Poor river conditions forced Stephen Gibbons to cancel a chub session on the Thames and turn his attention to an East Anglian stillwater, where he’s been trying for roach.
He knew things would be tricky at the venue – cormorant issues, and some of the stock dying off, meant that only a small population of big redfins remained.
A few early sessions had produced just carp and the odd small roach but, on his latest visit, Stephen had seen several fish roll just into dusk and felt he might have a chance – although nothing materialised to begin with.
He didn’t give up that night, however, and set his phone alarm to go off every two hours so he could get up and recast his maggot feeders, fished on helicopter rigs. These were cast to a spot where he’d fed six Spombs of hemp mixed with a sprinkling of maggots.
At 7.40am his dogged persistence finally paid off when he hooked and landed this roach of 3lb 4oz. It fought well, kiting to his left, before he managed to gently coax it back to the bank.
IF YOU WANT TO CATCH BIG ROACH, ONE OF THE BEST SPECIMEN RODS WILL HELP YOU.
