Roaching?

[NICK R]

Here you go mate , a video as well

simples

[BoldBear]

If you look at Nicks excellent link it shows you most of what you asked.

The feeder is not the best way to catch Roach and the float is usually the preferred method for them especially if you want to accumulate a decent catch.

Originally Posted by PikeHunter

i found it very difficult gettin the maggots on, any tips?

The Maggot has what looks like a small tab on the edge of the blunt end and you should try to put your sharp hook through this little tab. the maggot will be that more lively. a little practice and the use of relatively fine wired hooks pays dividends.

Originally Posted by PikeHunter

how often do you feed the swim and with how much? - i was throwing a small ball of bread out every 20 mins or so, and i was refilling my feeder every 10 mins or so. Is that too much or..?

As Noel has already said "little and often" is the best advice for Roach and other silvers.

Try catapulting only 6 or 8 maggots every 30 to 45 seconds (instead of emptying a pouch full of maggots every few minutes), that will keep them actively and continually looking for food dropping through the water.
If you are feeding groundbait or bread crumb make sure that it is mixed well and doesn't have any lumps in it. A fluffy consistancy that only starts to bind after a gentle squeeze and starts to break up as it sinks is much better than a stodgey wet lump sitting on the bottom; and only feed small pieces of groundbait if used.

Originally Posted by PikeHunter

When do you strike? - Do you strike it straight away or give it a wee second?

Roach are fast biters which can mouth and squash a maggot in its throat teeth without even showing a bite on the float, so the best tactic is to strike as soon as the float moves.
If you are missing bites then move the tell tale shot nearer to the hook so that the bite can register sooner; if this doesn't work then try moving it away from the hook. Also check that the bait is not masking the hook point.

Lastly if you are using a quivertip then the better rod rest for your quivertip would be the one shown below as it allows you to move the rod sideways into the next groove if the line gets a bit slacker enabling you to keep your line tensioned. The other rod rest that you showed is better for float fishing as the wide gape allows you to place the float rod into it without having to take your eye completely off your float.


tight lines
BB

[PikeHunter]

FINALLY!!!

Went out with my dad last night again, just for a quick session on the river. Only this time I didn't have maggots, so brought my usual liquidized bread and sweetcorn instead.

Threw a few small balls of bread out infront of me, then filled the feeder and put sweetcorn on my hook (Drennan Match size 18 to 2lb nylon - which i'm NOT using again) and threw it out - 2 minutes later I had this...



Happy days!

So I refilled and repeated the usual steps and got another straight away, but the same thing happened as the other night... the nylon snapped (that's why im not using those drennan match hooks anymore)

Did the same again and got another...



The sun started setting around this point and the bites sort of died off. But I am so glad to have caught some and can't wait to get back out tonight! And I have monday booked off work to go for a full day session, the excitement is killing me! lol.

Not long before we left dad got one...




No groundbreaking record sized fish here, but I'm just happy to have caught some! Roll on 5pm til I get out of work and out to the river!

[rob@home]

Blimey BB you swallowed a fishing encyclopedia lol

[PikeHunter]

Oh yes, cheers BB for that post!!

[BoldBear]

No probs glad to help.

It gives me something to do at work as I don't have a lot of work on at the moment.
I'm off on holiday for the next four days so I don't want to start another job off until I get back.

BB

NB. Heres a 1lb 14oz Roach I caught earlier this season (the centrepin spool is 4.5" wide):

[rob@home]

Starting a new job myself next monday BB over in Portsmouth test technician should be good

[PikeHunter]

Originally Posted by BoldBear

No probs glad to help.

It gives me something to do at work as I don't have a lot of work on at the moment.
I'm off on holiday for the next four days so I don't want to start another job off until I get back.

BB

NB. Heres a 1lb 14oz Roach I caught earlier this season (the centrepin spool is 4.5" wide):

Cracker fish there mate! Hopefully I can catch his bigger cousin tonight!

Mate just phoned me there, the smallest hooks the tackle shop has in stock are size 12's on 6lb nylon, frig sake. Told him to get them anyway as we need something for tonight. I have a few size 18's left so hopefuilly they'll last me!

[BoldBear]

Have a great time tonight and best of luck.
I'm off home now cya.

[PikeHunter]

Went out last night again... bitter disappointment!!! Hardly even got a bite all night

Was very heavy rain for part of the session, do you's think that could hinder it? The last 2 nights has been, bite, bite, bite all night but last night as I said, just a handful of bites! Would the rain put the fish off? I wouldn't have thought so but I'm no expert!

Anyway, I was gutted after how promising it was the night before, and now I'm not just as excited about Monday's session! But who knows...