Reading West MP Martin Salter waved the cold and icy conditions over the Christmas and New Year holiday to spend some time on the banks of his favourite local Berkshire rivers after some specimen fish.

Despite the freezing weather he was lucky enough to catch a personal best brace of chub from the River Loddon near Reading of 5lbs 1oz and 6lbs 1oz and on another day a 3lb 2oz perch from the River Kennet near Newbury.

Martin Salter said:-

“Although it was pretty cold over the holiday period at least the weather pattern was consistent which meant the fish were likely to feed at some point. I reckon that I just happened to be at the right place at the right time, which this year was easier to achieve due to the lack of other anglers on the bank”.

Martin caught both chub trotting bread under 4 swan shot loafer float in a hectic 10 minute spell on the Loddon. It is his best ever brace of chub and the largest fish was a personal best by 1oz. The big perch was one of the two 3lb plus fish Martin caught over the holiday period on float fished worm next to a reedbed.

Martin added:-

“I love catching specimen fish on the float – it’s the proper way to fish and so much more active and enjoyable than sitting watching a tip”.