I may well be wrong here but reading the original thread by 'markhib' and others that follow, particularly those by Barbelboi, I'm not too sure what size of fish comes under the heading 'bigger roach'....
'Big roach' means different things to different people and whilst 'big' to most(?) folk is a fish over the magical 2lbs or so, many see a fish over 1lb as a 'better roach' simply because that's the best available from the waters they fish. For example, in some waters I fish they don't go over 1,5lbs BUT they are still the devil to catch and if you land one or two in a session you can say you've had a good day. A 2lb fish is definitely 'once in as blue moon' on this water !!
I might catch several around the 10" mark, then some 6/8" which can then lead onto a sudden and unexpected 1,25lb fish or two before ceasing to feed altogether for some reason known only to themselves.....Size is relative as they say............
What I'm attempting to say, is that IMHO, fishing for really 'BIG' roach, (those in excess of 2lbs or even 1,5lbs), is not altogether the same thing as catching the best from your water and if you do want to catch what I call 'super roach' then you have to have a different approach unless of course you have a water down the road where 2lb fish are on tap!!
As Barbelboi rightly says, and he knows better than most, BIG roach are only found in small numbers and, generally speaking will not be part of a shoal of smaller fish. maybe close by, but not likely to be part of a catch of smaller fish IMO.
No, you can't generalize around these matters and the odd fish of very good size can be caught among a general catch but if you really want to go for just 'super fish' then the approach has to be really thought about...........
All the well known rules apply, such as the time you fish etc not to mention the rare conditions needed when big fish feed which, from my experience is not too often! Personally, I think you have to set your stool out to really go for the biggest fish, make a plan, keep records of how, why and when, temperature (ambient and water) etc etc etc. and above all else be prepared for many blank days.... no, not days when a the odd 1lb fish comes to your net, but many days, weeks, nay months and years when anything over 2lbs remains a dream.
Many moons ago I did the same thing around tench and spent a great deal of time, money and effort reaching the goals I had set myself over a number of years and was successful to some extent and if you want to do the same with roach IMHO I suggest the task is even harder.................unless you have the balls for it!!!
Oh, just one minor point: IF you decide to go for 'super roach' you may find choosing the 'right' water in the first place a very good idea, and I don't mean one where a 2lb fish came out a couple of years ago, but one where the fish coming out are on the 'up' size wise..A water that is reaching it's peak, NOT one in decline. Now that does take dedication and 'ear to the ground' ................
If you want to have some idea of the effort it takes, and I've mentioned this before, then the John Bailey book of his exploits on the Wensum/Waveney etc in Norfolk is worth a read. He sat out in freezing temps for weeks at a time, in snow and with many blanks just to catch 'super roach', but then he was after fish of 3lbs or more......................He did it though!!
Some will have different ideas on approach and I hope they add them to this Thread...
ps The book is Roach - Gentle Giants and is quite a good reference book - for a start anyway!
pps In on section he talks about prebaiting with 1/2 gallon of casters at a time to achieve what he wanted and although this could be seen to be extreme it gives you an idea of the lengths some go to, juts to realise a dream.......................
