Find out where to catch a big net of roach this week
The Trent through Newark is tops for autumn redfins
THE River Trent has become very popular with big-fish anglers.
Visit the Midlands waterway at any time during the autumn and you will more than likely be greeted by an army of anglers sitting on the bank with their rods pointing skywards.
But the UK’s most in-form waterway offers far more than just big barbel these days. An explosion of silver fish stocks means those who prefer a bit more finesse to their fishing can also enjoy a cracking day’s sport.
One such angler is regular open matchman Reed Bradshaw, who got in touch with Angling Times to tell us about the fantastic roach fishing currently being enjoyed on the Newark Dyke.
Come October the Newark and District Piscatorial Federation’s Crowtrees stretch on the edge of Newark becomes a roach fishing haven, with double-figure nets of plump redfins for match and pleasure anglers alike. What’s more, Reed reckons the top-notch sport this will continue right into the winter.
“Every autumn the roach shoals pack in tightly here and provide bites galore for visiting anglers,” said the Slide Brotherhood-sponsored rod.
“With depths of 8ft-9ft, a steady pace and a gravel bottom it’s a great floatfishing venue for stick, pole, waggler or Bolo tactics.”
The water runs upstream from Mill Lane in Newark down to the end of the first bend, just past Newark marina, and can be fished on a day ticket. Anglers can use free car parks at the start of the stretch at Mill Lane and the ground is fairly flat, so they can barrow or trolley their gear along the bank easily enough.
It’s not just roach here either. Like most places on the Trent these days, the river often throws up a few surprises, and Reed reckons this stretch is no different: “There are carp, barbel, dace, lots of chub and bream too in this stretch. The
bream tend to be caught on the feeder fished into the mouths of the marina arms on the opposite bank, or in the slacks. There’s also a huge head of perch which muscle their way in when float tactics are used for the roach,” he said.
To check out the fishing at Crowtrees we sent the Angling Times cameras along to meet Reed, and the Chesterfield angler responded with a doublefigure net of roach, perch and dace, fishing the Bolo from a peg opposite the marina. “The fishing is really simple. Find a steady glide, trot a float down it and keep feeding maggots, hemp or casters every run through for a bite a chuck,” added Reed. PRICES: £5 a day on the bank, Newark Piscatorials CONTACT: 01636 683135, 07960 031910, www.newarkpiscatorial.co.uk LOCATION: Newark Dyke, Mill Lane, Newark on Trent, Notts NG24 4TT. Park in the small car parks at the end of Mill Lane RULES: No fires, no night fishing