A social trip to the River Kennet with a group of friends results in plenty of banter, lots of bites, and beautiful grayling for everyone

Good preparation and a willingness to allow the weather and river conditions to dictate your targets are key to catching in the cold

There are two river species that you can nearly always rely upon to brighten up even the bleakest of winter days and give you a few bites

THE ADVICE YOU NEED TO GET THE BEST FROM YOUR FISHING

Rising, coloured water is the enemy of winter lure anglers but, with effort and exploration, bites are still there to be had, says Karl Bird

It’s a species that will feed in the coldest of conditions, and is great fun to fish for. Head to these stretches for plenty of bites