Big roach

[gozzer]

Still no rain in London though. Any better news elsewhere?

 

It's peeing it down here right now. We've not done back for rain this year, especially Sept.

 

This is the Wharfe in the summer bank holiday. You can see it's fining down but still has a lot of colour.

 

 

 

 

John.

Edited October 20, 2009 by gozzer

[The Flying Tench]

Decent Roach have been coming out of the free sections of the Kennet and the canal in Newbury.

A month ago I thought I'd got a red letter day, but the 4 biggest ALL came in at 1-14, following weekend I got one 2-2. I can also vouch for a 3-1 coming out of the Thatcham AA section behind B&Q in the same session as 2 more 2s to the same rod.

And that's all I'm saying

 

Welcome to AN, as I see it's just your 3rd post. Are you local to Newbury? You may have gathered there are several of us on AN. I'm also keen on roach, though unbelievably hopeless at it Though Idid manage a 2 lb rudd this summer, mainly through help by another angler. I have frittered away the last couple of winters vaguely trying for decent roach from the Kennet, and had all but given up, but then I must admit I have heard some encouraging stories of decent catches in the free stretch this year - and yours all the more so. Hope to see you on the bank some time.

 

John

[MiddleEastland]

Arrived in Newbury late last year.

It's all new to me, so it's beginners luck. Or, my ability to interrogate every person I see on the bank with a rod.

We've probably met!

Next year, when I've done the free bits to death, I'll sort out a Newbury ticket as I live out Speen way.

[JV44]

Quote arbocop I wonder if the crayfish eat all the eggs? What are the roach stocks like in the other crayfish infested rivers?

Mike the section between Sheffield bottom lock and Gastly Garston Lock a bit lower down at Theale on the canal is rammed with fry and after dipping a net in can confirm that lots of them are Roach,Loads of Crays in this section so although they[Crays] must eat some eggs don`t think they are having that much affect [on that section at least] on the hatching rate.

The Pool on the Thames that we [Rusty] and myself fished last Saturday used to produce really big Roach and a old boy who i used to go with fished it by dragging his hook along the steps of the weir to get Silk weed on it and the roach were suckers for it ,Biggest we [Rusty]managed Saturday was maybe 5oz ,maybe they are still in there just not feeding in the ultra clear conditions??.

From what another poster has said though they have been having a few out from Newbury but if that was on the canal then maybe boat traffic stirring up the bottom gives them [bigger Roach] the confidence to feed Steve.

[Sportsman]

Quote arbocop I wonder if the crayfish eat all the eggs? What are the roach stocks like in the other crayfish infested rivers?

Mike the section between Sheffield bottom lock and Gastly Garston Lock a bit lower down at Theale on the canal is rammed with fry and after dipping a net in can confirm that lots of them are Roach,Loads of Crays in this section so although they[Crays] must eat some eggs don`t think they are having that much affect [on that section at least] on the hatching rate.

The Pool on the Thames that we [Rusty] and myself fished last Saturday used to produce really big Roach and a old boy who i used to go with fished it by dragging his hook along the steps of the weir to get Silk weed on it and the roach were suckers for it ,Biggest we [Rusty]managed Saturday was maybe 5oz ,maybe they are still in there just not feeding in the ultra clear conditions??.

From what another poster has said though they have been having a few out from Newbury but if that was on the canal then maybe boat traffic stirring up the bottom gives them [bigger Roach] the confidence to feed Steve.

 

That brought back some memories

50 years ago I used to fish in small weir pool in Broomfield near Chelmsford. We used to get silkweed from the weir cill, wrap it around the hook and trot down the pool, catching quantities of quality roach, to the annoyance of the "proper" anglers who insisted on using exotic baits like maggots, and only caught tiny ones

[JV44]

That brought back some memories

50 years ago I used to fish in small weir pool in Broomfield near Chelmsford. We used to get silkweed from the weir cill, wrap it around the hook and trot down the pool, catching quantities of quality roach, to the annoyance of the "proper" anglers who insisted on using exotic baits like maggots, and only caught tiny ones

 

Sportsman to my shame i have never really given it a proper go ,But i could start selling it as the new Roach wonder bait lots of it on the sides of the locks Steve.

[arbocop]

Decent Roach have been coming out of the free sections of the Kennet and the canal in Newbury.

A month ago I thought I'd got a red letter day, but the 4 biggest ALL came in at 1-14, following weekend I got one 2-2. I can also vouch for a 3-1 coming out of the Thatcham AA section behind B&Q in the same session as 2 more 2s to the same rod.

And that's all I'm saying

 

Interesting. They are not showing on the faster non-canal sections downstream, perhaps I need to move upstream a little. Mind you I think thats pretty much it for me for October - no time.

[poledark]

I picked up a bit of info about Zebra mussels from Wikepedia. Seems that they are eaten by fish PARTICULARLY ROACH!!!!!

 

I know at least 4 different places (two lakes and two streams) where the Roach grow big...................and they all have a large Zebra mussel population.

 

Could be the reason that the biggest Roach I have seen have come from these type of waters.

 

 

Den

[The Flying Tench]

I picked up a bit of info about Zebra mussels from Wikepedia. Seems that they are eaten by fish PARTICULARLY ROACH!!!!!

 

I know at least 4 different places (two lakes and two streams) where the Roach grow big...................and they all have a large Zebra mussel population.

 

Could be the reason that the biggest Roach I have seen have come from these type of waters.

 

 

Den

 

Interesting. I see it also says they are a pest and are colonising the Thames. Good type of pest if it means the roach grow big!

[arbocop]

Quote arbocop I wonder if the crayfish eat all the eggs? What are the roach stocks like in the other crayfish infested rivers?

Mike the section between Sheffield bottom lock and Gastly Garston Lock a bit lower down at Theale on the canal is rammed with fry and after dipping a net in can confirm that lots of them are Roach...

 

 

It must be you causing it then!

 

Seriously though - Every where I go I hear tales of 'lost' big roach. ' they used to be here but died out' - I used to catch lots but haven't seen any for years. That sort of thing. If the hatching rate is still high, and they still get loads at 5oz, what is causing their demise? Or are they there and we can't catch them probably true in my case).

 

So what is it - Perch? Too Small - probably. Pike? Possibly, but there are probably no more of them than now than there were twnety years ago. Exaggeration? Possibly, but they can't all be. Cormorants? But as we know, they would not only target roach. Competition by other fish - might explain some of it. Rivers with barbel that had no barbel before - but not everywhere.

 

Any offers of explanations?

Edited October 26, 2009 by arbocop