Bigger roach

[Wayneuk]

Hiya Chaps,and chapesess

I'm very new to this forum and my first question has been doing my head in..

I fish a local lake that is only accessable from about 10% of the bank, so location isnt a very good option..I know it holds some very decent roach..How do i pick out the better specimens..And what would your prebaiting plan consist of..

Also it;s very inconsistant..One day they're...The next i blank..

[Norfolkboy]

I find fishing hemp and tares (and sometimes caster) can really sort out the bigger specimens.

Had some great sessions on the Fens with another forum member while trying to catch bait sized fish for zedding and getting roach up to about 1lb 8oz, and lots of them around that size. Great fun.

[Greenheart]

I'd agree with Dan. Definately feed with Hemp & Caster. A large peice of breadflake on the hook will usually sort out the better speciemens. Good luck.

[fishypaul]

one of my local lakes is full of big roach , the biggest ones are caught on chick peas

[Wayneuk]

First off, thankyou for the great and quick advice..Chickpeas??

How do you prepare chickpeas for bait?

[Omahayank]

They come canned here...I imagine just bait them up like corn...?
Good luck

ps. a long line Hello & Welcome to the forum!!

[littleboybream]

for the larger roach i tend to use tares on the hook and feed with a hemp tare mix. catches loaads and the fish love the oil it releases

[fishypaul]

Originally Posted by Wayneuk

First off, thankyou for the great and quick advice..Chickpeas??

How do you prepare chickpeas for bait?

they use them on a hair rig,the roach are used to them in this water,you may have to pre bait in other waters

[Vagabond]

For still water

Get a feeding frenzy going with breadcrumb and mollases groundbait, and/or loosefed hemp and/or loose-fed maggots.

The bigger roach will lurk on the fringes of the feeding area.

Some will take a maggot or caster on the drop.

Others will fall to larger baits on the bottom - breadflake (as Greenheart says) or chick peas or halibut pellet. Again fish on the edge of the baited area.

...and I will let you into a secret....cockles - they ain't just for tench.

For rivers - a steady maggot stream and fish casters on the hook. The roach will get bigger and bigger as you keep loose feeding, first tiddlers, then half pounders, and then one or two over the pound.......until eventually you hit a two-pounder - which will be a chub!

Ironically my three biggest river roach have all fallen to lobworm whilst I was after chub!

[Twiddler]

Some good advice gents....I was wondering myself how on earth I could tempt the better size roach....I tried tare, hemp, maggots, casters, even luncheon meat but I can't seem to tempt the bigger ones.