3lb 4oz roach found dead at pike water Chew Valley

This is the picture of a 3lb 4oz roach that was found at the UK’s finest specimen pike water.
The dead roach was discovered by former British pike record-holder Neville Fickling and Angling Times columnist Paul Garner when the pair fished from the deck of a boat on the famous Chew Valley Reservoir.
It’s a venue that’s already produced two pike over 40lb and numerous 30lb-plus specimens so far this season, but the roach proved why many experts believe that the next British record pike isn’t the only history-making coarse fish that is lurking in the depths of the vast Somerset venue.
“As soon as I saw the fish I shouted ‘hang on a minute, that is absolutely huge’ so we sped over to investigate,” Neville told Angling Times.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that there are roach like this in this place because everything seems to grow to such huge proportions. But all that said, I didn’t think I’d be having my picture taken with a 3lb 4oz roach during a day at Chew.”
Along with pike to 44lb 6oz and perch to just under the 5lb mark, respected specimen all-rounder and fisheries scientist Paul Garner also believes that Chew and many of the other vast trout fishing reservoirs in the UK could contain coarse fish of massive proportions.
“This roach is further proof of just what could be in these lakes, because many of them are perfect breeding grounds for specimen fish,” said Paul.
“Chew is such healthy water that’s rich in food and nutrients, so it’s no wonder why it’s not only home to huge pike.
“I’ve seen huge coarse fish rolling while fishing this type of venue and if you do a bit of research you’ll find out about a 20lb 2oz bream that was found dead at Thames Water’s Farmoor Reservoir some years ago – just one of many examples of what lurks beneath the surface of these waters.”