It is fair to say that catching a single roach over the magical 3lb barrier from a river would make most anglers' lives, let alone their season. Unbelievably, big fish specialist Matt Adams has added another enormous roach to his already unimaginable haul this year, meaning he has now landed three redfins over 3lb, along with multiple 2lb fish.
What makes this impressive angling feat even more remarkable is that none of these fish are recaptures, nor are they all from the same river. Astonishingly, Matt has managed to catch all these extraordinary fish on the float within just a few weeks of each other. It is truly unbelievable that Matt has banked three such fish in quick succession—as it is an achievement that many anglers may never get to experience.
"Two weeks after catching the 3lb 10oz and 2lb 8oz brace, I returned to the same swim on the River Stour. Conditions were ideal, the river was fining down, with a lovely green tinge and a good pace, though the wind proved tricky," Matt explained.
THE BEST FLOAT RODS WILL HELP YOU CONTROL A FLOAT PERFECTLY TO FOOL BIG ROACH LIKE THIS ONE.
"I opted for a 2g DH No. 2 bolo float, fishing bulk down with a single No. 8 stott as a dropper. My target was the far-bank crease line, which wasn’t easy to fish due to the wind pushing into my face and slightly downstream."
"However, the bolo float provided excellent control in the challenging conditions, holding the bulk nicely in the flow as I held it back hard while the bait entered the strike zone," he added.
"After catching about a dozen small roach and dace, the float dipped right in the middle of the zone. I struck and connected with what felt like a good roach."
"The fish put up a spirited fight, nearly breaking me off in a far-bank snag. Thankfully, I managed to guide it safely into the waiting net."
"As the fish recovered in the net, I could tell it was another big one. I was slightly surprised when the scales swung to 3lb 1oz—its length made it look huge, even though it wasn’t particularly deep-bodied. What a fish! Immaculate, and it likely had never seen a hook before."
"I might never experience a season like this again, so I intend on making the most of it," Matt said.
IF YOU WANT TO CATCH A BIG RIVER ROACH, CHECK OUT OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE...
