Ideal roach fishing rod

[Anderoo]

Thanks Matthew. Next place to try is a tributary of a tributary, and that really is tiny! I've seen roach ghosting around at the confluence before, so I am keen to make their acquaintence. I'm going to try the Thames at the weekend too.

[gozzer]

Nice one Andrew, though it looks a bit bigger in the pic', I'd have guessed about 1^1/₂ if asked.

It's good this 'dink' fishing ain't it?

 

John.

[Anderoo]

Ah, in that case John it weighed 1lb 8oz

 

Funnily enough I just measured it in the pic and compared it to the biggest one I had last season from the Thames (1lb 10oz), and there's very little in it:

 

1lb 2oz - 32.4cm

1lb 10oz - 32.8cm

[Phone]

oops

Edited August 22, 2013 by Phone

[Mark Wintle]

Just got back from 3 hours on the hemp and tares on the Stour; first fish a 1-2 roach, after that mainly small dace but several 3oz roach and two others over a pound at 1-6 and 1-3 at irregular intervals. All superb condition and thick across the back. Good fun keeping them out of the weed on the way in with fine gear. Also had two hybrids, one funny looking roach x bream and the other that I need to study to figure out - first guess is bleak x roach, definitely a bleak hybrid - had a normal bleak to compare with as well. Saw a load of barbel, chub and bream just upstream all just under the surface; an interesting session all round!

[Anderoo]

Sounds great Mark, congrats. Any roach pics for inspiration?

[Mark Wintle]

Sounds great Mark, congrats. Any roach pics for inspiration?

I only photographed the 1-6 one and not easy as I only had a compact and in bright sunshine but look at the chunkiness, like a Venables watercolour.

[Anderoo]

Wow, fantastic looking fish!

[Anderoo]

Last night was a fail, the swim I wanted was occupied with a couple of undesirable types who didn't leave til dark, so when I moved in after them I couldn't really see anything. Judging by their shouts before they left, they were catching roach, so I'm sure it's the spot to fish (this river has very, very few roach these days). I also had a small roach just upstream while waiting for them to go.

 

So, not very good in terms of catching, but some useful info. I think it will be red hot there after the first big rain of the autumn when the river rises...

 

Thames next

[Vagabond]

the swim I wanted was occupied with a couple of undesirable types

Fortunately, not something I have to face too often, because "undesirable types" usually don't like walking very far. The first fortnight of a new season is perhaps the exception, when all the best chub swims on one of my rivers are occupied by instant barbel fishers. They are usually gone by July.

 

That said, the natural impulse of a true angler upon finding someone else in his favourite swim is to kill him. Civilisation is a mixed blessing.......