TWO-HOUR DRIVE REWARDED WITH A 2LB 11OZ AVON ROACH
A TWO-hour drive to the Hampshire Avon was ‘more than worth it’ according to Roy Jones who banked a 2lb 11oz roach during his latest visit.
The Hertford-based artist float-fished maggots into an area of slack of water and enjoyed sport from small roach, dace and chublets throughout the day but struck into something much bigger near the end of the session.
Roy said: “I knew straight away that it was a big roach and it was panic stations when it approached the net and I saw just how big it was!”
2lb 11oz of prime Hampshire Avon roach for Roy Jones
Matchman turned speci-ace banks 3lb 7oz roach!
A MATCH angler trying his hand at specimen fishing has hit the jackpot with the capture of a 3lb 7oz roach from a venue without previous history for the species.
35-year-old Tim Dabrowa had his mind set on catching a huge redfin from his home county of Cambridgeshire and believed a carp syndicate would give him the best chance of achieving his goal.
He told Angling Times: “I joined an angling club earlier this year which has a carp water under its control and I just thought there would be a chance of it holding some roach.
“I’d fished it on and off since August and managed to catch them to 1lb 14oz which was fantastic, but I’d always knew there’d be a bigger fish.
In a mad half-an-hour, Tim banked roach of 1lb 12oz and 3lb 7oz
“During my latest session I arrived at the lake for 7:30am but it was freezing cold, so it was no surprise that after two hours I’d not had a bite!”
Tim was close to calling it a day when he saw a big roach top 40 yards out and quickly positioned his helicopter maggot feeder rigs on the spot.
It was a move that proved to be successful just moments later…
“The bobbin started pulling upwards and I struck into what I knew was a big roach by the classic heavy plodding and headshakes,” Tim added.
“My heart started thumping as this giant silverfish made its way into my net.
“I quickly cast back out and added a 1lb 12oz fish before losing another on the next cast – it was a mental half-hour of fishing!
“I just have to go back and target a bigger one – I fell I’ve only just scratched the surface on this lake.”
Tim’s new personal best devoured red and white maggots dipped in Geranium oil.
Four day quest for giant Lea roach
JOE Royffe’s four-day pursuit of a big River Lea roach finally turned up trumps with the capture of a 2lb 7oz specimen.
The Hertfordshire-based angler had spotted a brace of large redfins tucked under a reedbed and decided to target them on trotting gear with red maggots.
After hooking a number of smaller fish Joe finally struck into a strong resistance just before the light faded.
He said: “I was met with a solid resistance and could soon feel the classic jagged lunges and head shakes through the rod as the fish lunged around the swim.
“This has got to be one of my favourite captures so far this season – knowing how hard big roach are to come by on the Lea system.”
Get on the bread for a big Avon roach
Alan Storey was left speechless when he banked this sublime 2lb 11oz 8dr roach.
Targeting Christchurch AC’s stretch of the Hampshire Avon at Winkton, the 65-year-old had struggled to fish the float in harsh conditions and was forced to switch tactics to find a result.
He said: “I’d caught small roach and dace but thought there would be a chance of a bigger fish on the bread feeder.
“After making a few casts I soon found the sweet spot and watched as the quiver tip signalled a positive take – I knew straight away it was a big roach from the classic nod, nod, glide during the fight.
“My heart was in my mouth as the roach went into the main flow near to where a big pike had surfaced previously, but thankfully I was able to net it first time.
“Whilst I would love to have caught it on the float a switch to the bread feeder made all the difference – it’s important to have a couple of options with you on the day.”
Alan’s successful set-up included 4lb mainline to a 2lb hooklink and a size 12 hook mounted with breadflake.
3lb 3oz roach with a taste for fruit!
A MAGGOT hookbait dipped in a strawberry liquid proved too irresistible for this sublime 3lb 3oz roach for all-round angler Kevin Sanders.
The 42-year-old from Cambridge was in the middle of packing away his kit when his rod signaled a take just as dusk fell.
Kevin told Angling Times: “I had enjoyed a day of catching small perch and roach to over a pound on a Norfolk Lake when this beauty took the bait.
“I was fishing a maggot feeder helicopter style which I part-filled with Dynamite Baits XL liquid strawberry for high attraction.”
To try and winkle-out a bigger fish Kevin switched his hook pattern to a size 10 wide gape feeder, which proved effective move late on in the session.
“I threaded a buoyant maggot on the shank and two lives on the hook,” he added.
“I also dipped my hookbait in the strawberry liquid for even more attraction and it seemed to work.
“I could tell it was a good fish from the off but only saw how good when I netted it and turned on my head torch.
“At 3lb 3oz it was a new pb – I’m still smiling now!”
BIG ROACH VENUES TO TARGET RIGHT NOW
Linch Hill Fishery, Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire
Contact: 01865 882215
Springwater Fishery, Dalrymple, Ayrshire
Contact: 01292 560343
Bury Hill Fishery, Dorking, Surrey
Contact: 01306 883621
Boddington Reservoir, Byfield, Northants
Contact: 07740 534891
Sion Farm Fishery, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
Contact: 01562 730386
Specimen roach are hard on the feed...NOW!
DESPITE unsavoury weather conditions specimen anglers have been enjoying fantastic roach sport from river and Stillwater venues all over the country.
Here are three specimen reports to help whet your fishing appetite for the week ahead:
John Joyce 3lb 1oz 8dr roach
A double bronze maggot hookbait has accounted for one of the biggest river roach of the season in the shape of this pristine 3lb 1oz 8dr specimen.
It fell to the rod of 32-year-old landscape gardener John Joyce who headed to his local stretch of Dorset’s River Frome for a few hours’ maggot feeder fishing on the tip.
He told Angling Times: “I was catching plenty of small trout and eels when I struck into a much stronger fish, and I was surprised to see this huge roach pop up!”
Geoffrey Smith 2lb 9oz roach
Carp angler Geoffrey Smith enjoyed the roach session of his dreams after banking three personal bests in just a 48-hour period.
Targeting Brasenose One at Oxfordshire’s popular Linear Fishery, the Cardiff-based rod saw a grebe take a sizeable roach in the margins and decided to target the same area with maggot hookbaits.
He said: “Whilst spraying the area with bait I managed to draw the roach in, and before it got dark I landed fish of 2lb 3oz, 2lb 7oz and 2lb 9oz.”
Richard Wilby 2lb 9oz roach
HUGE roach from East Anglian rivers are rare beasts so you can imagine Richard Wilby’s delight when he slipped his net under this pristine 2lb 9oz specimen.
The 2018 Drennan Cup runner-up had spent eight morning’s fishing his chosen venue over the last few weeks with just three roach to show for his efforts, but this 2lb 9oz example made all the effort worthwhile, as he explained…
“Huge roach are very rare in this region so I’m tremendously happy with it – although I think it could do me a bigger one!” he said.
Richard’s roach fell to simple trotting gear including a pin, stick float and a piece bread flake mounted onto a size 12 hook.
