Rich Wilby

Hunt for a 2lb roach

THE last couple of seasons have seen a real revival in specimen roach and your chances of catching a 2lb- plus redfin are now better than they’ve been for a long time.

That said, specimen roach are still considered the Holy Grail of targets for many big- fish anglers and those who have been fortunate enough to have one grace their landing net often describe them as the ‘ fish of a lifetime’.

An increasing number of carp waters are now regularly producing specimen roach. And it was on one such venue that we had arranged to meet Rich Wilby. Highbridge Fishery is a specimen carp lake in the Norfolk village of Bridgham. But as well as carp to just under 40lb, the six- acre reservoir holds an impressive head of specimen roach.

“I joined the syndicate with the sole purpose of catching my first 3lb- plus roach,” said Rich. “It paid off on my second trip with a PB of 3lb 2oz.”

Having already caught 27 2lb- plus roach over the past 18 months, Rich is no stranger to these specimens. So who better to tell us more about targeting widely neglected carp water specimens.

Stillwater roach getting bigger

“We’re currently enjoying a great time for big roach,” enthused the Norfolk- based all- rounder.

“Any popular carp lake is worth investigating for roach. The venues see so much bait, whether it be boilies, pellets or particles, and the roach are growing big on it. Plus, at most of these lakes no one actually fishes for them because they only target carp,” he added.

Due to the roach’s carp bait- based diet Rich favours a scaled- down carp approach when it comes to his rigs. A light lead is tied to the end of his 6lb mainline with a 6lb fluorocarbon hooklength fished helicopter- style in between a couple of rubber float stops.

“My set- up might not be the most traditional but it works. A hair- rigged 10mm or 12mm boilie helps to eliminate the smaller fish. When targeting big roach you have to bear in mind that it’s a case of quality over quantity.

“I’m not looking to catch a netful of roach, I’d be happy with one or two fish in a session if they are of the size I’m after. If you were to spend the day catching small roach after small roach you may eventually get lucky and bank a bigger one but the chances are you’ll have to wait a long time. Tailoring my tactics to suit vastly increases my chances of catching a specimen.”