Improve Your Coarse Fishing (UK)
Helicopter feeders for roach – Paul Garner
Head to a carp water if you want big roach, says respected big-fish angler Paul Garner, who reveals his maggot feeder tactics for specimen redfins
OFTEN living almost unnoticed in dayticket stillwaters, roach have staged a remarkable revival alongside carp, with sparkling specimens there to be caught by the pioneering angler. Roach will often pack on the weight and grow to a serious size in both match and specimen lakes dominated by their larger cousins. In specimen carp waters, in particular, roach are often ignored until a netting or a chance capture reveals some super fish. This was the case at Hordle Lakes Fishery, near New Milton in Hampshire. A winter netting of Bob’s Lake on the popular day-ticket complex revealed a head of stunning roach to more than 2lb alongside carp and other species. Since then word has spread and local anglers have been making the most of the great roach sport in the idyllic fishery. One angler who needs little persuasion to fish for roach is Paul Garner. With a personal best of 3lb 8oz, coincidently caught from a carp lake, Paul has experienced this phenomenon many times before and is quick to take advantage. “I like to keep my ear to the ground and follow up any stories of quality roach being caught from carp venues, because nine times out of 10 they are true,” he said. “Most of the specimen roach I have caught have come from carp fisheries. I think this is because the conditions are often suitable for roach. With little competition for food, coloured water that reduces cormorant predation and the regular removal of small fish, the remaining roach are left to grow big. If you want to catch big roach then these are the venues to look for, especially at this time of the year.”
Feeder fishing for bigger fish
Setting up facing a small island, Paul plans to fish two rods with maggot feeder helicopter rigs. One will be cast to the edge of the island in 4ft of water, while the other will be cast a little further away, at the bottom of the shelf, in 6ft. Three red maggots are threaded on to size 16 hooks which are attached to short 3lb fluorocarbon hooklengths. With the rods cast out and the bobbins set, it’s time to sit back and discuss his choice of tactics. “Even when fishing a venue that contains a stock of big roach, finding a way to catch the bigger fish is not always easy. The biggest problem is being selective, as both large and small roach tend to eat the same baits. “I would probably have caught more fish today by fishing the waggler, but the feeder does tend to pick up a better stamp of roach, because the bigger fish are generally close to the bottom. With the float, I would expect a lot of bites to come on the drop from smaller fish and it would be difficult to get through these. “The range that I am fishing, about 30 yards, also makes the float very difficult, so I have taken the easy option and stuck to the feeder. “I use a large Kamasan Black Cap feeder in either 30g or 50g weights, depending upon the distance I need to cast, and wind strength. The heavier feeder really helps with accuracy when there is a crosswind. The feeder not only ensures that I have a trickle of maggots being released next to the hookbait, but it creates a bolt effect when a roach picks up the hookbait and moves off with it. Because I am using a very short hooklength, the roach only has to move a few centimetres before it gets pricked and is hooked. The bites are really spectacular, with the bobbin dropping like a stone as the roach dislodge the feeder down the slope of the island. “Keeping the hooklength very short – no more than 10cm – and close to the feeder ensures that you get more bites. The further the hookbait comes to rest away from the feeder, the longer it will take for you to get a bite.” While rebaiting his second rod the first bobbin shoots up and the alarm wails. Bending into the fish, it soon becomes apparent that it is not a roach. After a sluggish fight a nice carp comes crashing into the net and is soon returned. Not exactly the start he was looking for, and hopefully the shoals of carp won’t bully roach out of the swim. With both rods back out, the rod cast tight to the island suddenly signals a drop-back bite as the bobbin hits the deck. Rather than strike, Paul picks up the rod and begins to wind in, eventually catching up with a fish that puts up the distinctive juddering fight of a good roach. The barbless hook is extracted and Paul admires a glistening roach of just over a pound. The coral pink fins glisten in the morning sunshine, the fish looking like it was minted just yesterday. “I am sure that the roach in venues like this grow really quickly, probably as a result of all the pellets fed by carp anglers. They are absolutely immaculate. No wonder they make such a great average size,” says Paul.
In the rhythm
Soon, the bites are coming thick and fast. The steady trickle of maggots from the feeder is enough to keep the shoal of roach interested but, fortunately, does not attract the unwanted attentions of too many carp. Paul recalls such problems. “While I love catching carp, having too many of them careering through the swim not only wastes time, but scares away the roach. On another carp venue similar to this I once hooked two carp, both over 20lb, in successive casts while roach fishing – what a palaver that was! By the time I was fishing again the fish had gone and I was left with an aching arm and no roach!” Bites come regularly. Most are from roach averaging over a pound, with the odd fish quite a bit bigger, the best at 1lb 12oz. A few plump perch and bream also put in an appearance. All too soon it is time to bring the session to an end and reflect on what has been a brilliant morning’s fishing. “Catching big roach is something many anglers would love to do. The problem is that venues well known for the species are few and far between. A lucky break, or a bit of pioneering, could turn up some amazing fishing. So next time you are fishing a carp venue, why not cast out a maggot feeder and see what comes along? You might be surprised at what you catch,” said Paul.