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Soon be time for roach


Anderoo

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Wow, what a heavy roach for its size, how encouraging is that! The one I had a few weeks ago was like that, short but really stocky. Exciting times :)

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music

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The roach have been showing in large numbers at on the Thames at Home Park, Windsor over the past few weeks. One report is of 30lb in five and a half hours, pole with maggot and ground bait. I watched a stick float angler take several roach in the 8 to 12 oz bracket along with dace and a chub on this stretch.

I got out myself this week on this bit of the Thames, when the river was coloured and rising.

http://www.urbanfieldsportsman.com/index.php/thames-roach-fishing-at-home-park-windsor/

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Wishing all you river Roach fishermen and fisherwomen a great Roach season - just rmember Roach are not just for winter rivers...hehehe... Just need more determination in warmer heavier weeded times.

From a spark a fire will flare up

English by birth, Cockney by the Grace of God

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Wishing all you river Roach fishermen and fisherwomen a great Roach season - just rmember Roach are not just for winter rivers...hehehe... Just need more determination in warmer heavier weeded times.

Good to see you posting, any Roach tips?

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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You ask what for me is the almost impossible question, for me at least, as my fishing tactics are decided at the riverbank and are dependent on so many factors, oh! Well here goes my effort, please just don’t forget this is just my personal opinion and based on my local Suffolk Stour or other rivers local to me. Perhaps consider it as an idea or a starting point and modify it to suit your fishing style, your local river and all the prevailing conditions.

 

This is very hard as so much of what I do is based on so many things which I cannot know until I actually get to the riverbank. Flow, Light, Wind, Speed of the clouds in the sky, Time of the day - Surface look i.e. oily - rubbish floating past - very rippled surface - smooth surface - Upstream wind - obviously downstream wind - crossing wind - naturally the strength of the wind - Warm or cool day - Was there a frost last night - will there be a frost tonight – Is there any wild food about – are any berries dropping into the water -

 

So I don't know if this will work for anyone else, although it works for me and is a fair basis as a starting point. I will assume that everyone reading this knows the basics of angling like depth checking and so forth.

 

For this time of the year for my local Suffolk Stour, generally not a river known for its fast flow or glowing praises, I fish very light 3/4 to 1lb bs main line in really fast water I might go any size up to 3lb bs, hooks barbless bronze 18, 20, 22, 24 I usually start with a 20 and see how it feels. Starting with single white maggot shop bought does o.k. or perhaps some (that have been fed on raw pigeon with a second batch fed on wild rabbit - occasionally some fed on chicken) I have known some people just toss a lump or piece of chicken or fish into a box or tin of maggots all on an 18" (46cms) tail although I will reduce or lengthen the tail if I feel the need. Most of my shot is either side of the float which I dot down as much as possible. With a good flow going I might spread out my shot more. Sometimes I will use dust shot even getting within about 4" from the hook as this gives a very clear and definite indication of a take or bite. Equally sometimes I only have dust shot between hook and float.

 

Some may prefer bread which I do use at times. I have a few somewhat unusual bait recipes that I will not go into as there so I have learned a lot of squeamish anglers out there. When I have mentioned the less common baits I use I have been hit with quite a bit of offensive reaction so most of my mixes will remain a personal thing for me.

 

Some swims I begin feeding with loose feed as soon as I arrive at them, only on very seldom occasions do I use groundbait and on those occasions I only use pea sized balls up to marble sized never needing to go as large as a ping pong or golf ball size.

From a spark a fire will flare up

English by birth, Cockney by the Grace of God

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Watatoad, thanks for sharing :thumbs:

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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The thing I've found hardest about actually targetting the Thames roach is that on the bits I fish they appear extremely localised. I chub fished long sections of river for many years and never saw one or any evidence of them. I then went exploring at a new stretch and had a load of bites I couldn't connect with on the chub gear (i.e. big bits of flake), and saw roach rolling at dusk. Going back with the right tackle saw them start to be caught.

 

Why they should be in that bit and not the other bits I really can't say! I don't know if this is a quirk of the Thames or if other rivers are like it too, but the species really don't seem to like mixing very much, in winter at least. Some stretches are really good for chub, others good for bream, others good for perch, others good for roach. Is that odd, or normal? The different stretches are very similar in character, and I can't see any obvious reason why the species should be so segregated.

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music

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Anyone fished Timsbury recently for its Roach?, I seem to remember rumours of them being removed or just disappearing. Was one of the carriers famous for holding decent sized fish?

Stephen

 

Species Caught 2014

Zander, Pike, Bream, Roach, Tench, Perch, Rudd, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Eel, Grayling, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout

Species Caught 2013

Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Eel, Tench, Rudd, Perch, Common Carp, Koi Carp, Brown Goldfish, Grayling, Brown Trout, Chub, Roosterfish, Dorado, Black Grouper, Barracuda, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Red Snapper

Species Caught 2012
Zander, Pike, Perch, Chub, Ruff, Gudgeon, Dace, Minnow, Wels Catfish, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Roach, Bream, Eel, Rudd, Tench, Arapaima, Mekong Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Marbled Tiger Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Thai Redtail Catfish, Batrachian Walking Catfish, Siamese Carp, Rohu, Julliens Golden Prize Carp, Giant Gourami, Java Barb, Red Tailed Tin Foil Barb, Nile Tilapia, Black Pacu, Red Bellied Pacu, Alligator Gar
Species Caught 2011
Zander, Tench, Bream, Chub, Barbel, Roach, Rudd, Grayling, Brown Trout, Salmon Parr, Minnow, Pike, Eel, Common Carp, Mirror Carp, Ghost Carp, Koi Carp, Crucian Carp, F1 Carp, Blue Orfe, Ide, Goldfish, Brown Goldfish, Comet Goldfish, Golden Tench, Golden Rudd, Perch, Gudgeon, Ruff, Bleak, Dace, Sergeant Major, French Grunt, Yellow Tail Snapper, Tom Tate Grunt, Clown Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse, Doctor Fish, Graysby, Dusky Squirrel Fish, Longspine Squirrel Fish, Stripped Croaker, Leather Jack, Emerald Parrot Fish, Red Tail Parrot Fish, White Grunt, Bone Fish
Species Caught 2010
Zander, Pike, Perch, Eel, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Mirror Carp, Common Carp, Crucian Carp, Siamese Carp, Asian Redtail Catfish, Sawai Catfish, Rohu, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Pacu, Long Tom, Moon Wrasse, Sergeant Major, Green Damsel, Tomtate Grunt, Sea Chub, Yellowtail Surgeon, Black Damsel, Blue Dot Grouper, Checkered Sea Perch, Java Rabbitfish, One Spot Snapper, Snubnose Rudderfish
Species Caught 2009
Barramundi, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Wallago Leeri Catfish, Wallago Attu Catfish, Amazon Redtail Catfish, Mrigul, Siamese Carp, Java Barb, Tarpon, Wahoo, Barracuda, Skipjack Tuna, Bonito, Yellow Eye Rockfish, Red Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Black Fin Snapper, Dog Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Marble Grouper, Black Fin Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Mutton Snapper, Redhind Grouper, Saddle Grouper, Schoolmaster, Coral Trout, Bar Jack, Pike, Zander, Perch, Tench, Bream, Roach, Rudd, Common Carp, Golden Tench, Wels Catfish
Species Caught 2008
Dorado, Wahoo, Barracuda, Bonito, Black Fin Tuna, Long Tom, Sergeant Major, Red Snapper, Black Damsel, Queen Trigga Fish, Red Grouper, Redhind Grouper, Rainbow Wrasse, Grey Trigger Fish, Ehrenbergs Snapper, Malabar Grouper, Lunar Fusiler, Two Tone Wrasse, Starry Dragonet, Convict Surgeonfish, Moonbeam Dwarf Angelfish,Bridled Monocle Bream, Redlined Triggerfish, Cero Mackeral, Rainbow Runner
Species Caught 2007
Arapaima, Alligator Gar, Mekong Catfish, Spotted Sorubim Catfish, Pacu, Siamese Carp, Barracuda, Black Fin Tuna, Queen Trigger Fish, Red Snapper, Yellow Tail Snapper, Honeycomb Grouper, Red Grouper, Schoolmaster, Cubera Snapper, Black Grouper, Albacore, Ballyhoo, Coney, Yellowfin Goatfish, Lattice Spinecheek

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Anyone fished Timsbury recently for its Roach?, I seem to remember rumours of them being removed or just disappearing. Was one of the carriers famous for holding decent sized fish?

 

Not since the last AN fish-in there several years ago. The famous big roach were mostly in the slow carrier, which was lost to fishing. I haven't been back since then. Having said that, I never caught a single roach from the slow carrier, the fast carrier, or the main river!

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music

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The thing I've found hardest about actually targeting the Thames roach is that on the bits I fish they appear extremely localised. I chub fished long sections of river for many years and never saw one or any evidence of them. I then went exploring at a new stretch and had a load of bites I couldn't connect with on the chub gear (i.e. big bits of flake), and saw roach rolling at dusk. Going back with the right tackle saw them start to be caught.

 

Why they should be in that bit and not the other bits I really can't say! I don't know if this is a quirk of the Thames or if other rivers are like it too, but the species really don't seem to like mixing very much, in winter at least. Some stretches are really good for chub, others good for bream, others good for perch, others good for roach. Is that odd, or normal? The different stretches are very similar in character, and I can't see any obvious reason why the species should be so segregated.

I think this is what makes Thames roaching so interesting. Sometimes they are present but you can't catch them, Other times location is far from easy yet you know they are somewhere which is why roving can pay off. Their bait preferences vary through the seasons, and sorting out the big ones is a real challenge. I'd get bored catching 20lbs of 3-6oz fish on maggots; done it in the past but nowadays I'd rather try on catch some over a pound (the knowledge that there is the chance of one over 2lbs makes it even more exciting) if I'm doing a 200-mile round trip for a day. I suffer the odd blank but never fail to learn something.

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