Big roach galore!
It’s time to fill your net as silvers go on the march!
Huge river fish fall on the float as big shoals go on the feed
RIVERS across the UK have hit their best roach form of the season, with huge catches and specimens over the 3lb mark being taken.
At this time of year millions of fish begin to move into their winter quarters in preparation for the colder weather, and anglers have been cashing in on this annual migration.
Rivers from Yorkshire, through the Midlands, across the Fens and down south through Kent and Somerset have been producing nets over 20lb of redfins, with some exceeding the 30lb mark caught from the Rivers Derwent, Severn, Wye and Nene, the Broads system, the Thames, Medway and Parrett… to name just a few.
Tony Gibbons is the general secretary of Norwich & District Angling Association and has run matches on the Broads rivers Thurne and Bure for 38 years. He reckons the roach fishing here has never been better.
“I don’t think there have ever been so many roach around here. Every year the fishing for them improves,” he said. “The roach are thriving and matches on the Bure are already being won with almost 30lb, with average nets of around 18lb, which is pretty incredible.
“The fish are migrating to their winter haunts so there’s no better time to get out there and make the most of it. What’s better than filling your net with roach from a natural venue?”
Four-times World Champion Bob Nudd is just one of thousands of anglers that have already been enjoying bite-a-chuck action on their local waters. Bob’s is the Old River Nene at March, Cambs. “Now’s the time to fine down
your tackle and get after those roach on the rivers, as they have never been in better form for the species,” said Bob.
“The Old Nene is fishing really well at the moment and I know this is the case on many other venues across the country.”
It isn’t just about catches of small fish either, as Stan Parkyn proved. He became the envy of many running water anglers when he netted a 3lb 10oz roach.
The 82-year-old from Christchurch, Dorset, tempted the specimen on a maggot and caster combo hookbait while trotting a stick float on an un-named stretch of the River Avon in Hampshire.
“I knew there would be the possibility of catching a big one, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get a fish like this in the net,” he said.
“I thought it was a chub when I first hooked it.”
Stan’s winning rig, which he laid on the deck by about 4ins, consisted of a 3g stick float, weighted with a 3g olivette attached to 4lb mainline. This was tied to a micro swivel, and a 2lb hooklength with size 22 fine wire hook completed the set-up.