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Mark,

There certainly is a passion amongst us for the Lady, Jez I was on the Itchen again yesterday..............Lower Itchen Fishery and the Test at Timsbury are the others to try. If you want real exclusivity on the Upper Kennet you could try Denford Fishery just outside Hungerford but it's not cheap.

I use 3.2lb Drennan float fish, with a fluro hook length, normally a fly tippet of 2-4lb with Drennan Super Specialist hooks in 12 to 20, depending on bait, which will be 1 to 4 maggots or Corn. As Jez, I normally get bigger fish on corn, but find they go off the feed quite regularly and a change back to maggots helps, 3 or 4 maggots again sorting out the biger fish.

I use all sorts of river floats but mechanically you will hook the most fish with a balsa stick or wire stemmed stick float, they offer the least resistance to a strike at distance, a Balsa Topper or Avon offering the most resistance, I lost a lot of fish learning this one....................

The other major consideration is shotting patterns, there is not a one size fits all and you should vary depending on bait, depth, flow, etc............ sometimes needing bulk shot down near the hook to keep the bait down in strong flow, other times shirt button style will be preferred to allow the bait to precede the float down the swim.

Ensure you hold the float back, remember that you want the bait in front of the float to limit the float spooking them, the flow being considerably slower at the river bed than surface.

I know you didn't ask the basics of trotting and hope this post doesn't seem patronising, it may help some real beginners reading it though...........

Good luck.............

Tom, by Swathling, I presume you are referring to the free fishing stretch in the park between Mnsfield Road bridge and Swathling wood mill Salmon pool?? I have never fished this bit and as a day down there costs me around 45 quid in fuel, food (yes, the food budget is immense before anyone says anything!!) and bait I would rather pay the extra 22 quid to fish LIF with pretty much guaranteed constant sport and wonderful environment, would it be worth me giving the free stretch a go??