I've set myself a target of a good Avon Roach or two this winter & I was wondering how effective the technique was on the Avon where the usual approach is bread & mash & the volume of fish seems maybe lower than on the Stour so making a bag harder to build up from one swim.
Certainly the punch approach seems more subtle as witnessed by its use on the canals in winter.
Cracking article Mark, makes me want to get out there. Can't Until February cos I have to take my wife for radio-therapy every day but it gives me pleasure to think about it and articles like yours make it even more pleasurable. Theres nothing quite like roach fishing to warm the cockles on a winters day is there?
Another informative article showing where a "match" tactic can be put to good use for the pleasure/specimen angler.
I have always found on the Avon that the punched bread can be devastating for the first 40 minutes to an hour.
After this time the Roach seem to "wise-up" and then it is time to change to flake on a larger hook.