River Fishing Tips | Where to find the bigger roach early season - Dr Mark Everard

Early in the season weirs are particularly attractive for big roach, as are places where the current accelerates around underwater tree roots that also offer cover.

Roach will be in well-oxygenated sites early in the season

Roach are reputed to clean up here after spawning, but it may just be that they haven’t yet moved away from well-oxygenated spawning sites, or that these places are rich in insect and crustacean food.

Roach tend to move up in the water column to feed, even in deeper water, where oxygen levels may be depressed closer to the riverbed. Higher water temperatures potentially double the roach’s metabolism, making them much more active.

Hemp and tares, casters and elderberries are good hookbaits fished very shallow as roach can come right to the surface to intercept falling offerings.