OUR PICK OF THE YEAR’S DRENNAN WINNERS...

THIS stunning picture and the story behind the capture of such an incredible river roach epitomises what the Drennan Cup is all about.

On a dark, cold February morning fanatical roach angler Matt Jackson was on the banks of a southern river an hour before sunrise to ensure he had the best possible chance of catching his fifth roach over the magical 3lb barrier. And he ended up doing it in style, with the biggest roach of 2017 weighing 3lb 5oz 8dr.

The key to Matt’s capture wasn’t just being in the right place at the right time. His meticulous swim preparation and the finely-balanced rig he used were also central to success. Before fishing he bait-dropped a tight bed of hempseed and maggots, and then cast a maggot feeder rig over the top made from 4lb mainline, a 3lb hooklink and a size 20 hook carrying a single red maggot. “A big roach may only feed in short spells, so as soon as it’s doing so you need to be in with a chance of the fish picking up your bait quickly,” Matt told Angling Times.

“Loosefeeding by hand or with a catapult can spread the bait all over the place because river currents can be deceiving and baits sink at different rates. A bait dropper is the most effective way, and is the secret to laying a trap for a big roach.”