No matter whereabouts in the country you live, there’s bound to be a specimen carp fisherywithin a short drive of home.
Fed on a diet of high-protein pellets and boilies, the mirrors and commons in these waters grow astonishingly quickly, with 30lb-plus giants now commonplace. They’re the sole target of most visitors, while any other species present are given short shrift.
So, if you’re on the hunt for a PB roach, such a venue should be on your radar. These fish mop up any food left by the carp and, as a result, they too reach impressive weights.
These 15 waters have proven pedigree for specimen redfins...
ELVINGTON FISHERIES, YORK, NORTH YORKS
A variety of tactics work well on this deep stillwater, with the pole, waggler and maggot feeder all worth a try.
Hemp will attract and hold the big roach, while tares or a grain of corn are the ideal hookbait. Feed two lines and keep them both topped up.
Tel: 01904 607504
LINEAR FISHERIES, WITNEY, OXFORDSHIRE
Brasenose One hit the headlines this season with several huge roach, the biggest topping 4lb. These fish tend to live well away from the bank in the deeper water, where a maggot feeder and fake grubs on the hook are best way to try and fool a very special specimen indeed.
Tel: 07885 327708
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ALVECHURCH FISHERIES, BIRMINGHAM, WEST MIDS
Several others over 2lb were also found in the one-acre pool. Try fishing with the wind off your back, using the long pole at 13m with double caster over groundbait and micros.
Tel: 07944 191915
SHATTERFORD LAKES, KIDDERMINSTER, WORCS
Stella and Stuart’s Lake both have depths to well over 15ft. A little trial and error can be essential to find the roach, but specimens to well over 2lb are banked every winter, and waggler fishing through the layers with maggots or casters can score, as can a maggot feeder with plastic grub hookbaits.
Tel: 01299 861597
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BILLINGFORD LAKES, NORWICH, NORFOLK
Basil Todd Lake has become popular with silverfish anglers in recent months and some sizeable roach have been reported, including specimens nudging 2lb.
Long pole at 13m, or a slider with double or triple maggot over a bed of groundbait, will give you the best chance of a new PB.
Tel: 01362 788111
BLUEBELL LAKES, OUNDLE, NORTHANTS
This complex is home to some of the biggest carp in the land, but Bluebell Lake is proving to be a magnet to big roach anglers from all over the country.
This seven acre water has parking behind most pegs, and casting towards the middle with a maggot feeder into 12ft-15ft of water will put you in with a shot at finding a giant.
Tel: 01832 226042
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BROADLANDS LAKES, SOUTHAMPTON, HANTS
Lower Lake has a central island running down the middle. This is best avoided when trying to find the roach as they often settle for open water to reduce competition from the carp for any food.
Legering plastic corn will put you in with a chance of a 2lb-plus fish.
Tel: 07360 201900
LATCHETTS LAKES, UCKFIELD, WEST SUSSEX
Formerly known as Tanyards Fishery, this complex is home to some stunning roach, and Margaret’s Lake is your best bet.
Pegs 1-5 and 22-25 offer plenty of open water to attack, and the redfins often congregate here.
Fish a maggot feeder over two lines, feeding red and white grubs over one and micro pellets and crushed boilies over the other. Rotate between the two to gauge what the fish want on the day.
Tel: 07793 654174
BURY HILL FISHERIES, DORKING, SURREY
The scenic Milton Pool is packed with features such as lily pads, overhanging trees and reed beds that all species love to hog.
Corn and casters presented under a light pole rig will put you in with the chance of a big roach or two.
The venue is now members-only, with a £40 fee (plus a day ticket each session) payable in advance.
Tel: 01306 883621
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MILEMEAD FISHERIES, TAVISTOCK, DEVON
Pole and waggler tactics both have the potential to produce a 2lb-plus specimen on Lake One.
Regularly raining casters in will draw the smaller stamp in, and the bigger fish will be unable to resist following suit for long!
Use maggots on the hook if you are happy to wade through the small fish first, or hair-rigged corn to be more selective.
Tel: 01822 610888
CALDECOTTE LAKE, MILTON KEYNES, BUCKS
This Milton Keynes AA-controlled water set the club’s roach record with a mammoth 3lb fish.
It isn’t for the faint-hearted, though, with over 70 acres of water for the fish to explore.
Putting down a big bed of groundbait laced with hemp, casters and corn is essential to stop any passing redfins in their tracks.
Tel: 07759 129800
ALBANS LAKES, ST ALBANS, HERTS
The vast swathes of open water available to each swim on Willow may convince you to fish a feeder, but a pole is often the better option for the roach. Lay down a bed of groundbait primed with hemp and casters, using a pair of the latter on the hook. Set up two rigs with light and heavy floats respectively to allow you to vary the presentation over the session.
Tel: 07544 933149
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LOWER SLADE RESERVOIR, ILFRACOMBE, DEVON
Everything seems to grow big in this South West Lakes Trust controlled gem, where the roach run well over the 2lb mark.
They tend to follow a warm wind, and maggot feeder tactics reign supreme once you are in prime position. Cast frequently for an hour to build up the bed of bait before waiting it out for bites.
Tel: 01566 771930
WYRESIDE LAKES, LANCASTER, LANCASHIRE
It’s important to have a good lead around when fishing on Sunnyside One and Two, as there are lots of underwater features, such as depressions and trenches, to be found.
Feed a bed of corn, maggots and pellets, legering a grain of plastic corn over the top.
River Lake is better suited to floatfishing. Fish in the 2lb-3lb bracket are banked from all these waters on a regular basis.
Tel: 01524 792093
ROYAL BERKSHIRE FISHERY, WINDSOR, BERKSHIRE
Lake One is where the big roach live, with lots of specimens in the 1lb-2lb bracket present.
They’ve grown big by feasting on boilies and pellets, but fire in the maggots and they’ll happily oblige.
Set up rigs to fish both on the deck and a couple of feet deep. Start on the bottom and come shallow if you begin to miss bites.
Tel: 07976 967976
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