Monster roach are on the feed

One of the UK’s greatest hauls of specimen roach has been taken – a trio of three-pounders to 3lb 3oz backed by seven fish over the 2lb mark! 

The sensational catch was made by Mark Woodage just a few days after taking another stunning roach haul: “I originally planned to fish the Hampshire Avon, but I decided to try the southern stillwater I’ve been targeting instead. The conditions were awful, with bright sun and cold winds, but I managed to catch seven roach, six over 2lb and the biggest 2lb 14oz. A few days later I returned with my angling buddy Jim Innes, when conditions were much better. 

“I fed hemp and maggots around 65 yards out in a clear silty area and had the 3lb 3oz roach, alongside another of 3lb 1oz, one of 3lb, and seven other 2lb roach. Jim also landed a personal best-fish of 2lb 14oz.

Mark continued: “I’ve had more blanks than I care to remember here. It’s been hard going, but the rewards have been incredible.”

Mark caught his fish on helicopter rigs incorporating a Drennan Feeder Bomb filled with maggots and hemp. His hooklinks were made up of 5lb Drennan Supplex fluorocarbon and size 18 Drennan Wide Gape hooks. He used Drennan Avon/Quiver rods for the roach to cushion the fight.

Darryn Stolworthy also got in on the roach action, landing a 2lb 10oz fish from a Norfolk water. Braving the savage wind and rain, Darryn cast a maggot feeder to tempt the fish along with another specimen of 2lb 3oz.