More 2lb-plus roach landed in great spell for UK rivers

A 2lb river roach is considered the fish of a lifetime by many anglers so you can image how delighted these three were when they ticked-off the achievement during recent sessions.

Here are the stories behind each catch…

Rob Taylor 2lb 15oz roach

DEVON-based angler Rob Taylor said ‘he didn’t want the fight to end’ when he struck into this superb 2lb 15oz roach.

The 61-year-old and his mate Ed trotted red maggots on a southern-chalk stream for a big fish and weren’t left disappointed when Rob’s rod arched over half-way through the session.

He said: “I’d already caught small roach and dace when I hooked into what I thought was a chub, but the classic headshakes soon revealed it was a big roach!

“When Ed saw it in the net he was more excited than I was!”

It was a new personal best for Rob who added a 2lb 4oz redfin moments later.

Rob Taylor 2lb 15oz roach.jpg

Steve Martin 2lb 10oz roach

MATCH ace Steve Martin only caught three fish during his latest contest but didn’t complain when one of them turned out to be this fin-perfect 2lb 10oz roach!

Fishing a Ringwood & DAA Chub Match on the Dorset Stour at Parley, Bournemouth, Steve hooked into his prize on a 4AAA waggler setup fished into seven feet of water close to a weed bed.

It devoured double red maggots presented on a size 16 Drennan Wide Gape Match hook.

Steve Martin 2lb 10oz roach.jpg

Mark Everard 2lb 1oz roach

MARK Everard proved that you can still catch big fish in horrible conditions when he slipped his net under a 2lb 1oz redfin.

Targeting the Britford Fishery on the coloured and rapidly rising Hampshire Avon, the university professor trotted breadflake into near-bank slacks in hope of a bite.

He said: “I had the big roach within five minutes of starting, followed by four more roach up to about 1lb, three dace and a surprise 1lb 4oz perch on the trotted bread!”

Mark Everard 2lb 1oz roach.jpg