Specimen ace banks trio of three pounders

Ryan Hayden has enjoyed the roach fishing session of a lifetime, landing three redfins totalling nearly 10lb.

Targeting a southern stillwater, Ryan’s first specimen weighed 3lb exactly – a roach that would be widely regarded as the fish of a lifetime.

But there was more to come. Shortly afterwards he added another of 3lb 3oz and topped off an unbelievable day’s sport with an immense 3lb 10oz specimen which is the largest roach caught by design this season.

Because he works for Drennan, Ryan is unable to claim a weekly Drennan Cup award for his fish, but this didn’t stop him from braving some rough conditions.

“There was a strong south-westerly blowing, and heavy rain,” he said. “In my book these are perfect conditions for roach, so I fed a pint of hemp and presented 50g maggot feeders over the top.

“These heavy feeders allowed me to hit the distance easily as well as maintaining a tight line to the rod-tip, maximising hooking potential.

“I waited all day from just before first light without any signs. Then I had a liner at 3.30pm, followed by the first proper bite. This resulted in the 3lb fish, and knowing that big roach feeding spells can be tiny I was eager to get the rod back on the spot.

“Sure enough, a second fish weighing 3lb 3oz came as I was clipping the bobbin on. Ten minutes later, the third and biggest roach came on the same rod, rounding off a session where my personal best was broken not once, but three times!”

Ryan used simple heli-rigs, incorporating 2ins hooklinks of 5.4lb Drennan Supplex Fluorocarbon and size 18 Wide Gape Specialist hooks.