[River Severn - lots of mud, no roach 10-12 November 2021]

Hi John, 

So sorry you drew a blank, the Severn can be a harsh mistress at times, and it seems she was not in a benevolent mood. 

Of course knowledge you gain from blanks are probably as useful as better days, but if the shoals of Roach don't show up then not much you can do, the Severn is huge, and the Summer months the Roach are very catchable with feeder tactics that are intended for Barbel, which in many ways us counter intuitive as the Roach, big roach can be very shy in other venues. 

There are some very good Roach catches being reported at the moment, so it's encouraging, we talked about the Bristol Avon, and as said it used to be a good venue for big Roach, but surely the Kennet is at least as good? The Kennet is nearer to you and would be my first choice, perhaps the whole country. 

Of course as is the way of the angler we might travel past better venues in thinking the grass is always greener....Perhaps John we should look at our tactics, I would always prefer a float over a quiver for Roach, I reckon maggot and caster to be better in the winter, and dusk of course for the bigger fish.

But above all location location location,and big roach are very shy, and need finding, time spent searching more than fishing would pay off I reckon. 

Just now when fishing the Warks Avon, and more than ever the only bites seem to come at dusk, as it was yesterday, perhaps the big splash I heard just downstream  that became the Otter in front of me is a major factor in the need to fish late?

Big Roach like upper river systems, the Bristol Avon is a good example of this, above Malmesbury for example where they live alongside Trout. 

Martin Bowler did a video recently on gravel pit roach, he had at least two over 3lbs I believe, the venue was Bradley's pit South Cetney, I used to live within 200 yards of there, but it was Tench then, I had no idea the Roach would grow that big there, but the conditions obviously suit the, and I suppose all the carp baits help. 

Upper Bristol Avon upper Thames too, we have Cricklade, a brilliant bit of River, that in most part is free fishing, that's not far from you. 

My little river we spoke about had I noticed a good amount of streamer weed, that for me is gold, not sure if there are any decent Roach but there are Chub and the occasional Barbel, but Tuesday in between falling down the bank, I had Dace Chub and Minnow!, but good fun. 

Add Chippenham to possible Roach venue, free waters too alongside the Avenue De Flech (or similar) and beyond, cracking potential for Roach?  

Speak again ...