3lb roach is match winner

The new year has well and truly got off to a bang where big fish are concerned with multiple species of specimen sizes falling in just the first week of 2019. 

Arguably the pick of the bunch fell to Oxford DAA and Kidlington AS secretary Billy Burnell – who slipped the net under a rare 3lb 4oz 8dr roach during a match on the River Thames at Donnington. 

The stunning redfin was the jewel in the crown of a 40lb net of fish Billy accumulated during the match, which boasted mainly sizeable bream. 

He said: “I fished the Masons Angling Club Christmas match on the Donnington stretch of the Thames in Oxford and managed to win it with a good haul of slabs. 

“The catch was not a lot in itself but among them was one special fish in the form of a 3lb 4oz 8dr roach which took a double maggot fished over groundbait.

“It is by far my personal best because I don’t actually fish for roach, I’m more of a chub and barbel angler, but this catch was a very welcome surprise.”