Well as some of you will be aware i decided to take a break from my usual Carp Fishing this winter and head out in search of some new P.B’s and to step out of my angling comfort zone and take on some local rivers.
I set myself a target of catching a 2lb plus Grayling first and managed to take four fish over the magical 2lb during an amazing day on the Test. Next up was a 2lb Roach….. this was going to be a challenge and a half! For those that have just started fishing i will explain. The Roach is possibly the most stunning of all river fish and as been top of the list for river anglers for decades. Long before Carp came into the spotlight Roach were considered ‘THE’ British fish, especially river roach, and still to this day there is nothing better than trotting for a large roach on a river. They are shy feeders and require delicate tackle and a keen eye to spot bites.
I set about the mission of a 2lb plus fish on a free stretch of the Itchen, conveniently positioned next to a cracking pub! How very civilised. I decided to tackle the stretch using a 15ft Shimano Catana float rod, Leeds centrepin reel (£20 second hand – from a car booty) 3lb line and a 4 AA Chubber float. The set up was simple, AA’s positioned 8 inches above the size 16 hook, number six dropper shot three inches from the hook and a large piece of bread flake on the hook. Location was key and i spent the morning exploring the river with Laura, Danny ( FLE Staff) and my friend Paul. We took several fish, roach up to 1.6lb, four Trout which we returned back to the water, a couple of Grayling and a few little minnows for good measure.
We decided to head to the pub at 2.30pm and warm up, before we went though Danny, who leads our FLE River Tuition sessions, suggested baiting up a nice looking straight with our mashed bread groundbait, just in case we wanted to return later. After warming up everyone decided to call it a day and we all went our separate ways. I dropped Laura off home and looked at the watch. It was 3.45pm and i still had an hour of daylight left. I just had a feeling that the Roach may have been waiting to feed at dusk as it was a clear, sunny day, so did a ‘u’ turn in the Landy and headed back to the river. By the time i got back to the swim which i had baited earlier the sun was dipping below the horizon, the temperature was dropping but the river just felt so ‘right’. Most experienced anglers know the feeling i am talking about, everything just seemed to be in the right place, the mood just right, and as i fed some more mashed bread into the swim i had a feeling i would have a fish. Second trot down and the float dipped and then popped under, after a short fight an small 8oz roach lay in the net. I fed some more bread and hoped that it had not spooked the swim but felt content to catch a nice little roach. i squeezed on a fresh bit of flake and flicked the rod out, after a few trots the float once again dipped a few times and i struck, at first i thought i was snagged and then the rod tapped a few times and the fight was on, this fish felt really heavy and with a classic roach ‘plod’n'tap’ did its best to free the hook. Just as it came up stream and passed me the hook pulled and the fight was over. It was strange as i didn’t dwell on the loss too much, i just fed a little more bread and had a feeling i would get another chance. The light was really starting to fade fast and i only had another ten minutes at most before i would not be able to see the float. I resisted the urge to cast straight back in and fed the swim a little more to get the fishes confidence back.
On with another piece of Mothers Pride and the float was soon trotting down the swim under the branches of the trees. The float dipped once, then again and just before i struck it disappeared under the surface. Again i instantly knew it was a good Roach as it felt heavy as it plodded in the main flow, it kited upstream and as it passed me i saw the silver flash of a Roach. After a few minutes it was wallowing in the flow in front of the net and my heart was in my mouth as i drew it over the net…… job done.
The extra effort paid off and as night fell this stunning Roach came on the feed!
On the scales she went 2lb 6oz and it really did make my day. A true 2lb River Roach is a hard target to achieve and thanks to Danny’s expert advice and the extra effort to go back to the river for the dusk feeding period it all came together.
For those out there with limited time and money please don’t think that you need to be members of expensive syndicates or go out for weekends at a time to enjoy your fishing. This fish was caught on a simple float set-up, on a free stretch of river that anyone can fish with an EA license, using a loaf of bread, porridge oats and crumb to make the groundbait and a few slices of Mothers Pride for the hook. All in all it cost no more than £2 to catch this cracking fish. Go out there and try for yourself!
If you would like to go out on a guided River Tuition after Roach, Chub, Barbel or Grayling then contact the office and FLE’s Pro Staff will take you out and try to catch you the fish of a lifetime.
Check out our other post on how to make a simple bread groundbait to tempt the Roach into feeding and remember, sometimes it pays to feed the swim and gain the fishes confidence before casting a line.
Graham
Tags: Fishing in Hampshire, Fishing lessons, fishing tips, Fishing tuition, for life experieces, roach fishing