(This catch was reported before the river close season came into force on March 15th 2022)
THIS 3lb 4oz roach, banked in the dying hours of the river season, is one of the biggest ever to be caught from Britain’s most famous river.
Landed by Surrey angler Duncan Hayward from the Thames, it’s believed to be just 1oz off the venue record.
“My first-ever fish was a Thames more than 30 years ago, and although I’ve caught thousands of them, until recently I’d never been lucky enough to land one over the 2lb mark,” he told us.
“This year I fished early morning sessions but was plagued by eels and bream, so I switched my maggot hookbait to a tiny white wafter.”
After first landing a surprise 6lb carp, Duncan connected with the big roach after receiving a drop-back bite.
“After netting it, I didn’t realise it was a roach until I flicked the headtorch on – the rest is a bit of a blur!” he added.
