I am of the opinion that there is a variety of reasons for fewer big roach being caught. In no particular order these include:
Far fewer specialist roach anglers
Cormorants!
Signal crayfish eating fish spawn and natural food
Thames is clearer not necessarily cleaner!
Otters?
Pesticides and fertilizers; I fear that with all the rain this winter even more than usual will have entered our waterways and Stillwaters!?
I moved to Hampshire in 2013 and since then have joined (and left a few) around 10 fishing clubs. Most anglers appear to target either carp on the lakes or barbel on the rivers, when I have carefully enquired about roach there is hardly any interest or local knowledge regarding them. The best way has been to trial venues as best as I can but it has been very time consuming. Now after 7 years I have identified a number of worthwhile venues to target.
Best baits:
Winter - big bits of bread flake, dead maggots, lobworms.
Summer - particles, pellets, naturals on unfished venues.
Don't forget the canals; there are some big roach in them though difficult to locate. Great in the winter but only fishable (for me anyway) in the very early mornings because of the blasted boaters!
Far fewer specialist roach anglers
Cormorants!
Signal crayfish eating fish spawn and natural food
Thames is clearer not necessarily cleaner!
Otters?
Pesticides and fertilizers; I fear that with all the rain this winter even more than usual will have entered our waterways and Stillwaters!?
I moved to Hampshire in 2013 and since then have joined (and left a few) around 10 fishing clubs. Most anglers appear to target either carp on the lakes or barbel on the rivers, when I have carefully enquired about roach there is hardly any interest or local knowledge regarding them. The best way has been to trial venues as best as I can but it has been very time consuming. Now after 7 years I have identified a number of worthwhile venues to target.
Best baits:
Winter - big bits of bread flake, dead maggots, lobworms.
Summer - particles, pellets, naturals on unfished venues.
Don't forget the canals; there are some big roach in them though difficult to locate. Great in the winter but only fishable (for me anyway) in the very early mornings because of the blasted boaters!
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